The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-03-29
Bought Revolver Day After Muir,
der of f. l.. Burdick and Ere
quently Talked of Suicide.
SHOWED EXCITEMENT PLAINLY.
Mrs. Burdick Critically Ill, 1t Is
Announced, as a Result of the
Ordeal She Endured as Wit
ness at the Inquest.
REPUBLIC SPECIAL.

| REPUBLIC SPECIAL
| Buffao. n. Y, March 2s-That Arthur X
| Pencil firmly intended to kill himself oil
| the morning of the discovery of the muir.
| der of Edwin l.. Burdick, and that fol
many months the notion of suicide had
been in his mind. was believed by Distric,
Attorney Coatsworth when he learned to-
day that at $50 o'clock on the morning
the crime was discovered. the young law
yer, pale and excited. and entirely unlike
his usual self. bought cheap revolver
and that for nearly a year he had been
quoting to his friends passages from a
novel which treats of suicide and the vicis-
STUDIES of a man who had become en-
tangled with a married woman.
In expressing this belief Mr.. Coats;
struck the blows which caused the death
of Mr.. Burdick. and that his plunge into
Jamerthal quarry with Mrs. Pennell was
a suicide plan.
Without violating any confidence it may
be stated that until these developments
We're brought to his attention. Mr. Coats
accidental, and was disncined to place
upon him any responsibility for the crime.
Singularly enough, the revolver which
the young lawyer purchased for the pre-
sumed Intention of killing himself if he
learned that he was suspected of the MUIR
der, was bought at the same store and of
tHt same clerk as was the revolver winch
Czolgosz used to kill President Mckinley.
Wben' the Penneil Inquest * resumed on
Monday five witnesses will tell about Pen
nell's habit Of quoting from Mary Cholmou-
deley' s novel. Red Pottage." and citing
certain excerpts as extenuation for suicide.
and one person will tell about the purchase
of the revolver.
This man is E. w. Fox who is clerk in
charge of the arms department for Wall
bridge &. Co. hardware dealers. and who
said this afternoon:
81 knew ppnupn we'll Ia n
here frequently to buy golf supplies. 1t was
between $50 and 10 o'clock on the morning
the murder was discoveredHhat he came in
here. He looked much different than | ever
had before seen him. and acted differently
also. He was pale. his hand was unsteady
and he talked as if he We're highly wrought
up. Usually he talked freely when buying
of me, but this time he merely asked for
an inexpensive revolver. He said that the
one he bought month before had, been
taken by a burglar who entered his house.
He paid $ for the pistol
The authorities regard II the best in
dication they have of intention on the
part of Penneil to do away with himself
and the fact that he made the purchase
before any one save the members OF the
Burdiek household. two detectives and Doc
tor Marcy knew of the murder. seems to
many of the officials as proof that the de-
termination to commit suicide if it were
that. direct sequel. :.
From an authoritative source comes the
information that Mrs. Alice Hull Burdick
wife of the murdered Millionaire is critically
Ill at ner mansion IN Ashland avenue.
1t is positive that Mrs. Burdick has been
confined to her room under the care Of Doc
tor Marcy. the family physician SINCE
=
Doctor Marcy admits that Mrs BurdIck
is i'll, and says thai the ordeal to which she
was subjected at the inquest is responsible
for it. = "a - :;
There is a growing feeling here among
the authorities that Mrs. Burdick is ON the
verge of collapse. 1t is said she is little
short of a nervous wreck and what the
outcome of her present illness will be is |
matter of considerable anxiety about the
offices of District Attorney Coatsworth and !
of Police Bull.