The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-03-18
BURDICK INQUEST MOVE
AROUSES SPECULATION
Sudden Halt Called in Pro-
ceedings Till Monday.
ANNOUNCEMENT A SURPRISE
Giving Out of Attorney Coatsworth's
Voice Said to Be Reason
for Postponement.

BUFFALO, n. Y. March 1s.-A halt
was called today in the inquest into the
murder OF Edwin L. Burdiok.
Justice Murphy announced at the
morning session of the police court,
which is devoted to the consideration
of arrests OF the night before, that the
inquest would be adjourned until 2
O'Clock on Monday afternoon. Chief OF
Detectives Cusack was with Justice
Murphy on the bench before the an
nouncement was made.
The reason for the adjournment, as
given out. is that District Attorney
Coatsworth's throat had failed him. and
that be needed a rest There Is much
speculation as to whether this is an ac-
curate statement. or whether the au-
thorities have struck an unexpected
elew.
Mrs. Burdick to Have Been Heard.
Mrs Burdick. was to have taken the
stand today, and curiosity concerning
her evidence has been rife She has yet
to reply TO what other witnesses have
said concerning her relations with PEN
nell. and her story OF the divorce pro-
ceedings instituted agains; her; her
movements when absent from home and
her replies to questions concerning the
scandals in the "Elmwood set'' it was
expected would be both interesting and
ImDortant.
Mrs. Burdick has been in the vicinity
Of the court room every day Of the in
quest but has generally remained In an
anteroom adjoining the ofice of Police
superintendent Bull She has estab-
lished an alibi to the satisfaction of the
police, who asked for II as a matter Of
form. for she was in Atlantic City on
the night that her husband was killed.
Pennell Servant Summoned.
The PeuneII servant. Lizzie Romance,
was one of the witnesses summoned. Il
was not thought that she would tell
much and would prove her value as
servant. rs did those OF the Burdieks.
who said shat they knc-r nothing OF the
troubles between their employers.
Another witness yet to be heard II
old Alfred Brookman, the man who fire.
auently attended the furnace in the
Burdick nome. and who says that on
che morning of the murder he heard the
voices Of a man and a woman IN the
cellar. the woman being a member of
the household.
The police have run down his story.
and say that the pair whom he heard
may have been Detective Sergeant John
w Holmlund and Margaret Murray. the
cook. Holmlund took the girl into the
cellar when he began his Investigation
after he was called The furnace ten
der says. however. that he is positive
that the voice of the woman was not
that OF the Murray girl
Pennen Furnace Mystery.
Furnaces have come 70 figure more
prominently than ever IN this case. and
last night and this morning the police
made search for ~ man who at
tended the one in the Pennell house, IN
Cleveland Avenue. The police have
heard a story that Pennell fixed his fur
mace between and 6:30 on the morn
ing or the murder. something that he
was never known 10 do before. When
the regular furnace tender went to do
his work he was informed that Pennell
had attended to IL The PenneI fur
mace has already been searched. but
nothing has been found TO show that a
bludgeon. with which Burdick might
have been killed. OF any bloodstained
clothes worn by his murderer. had
been burned there.