The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-03-30
THE PENNELL INQUEST TO-DAY
BEFbRE IT rs BEGUN, BURDICK
CASE WILL BE REOPENED
To Hear the Bartender and Cashier Of the
Hotel Roland OF This City-PennelPs
Papers VIII he Called For-Ffnger
Marks on Burdick's Door Explained.

HOtel Roland OF This G1ty-Pennehs
Papers WIN he Called For-Ffnger
Marks on Burdick's Door Explained.
BUFFALO, March 2e.-Before the Pennell
inques, is begun In the police court to-
morrow morning. JUS ice Murphy Will
reopen, In a way, the Burdick inquest. so
q TO hear the 81 cries of the bar ender and
cashier OF the Hotel Roland. New YORK.
Quinn and Herman arrived al the Mansion
House this afternoon and the police saw
them and arranged for their appearance.
After they are examined the Burdick
inquiry will close, at least for the time
being, and the Pennel inquiry, oniciauy
an entirely different matter, will start.
The police win participate in the Pennen
inquest only to the extent of bringing In
the witnesses TO the automobile horror and
turning over to Justice Murphy whatever
information they have. The District At
torney's part will be the questioning OF
certain witnesses about Pencils papers
and on any other points that might enlighten
the Burdck mystery In law. the ques-
ton whether Pencil was a suicide has
nothing to do with the murder OF Burdick.
Wallace Thayer. who was Pencils at
torney and adviser. and Thomas Penney,
who is acting as attorney for the Pennell
estate, both may be called as witnesses
AND asked to produce Pencils papers. in
10 far as any of them pertain to Burdick
or the Burdick case. Thayer and Penney
have legal right to refuse to produce any
Of the papers. for they have the privilege
of confidential advisers or attorneys. II
they refuse on this ground to present the
: papers, they will state their reasons and
Justice Murphy will pass upon them.
Frequently il has been asked why the
police did not sieze Pencils papers and
search his house and Office i'm Immediately
after his death. They did not do 50 be-
cause the new Medical Examiner law con-
fers no powers that the Coroners did not
possess. When a dead man leaves heirs
II is not for the police or Medical Examiner
to seize his effects. except those upon the
body, and these are returned to the heirs
at once.
In the case OF a dying murderer caught
red-handed, it is different, of course. but
the difference is due to the crime. The
police made their search OF Pencil S house
while he was alive. Now the heirs have
his papers, or had them. and the way to
get them is to ask for them at the inquest;
They may, of course. have been handed
beyond the jurisdiction OF the court.
It was learned to-day that the New York
r. Pennell had four policies OF a total value
Of $50 900, paid that sum to j. Fred Pen
nell, administrator Of the estate, last
Wednesday. The proofs Of death were
submitted to the company on March Fl
and four days later the insurance was paid.
The certificate which the County Medical
Examiner sent to the insurance company
stated in substance that Pencils death
was the result OF injuries received in an
automobile accident
The four accident insurance companies
in which Pennell had policies will be repre-
aented at the inquest to-morr ow. Their
interest amounts to SIS 900, and some OF
them are inclined to contest payment.
Justice Murphy was asked whether the in
surance lawyers would be allowed to ques-
ton the witnesses. He said he saw no harm
on the subject.
The Lawyers. Hartzell and DR.. Fell. appear
to have their troubles for their pains in
removing the piece of wood from the casing
Of the Burdick door. There arc bloody
hngsrmarks on the wood. but the fingers
were not those OF the murderer, but OF an
morgue employees. Detective Holmlund
when the body Of Burdick was being
carried out OF the house" said Holmlund,
.the blood began to drip through the wicker
basket, and sent one Of the morgue men
back TO get pillow to place under the
head.
when he adjusted it his hands were
blood9 aimed. and as he was carrying the
baske1 through the front door he rest ed
one hand OF the casing OF the door for sup
did not stopth flow Of blood and there were
drops Oh the veranda and the walk. These
had oIeansed al once, but ! overlooked
the marks on the casing"