The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-03-25
MRS. PENNELL KNEW,
But Preferred Amy Situation to
Public Exposure.
Denies That There Was Viola
tiOn Of the Moral Code.

Buffalo. March 25-At the late after
noon session of the Burdick inquest Mr..
Coatsworth showed Mrs Burdick a let
Ter written from New York to Mr. Bur
dick by Mrs Pencil on December q,
1902 Tn ID Mrs Peunen asked Mr. Burr
dick if he was absolutely crazy in TAX
fne the burden of pressing divorce pro-
ceadings. She called attention to the
fact that Penneu did not value life too
highly and intimated that he might
commit suicide and take Mrs. Burdick
with him.
What did she mean by that2'' asked
At Coatsworth.
II don't know replied Mrs. Burdick.
Iu letter written December 2S, 1902,
BY Mrs Burdick 10 Mr.. Burdick. she
told him she intended TO 90 to Atlantic
City. The letter also contained a yelled
threat at suicide She had never talked
with Penneli about putting himself out
Of the way or committing suicide her
self
Iu another letter written By Pencil
ID Mrs. BurdicS from Portland. Me, he
addressed her as Dearest Alice" and
Fald- THE night is beautiful and as
look un at the moon | tried to put my
thoughts away. [ love you and must
we choose 10 break il. and Won can
never be mine"
She had received letters from him
written in similar melancholy mood.
He was very emotional man.
Mr. Coatsworth read another letter
written by Pencil to Mrs. Burdick
from Boston. In which he said.
Dearest Love. This is also very
hasty note I got your letter I was not
surprised that your note was unhappy
We seem 10 be poWerless against our
fate. but we had our opportunity and
failed 10 take advantage of it,
What does he mean by I'VE had Opf
opportunity and failed TO take advant-
GO of ite'"
"T don't know. unless he was referring
to the time we went to Atlantic City
and came back again
Tn another letter Pencil said his
heart dragged him TO her and would so
long as the breath remained In his
body how long that was he did not
care.
- ann never happy unless I am
With you" be declared
What did he ever say to you about
putting am end TO his existence"
Nothing definite"
well what did he say of an indeh-
rite nature that would lead an ordinary
person 10 believe he contemplated sui
lide7"
"He said he would rather be dead
than crippled OF manned"
He never told her that he would COM
init suicide. she said.
What did he mean when he wrote
that YOU would be without defense
when he was gone ."
"I don't know"
Pencil wrote one letter to her from
- New York IN which he said he would
IN Buffalo next day and making an
appointment with her at his office
This trip has not been a happy trip
60 me- he wrote. None is or can be
without YOU. I shall go on despairingIy
but calmly for am not afraid Of fate
which only your coming to me viii
avert. I shall not see YOU Saturday.
lf only 7 could meet YOU alone again as
used 90. then I should be willing to
ole For an hour with you is worth
When she went to Niagara Falls on
December she had with her key to
the outer door of their house and she
carried that key to New York and At
And Penneu also had a key to the
"Not that i know Of"
Where is that key now2"
rat home
have that key in his possession while
Sou were in New York;"
'I Will"
She said She did not have duplicates
or the key made. nor did Penneu. and
she had never let Pencil take it, Her
received from Pencil Neither did she
know she was receiving them. Did
your mother know anything of the re-
lauons between you and Pennen?"
NO. sir"
-Did She ever say anything about
~The night I went away she told me
She blamed Penneu more than she did
me-"
Did Marion ever say anything to
you about Pennelle"
40. SIR
Don't you recall that Marion told
YOU she thought you were doing
wrong2
40. SIR
do you know whether your mother
saw Pennen after you left home on
December 3eT
81 do not think so"
Have you received any information
as TO who killed your husband?"
no. sir'
you are positive about thats"
has any one told you who killed
your husband"
NO. SIR
you swear you have no knowledge
as 20 who killed your husband"
You never heard any one say that
he or she was going to do it,"
And you have no Information or
knowledge by which you can place your
hands on who did it,"
mo. SIR
That's all" said Mr. Coatsworth
Cross-eXamined by Attorney Hartzel,
Airs EurdiCk said Pencil learned at
the Charity bah that Burdick had Sc