The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-03-01
E. |. BURDICK'S MURDER
EFFORTS TO SOLVE THE MYSTERY
OF AN ATROCIOUs CRIME.
Evidence that the Buffalo Mans As
Eleven Wounds ON Head.

BUFFALO, Feb. 2s.-Mrs. Burdick, the
widow Of Edwin L. Burdick, who was
murdered at his home on Thursday night,
arrived here to-day from Atlantic City.
The police have found the hackman who
drove an as yet unidentified man to within
few doors of the Burdick residence about
midnight on Thursday night. They regard
this as a valuable clew. Another clew in
the hands of the authorities is a tuft of
hair which was found on the person of
Burdick. 1t rs not of his hair. but whether
belonging to man or woman the police
do not say. 1t Is of color and texture
that will be easy to match with the hair
from which it was torn. In the room I'm
which the murdered man was found the
police also found paper which was sent
to Mr.. Burdick by a Cleveland woman,
containing a story of the granting of
divorce from her husband. The police
learned that the woman was in Cleveland
Thursday night. and that her former hus-
band is working in New York or some
other Eastern city.
1t was learned to-day that Mr.. Burdick,
whose business took him on frequent trips
out of the city, knew he had been shad-
owed for some time when out Of town.
This system of espionage. he said. had
been In effect for some time, and the in
ference is that it was to obtain evidence,
if possible, for countercharges in the d.
vorce proceedings which had been begun
by Mrs. Burdick. 1t Is also fact that in
one of the trousers pockets Of Mr.. Burdicks
clothing a loaded revolver was found. 1t
had not been used.
The autopsy revealed the facts that there
were at least eleven wounds on the head
five of which were so serious that any one
would have been sufficient to cause death
blunt instrument. The location of the
wounds indicated that the victim was i'm
reclining position when the blows were
delivered or .nas S most t, Q, tnem ,a nao Deen
Considerable force had been used, but the
doctors did not pretend to claim that the
force used was greater than might have
been exerted by strong woman. Ii was
evident the murderer was in a great state
of passion, amounting to frenzy, as the
skull had been broken to a pulp In one
place and many blows had been struck.
The district attorney tonight openly ex-
pressed the opinion that somebody in the
Burdick social circle murdered Mr.. Bur-
dick The circuit was composed OF num-
prime of life. They were intimately ac-
ouainted socially. The circle has been dis
rupted by more or less scandal In fact,
several divorce suits have grown out OF IL,
according to the district attorney
The finding Of tuft of hair on Burdick's
body which at first appeared to be a prom
Using clew, apparently has fallen fiat Chief
of Detectives Cusack says the hair match
es Burdick's Cusack added: MY judg-
ment is that Burdick had an appointment
with somebody at his house that night
Whether the person he had an appointment
with was a man or woman we dc not
know There are indications that IL was a
woman, but at the same time IL may have
been a man.
to the district attorneys Office to be ques-
toned. One was handsomely gowned. the
other seemed to be a maid. Their exam
ination brought out nothing new. however.
Still later the police found the weapon
with which Burdick was murdered. 1t Is a
steel-tipped golfers putter. Where they
got il the officials refuse to say at present
1t is-said that there are marks upon 1t be-
Heved to be blood stains