Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-03-26
CONFESSED TO FRIEND
BURDICK GREATLY GRIEVED
OVER FAMILY TROUBLES,
Told II. n. Rice of Indianapolis How
Pennel Had Broken Up
His Home.

Herbert H. Rice, an Indianapolis manu-
facturer, was an intimate friend of E. L.
Burdick, and yesterday gave out an inter-
view in that city, in which he recounted
visit from Burdick last January.
He appeared troubled and he took the
opportunity to unbosom himself to Mr.
Rice.
He led me to quiet corner in the fac
tory said Mr.. Rice, land began telling
me his troubles, prefacing his remarks by
saying that he did not know why. he should
tell them to me, but 1 was so far from
Buffalo that it would be all right. He
talked of his wife and Pennelrs attentions
to her. He said Pennell and his wife went
to Buffalo and were taken into society,
and that the acquaintance of his wife and
himself with the Pencils soon ripened
into friendship. The families were to-
gether a great deal They played golf at
tended dances and parties. and the Pen
nells had the freedom of the Burdick home.
HE said Pehnell was brilliant chap
socially, and that he admired him and
knew that his wife admired him also He
said Pennell and Mrs. Burdfck seemed to
enjoy each others company particularly,
but that he had no suspicious at first.
"Burdick said he afterward learned that
Pennell and Mrs. Burdick were having
clandestine meetings. He did not state
the source of his information. but he said
he confronted both with accusations and
both confessed to having had improper re-
lations.
ION promises of Pennell to leave Buffalo
and the promise of his wife not to meet
Fenne1l again Burdick said he agreed not
to take any action in the matter. Neither
promise was kept, he said, as Pennell re-
manned in Buffalo and Mrs. Burdick soon
was meeting him again.
Threatened Divorce Suit.
threatened to bring suit for divorce.
Again they pleaded with him, he said, and
on the solemn renewal of the promises he
let the matter rest once more. Notwith-
standing these promises PennelI stayed in
Buffalo and continued to meet Mrs. Bur-
dick Mr.. Burdick said he found slip of
paper containing list of meeting places
and dates made out in cipher On this
paper was one address and date Burdick
thought he deciphered correctly. Accom-,
panied by detectives. he went to the ad-
dress and found Pennell and Mrs. Burdick
together.
with this evidence he determined to
obtain a divorce, he said. Burdick held a
conference with Pennell and Mrs Burdfck,
and Pennen and the woman agreed that
they would not contest the suit for d.
vorce, but would aid in securing 1t in
quiet way, to avoid notoriety much as
possible.
lHey PROMISED TO HE an answer to MS
complaint without delay. They did not file
the answer, however. but instead. put de-
tectives on the track of Mr.. Burdick, hav-;
Ing resolved between themselves that they
would contest the suit.
Burdick said the detectives followed ev-
cry move he made. and trumped up lot of
false evidence against him. which involved
his friends, respectable people, of whom he
thought a great deal
"Burdick said he lived at hotel. apart
from his wife for some time. and the de-
tectives, knowing this, drew conclusions
adverse to his moral character, and made
the most of it.
"Burdick did not know that he was being
watched by the detectives. He tod me
that he was in a state of distraction and
that he sought the society of his friends
for relief from his state of depression. He
said that he had taken highly respectable
women riding In his automobile and had