Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-03-17
Daughter of Burdick Placed on
the Stand and Questioned
by Attorneys
CHILD REVEALS NO cLEw
Prosecutor Baffled in His Attsmp,
to Get the Witness to Give Con-
nscted Account Of What Took Place
When 5urdiek's Murder Was Dis
covered.


ing child was on the stand at yester.
days session of the inquiry into the
Burdfck murder mystery. 1t was Mar.
don Burdick, the 15-year old daughter
of the murdered man. a girl with the
delicate features and pink and white
cheeks of a beautiful doll.
Not many months ago, while she was
riding in her fathers automobile, the
machine became unmanageable and ran
away at full speed. It coursed thru the
busy streets, but the girl kept her
hand on the lever, and, tho she could
not stop it, she guided it around curves
ana corners for two miles. The power
at the door OF the stable where 1t was
kept. The newspapers printed col
umns about her GOODNESS and nerve. but
her coolness and nerve today Were
more wonderful.
Two weeks ago, Just after the mur-
der. Marion Burdick was questioned by
the investigators OF the crime. Her
mother and grandmother, Mrs. Hull,
were then out Of the city, attending
the funeral OF Mr.. Burdick. Her state
a lnent was carefully taken and the dis
trict attorney had 1t for reference in
+ his examination Of the child today.
AS the questioning OF the child pro-
4 gressed he laid aside this statement
as useless and finally asked her II She
had discussed what she had to say
with one of her grandmother's lawyers
who had been living in the Burdick
house since the tragedy. Mr.. Coats
worth had expected frank witness in
Marion Burdick. He treated her with
fatherly courtesy and gentIeness. yet
at times her manner toward the dis
trict attorney was almost hostile.
She answered in monosyllables when
ever possible. It was Yes" or No. or
when those replies would not suffice
she used as few words as possible.
She was not easily confused and there
was no sign of agitation or emotion
when the district attorney questioned
her closely regarding the events that
occurred at the time her father was
murdered Mr. Coatsworth began by
carefully choosing his words In putting
questions to her. Later he fired ques-
tons in rapid succession, all of which
were met with replies both sharp and
decisive At one time when the dis
trict attorney asked the same question
several times, the girl caused mur-
, mur In the court room by raising her
voice sharply in clear, emphatic Il
don't know" Nothing OF Importance
was elected from her while she was on
the stand and the district attorney
finally gave her up in despair.
II the girls story of what happened
In the Burdick house on the morning
OF the murder is true she must have had
d remarkable training or a cold heart.
She knew that something had happened
to her father, yet she swore that she
never inquired what it was, or, believ-
ing that he was only i'll. never went
70 the den to see what had occurred.
IS She was not the only witness whose
every word was drunk in by the au-
dience. DR.. William III. Marcy, the
family physician, who was first to
touch the body Of the victim, was han
died just as the district attorney had
handled Mrs. Maria Hull on Saturday.
Not a point escaped Mr.. Coatsworth
and at several stages DIR. Marcy ape
peared to be fioundering in a pool of
1 explanations that did not always ex-
plain. DR.. Marcy admitted that, after
telling Mrs. Hull that Burdick had been
murdered, he put this question to the
deputy medical examiner, DR.. How
land:
do you think there is anything sui
cidal In this? Do you think there is
3 possibility OF its being suicide or
$ hnfrr =Ynada ont Sllicidal2"
His ayowed reason for saying this
was that 1t would save Burdick's name
and his family name IL it was sui
eide.
Toward the close Of his examination
he was asked by Lawyer Hartzell, Mrs.
Hull's counsel, at what hour he be-
lieyed the murder to have been COM
mitted. He replied that it was be-
tween IL and o'clock and, without
further questioning, gave long and
detailed reason for this belief
The hearing was opened at 2 p. m.,
j with DIR. William ii. Marcy the first
witness. DIR. Marcy said he received a
'pllone message from the Murray girl.
one OF Mrs. Burdicks maids, at about
g o'clock on the morning after the mur-
der He was met at the door of the
= 6uTQlck NOME ny NILS. II uii. isS'ee'iik,
what followed, the doctor said he went
into the den. He did SO because Mrs.
Hull said she had looked into that
room. She told him she found the door
OF the den closed.
WAS there anything in the appear
ance Of the couch to indicate that there
was a body ON the couch?" he was
asked.
well, the pillows We're piled up rath-
er high" was the reply, and it looked
as il there was something under
them
"But did there appear to be a body
under them?"
NO"
DIR. Marcy said he made a casual ex
animation of the body and left the
room.
"And your opinion was that Burdick
had been murdered z"
!. Yes, sir
did you notify the police?"
"No, I just notified DR.. Howland. the
medical examiner ! thought that my
euty ended there"