Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-03-24
A PIT|ABLE SIGHT.
Mrs. Burdick Put on Stand in
the Murder Inquest.
Reluctantly Acknowledges Intimacy
With Arthur PenneII.
And Tells of Objections of Husband to
Her Actions.

Buffalo, n. Y, March 23.-Mrs. Alice
Hull Burdick. Wife of the late Edwin
l.. Burdick, underwent a relentless ex-
animation by Distrist Attorney Coats
worth. this afternoon, at the resump-
ton of the inquest into the death of
her husband, who was murdered, Feb.
26. Mrs. Burdick was on the stand
when court adjourned until 10 O'Clock,
tomorrow morning. She will be recall
ed. tomorrow, to complete her testi-
mony.
With package of letters in his
hands. some of which were written to
Mrs. Burdick by Arthur r. Pennell, CO.
respondent in the divorce proceedings
instituted by Mr.. Burdick. and other
communications between M. Burdick
and his wife. Mr.. Coatsworth forced
Mrs. Burdick to tell the story of her re-
lations with Pencil from the time he
first made love to her in New Haven
in 1898 until 1901 when these relations
were renewed after Burdick had for
given his wife and had taken her back
to his home for the sake of their chill
dren. Mrs. Burdick was deathly pale
While Oh the witness stand. She an
severed questions in low, faltering
tone, evading direct answer when
ever possible and reluctantly admitting
facts when the district attorney pitt
lesSy read extracts of the love letters
written to her by Arthur II. Pennell.
Not stree the inquest into the MUIR
deI began has there been such intense
interest in the proceedings. AS early
as il o'clock in the morning, men and
women. mostly the latter. applied at
the police court for seats. Judge Muir
ply ordered the room cleared and no
one was admitted until o'clock. When
the inquest was resumed at 2 O'Clock,
three-quarters of the spectators in the
crowded court room We're women.
George c. Miller, attorney TOR Edwin
l.. Burdick in the divorce proceedings
against Mrs. Burdick, was the first
witness called. He told in detail the
steps that had been taken at the re-
quest of Mr.. Burdick to secure a di-
vorce He last saw Mr.. Burdick on the
afternoon of the day he was murdered
Burdick spent half an hour with him
discussing the divorce matter. He did
not state that he had an appointment
with any one at his home that night.
Mr.. Burdick was ready at all times
to sacrifice his own interests for those
of his children" said Mr.. Miller. He
carried a revolver but l never heard
nim say that he feared harm from Pen
1eil. At a conference held at my office
Pencil made one or two statements
rom which an intimation of suicide
:ould be drawn l never heard PEN
nell say that unless the divorce action
was withdrawn he would kill himself
ard Mrs. Burdick."
Henry j. Orrett, the Pennell furnace
man. was the next witness. His testi-
nuny was unimportant. He simply
stated that he removed the ashes from
Pennell's furnace on the morning ar
Ter the murder. He found no buttons
buckles or metallic substance in the
ashes. Pencil put on the coal and
shook down the furnace, as had been
lis custom.
The next witness was Miss Lizzie
Romance, maid at the Pencil house at
he time of the murder. She said Mr. |
oennell was with his wife in their room
'eading at I.45 on the night of the
murder. She saw them again at 10
o'clock when she passed their door. |
She did not see them again until the |
leXt morning. The servant said she |
lid not notice the suit of clothes Pen |
He'll had on Thursday night before the |
murder or the one he had on Friday |
morning. The girl admitted that she |
PRESSED Pencils trousers, but she said |
the could not remember which he wore
IN either occasion. She had not no.
iced whether any OF his trousers were
Missing, whether Pencil went to the
urnace, Friday morning, or whether or
lot Mr.. and Mrs. Pennell left the house
lfter 10 o'clock that evening.
Miss Romance did not notice any
hing unusual in Pennell's manner on
he evening he and Mrs. Pencil start
I'd for the automobile ride which ended
II their deaths.
There was a hum of interest in the
DOM when Miss Romance was excus-
I'd and Mrs. Burdick took the witness
stand.
Mrs. Burdick testified that she would I
De AZ years of age on April 30. She
vas married to Burdick in 1886. They
had three children. She met Pennell
1t card party five or six years ago. at
which Mr.. Burdick was present. She
Continued on page 81