The Minneapolis journal., 1903-04-11
IT IS STILL A MYSTERY

that Pennell had been a swindler, on the
ground that it would provide a motive for
suicide. He had been requested by the
court to. conduct the examination of all
the witnesses and he was ready to wait
until Christmas if need be to get out the
last word. .- - &:->'
Aside from the Pennell statement, the
inquest developed little that bore on the
Burdick murder. The motive was there,
Justice Murphy said as he had said there
was motive for Pennell to murder Burdick,
but in this case, as in the other, oppor-
tunity and motive do not constitute legal
evidence.
.-.~: PenneKs Statement. :.->. ..,. +.
w. c. Omphelius, Pennell's stenographer,
produced a typewriter copy Of the first
draft of a statement prepared for: publica-
tion by Pennell before his death. The
statement in full is as follows:
''To the Public: Now that the flood of
sensationalism and yellow journalism has
lessened and that public excitement has
died down to a calmer consideration Of the
facts and events leading up to a terrible
tragedy which has recently taken place
in this city, I wish, in behalf of myself,
but especially more in behalf of others
whose sufferings are even greater than
nine,, to make this statement.
lowing to the fact that my name was
so unfortunately at this time connected
with the pending divorce proceedings. 1t
was forced Into great publicity in con-
nection% with the tragedy itself, SO far as
any possible connection with that crime
was concerned. I satisfied, L think, the
district attorney and his associates thor
oughly that had nothing 'tosdo with lit
and since that time neither has my house
nor myself been under suspicion or sur
veillance. After being out for a short
time In the early part of that! evening
| T Nf Qf ac Wo G
shown by the evidence of my wife and
the servant girl in our house. Itthinkss]
was soon acquitted both by ;the public
Eand the authorities with any connection
with the; crime. E
TT now becomes incumbent upon me
to make some statement relative to my
connection with the divorce proceedings
In this statement I wish to say as little
as possible upon the dead. But it mus
be remembered that those who are living
! have their lives to live and the rights o
/ the living are greater than the rights o
the dead. There was no truth in th
charges brought by the plaintiff in tina
4 proceeding against the defendant, an,
myself. The charges were absolutely de
MED under oath and counter charges ha,
been made, sand in IA short, time the cas-
I would have been quietly tried before
referee and settled. The relations exist
4 ing between the plaintiff and the defen
. dant had been strained for some time
Twice he had unjustly attempted to max
her leave her homie. My wife and mysel
had taken her side in the controversy tina
arose between them and she had consulte
me for legal advice and protection. Dur
ing this time the man himself was in lin
innate relations with "a woman whom h
] desired to marry. {: For that purpose
was necessary to be free from his wife
He discovered the fact that his wifi
knew of these relations Inv gaining acces
i to the safe deposit vault where she keI
Il her papers through forgery, and purloin
Il ing the keys from her.
/ Being thus apprised of the evidenc
t against hims she determined to anticipat
]. her action by bringing an action himse
: in order that he might have the appear
) ance Of being the injured party, and OF