Americus times-recorder., 1903-03-27
BURDICK INQUEST
DRAWING To CLOSE
Taking of Testimony Prac-
tically Completed.
NO ARRESTS LIKELY TO FOLLOW
So Far Nothing of Importance Has
Been Developed-GeneraI Belief that
Close of Inquest Will See End
of Active Search for Murderer.

Been Veloped-GeneraI Belief that
Close of Inquest Will See End
of Active Search for Murderer.
&, Buffalo, n Y, March 26.-When the
inquest into the murder of Edwin L..
Burdick was resumed this morning,
the expectations were that it would
end today unless unforeseen compli-
cations should develop in the final
examinations of witnesses.
Before today's hearing. %.began it was
announced that Mrs. J.E. Hull moth
er of Mrs. Burdick; the Rev. l.. M.
Powers, pastor of the church Of the
Messiah, which the Burdicks attend
ed, and City Chemist Herbert NJ. Hill,
would testify.
The Rev Mr.. Powers recently made
a statement over his signature de-
Tending Mrs. Hull and accusing Pen
nell, then dead, of the murder of Bur
dick. 1t is said, however, that it was
not SO much on account of this accu-
sation that he was subpenaed but be.
cause he was Burdick's pastor. He
knew the murdered man well. Bur
dick, it is said, had talked to him of
his troubles and of PennelI, and even
of the letters Pennell had written to
Burdick
Every seat in Judge Murphy's court
was occupied when the inquest was
resumed, but there was no crowding.
The general belief prevailing is that
no arrest will follow the proceedings
and nothing in the nature of material
evidence bearing directly upon the
murder Of Burdick will be forthcom,
ing. The Rev. L. M. Powers was the
first 'witneIs. He said that Mrs,
Hull and the Burdicks were members
of his church congregation On two
separate occasions he had talks with
Burdick concerning the latter's do.
mestic affairs The first one was at
Burdicks Office about three weeks pr1.
or to the murder. He called volun.
tarily to talk with Burdick about the
matter, which the witness said ''had
become common talk at that time"
Mrs. Hull also had discussed with
him once during a call the minister
made at the house. Asked to repeat
the conversation with Mrs. Hull. Mr..
Powers said:
She told me her daughter had left
home and that a suit for divorce was
pending. She said her daughter was
not without fault, but that she was not
alone to blame either; that if l knew
the whole thing, | would not believe
that the fault was all her daughters" ."
Mrs. Hull, he said did not ask Rtm
to speak to Burdick about withdraw.
ing the divorce suit. On one occa.
sion he visited Burdick and walked up
home with him so that he was with
him about an hour Burdick told
him about everything that has come
out in this examination
What did he tell you that has not
come out?"
He told me that Pennell had threat.
ened to commit suicide if the divorce
suit was not withdrawn and that Pen.
nell had succeeded an impression the
sincerity of his threat upon Mrs. Bur.
dick so that she had believed him and
induced Burdick to go to Pennell and
tell him that if he would get out OF
town he would call everything square.
I think he said Pennell had given
written promise to leave town.
The witness said he asked Burdick
to withdraw the divorce suit and to
take his wife back but he concluded
from the mans reply that he would
not do so under any circumstances
Burdick Mr.. Powers said, had a very
kindly feeling for Mrs. Hull. He
thought a good deal of her. He told
me that she was not we'll and that
he had offered to send her to Florida
or California, continued the witness,
"and that she should always have a
home with him.
One reason Burdick gave me for
not taking Mrs. Burdick back was that
Mrs. Hull always had had the chief
care of the children and they would
continue under her care"
Mr.. Powers said his second call up.
on Mr.. Burdick was mainly regarding
a business matter.
do you know whether Pennell ever
made any threat against Burdick?"
asked Mr.. Coatswortn
"No. All l know is that l have an
impression that PennelI said to some
one that if the divorce suit was not
withdrawn something would happen. /
would not care to swear that anybody
ever told me that. 1t is simply an
impression which I have