The daily morning journal and courier., 1906-01-04
VICTIM OF MURDER Every Indication That Chas. Edwards Was Shot While Asleep at the Hitler
 Homestead.
NOTHING TO PROVE SUICIDE
POLICE BAFFLED IN THEIR
 SEARCH FOR WEAPON.

Lengthy Conference of Deputy Coroner
 Pond with Charles A. and A. Maxcy
 Hitler at Police Headquarters Last
 Evening-Dead Man Was Shot
 Through Left Ear, the Bullet Enter
 ing His Brain--Deep Mystery Sur-
 rounds Disappearance of Pistol and
 Opening of BOIted DOOrs-Attempts
 of Doctors to Restore Man Vain
 Victim a Prominent oficiaI of Cen
 eraI Chemical Company, of New
 York-Was Member of Yale, '66.
 Mighty mysterious" are the words which most fttingly characterize the death of Charles Edwards, of $50 Park avenue, New York, who died by shoot ing early yesterday morning at the home of his brother-in-law, Charles A. Hitler, at 117 College street, and all the indications in the case last night point very definitely to murder. The man was found lying in his bed early in the morning with bullet wound in his left ear which passed through the ear and entered the brain back of the ear. The evidence in the case seems to be con- clusively against the theory of suicide. He was evidently shot while asleep.
 After an informal hearing of several hours duration held at police head quarters last evening by Deputy Cor oner Pond, in which Charles A, Hitler and his brother, ex-Alderman A. Maxcy Hitler, were examined, the deputy cor oner announced that he would give out no verdict, as the case was, in his opin- ion, so very mysterious. When ques- tioned as to whether they had found any motives for murder he replied, T fear we have"
 Are the motives internal?" he was asked. 'Yes," was the answer.
 .Does the evidence point to any par ticular person?" was the next question. The coroners answer was that it did.
 When queried as to whether that per son resided in New Haven the deputy coroner considered for moment and answered that he did not think he ought to answer that question,
 The coroner stated further that the case might, of course, be one of sui eide, but al. motive for suicide was lacking. Questioned as to whether all evidence of suicide was not also lack ing, the coroner admitted that it was.
 As a result of the investigation no ar rest was made and nothing done to hold any one. The investigation will be continued this morning, when it is ex- pected that Coroner Mix will be home and will assume charge of the case Although a thorough examination oi the body was made last evening by Medical Examiner Bartlett, no autopsy was performed, but that will in all probability be performed this morning In the examination of the body last evening it was disclosed that the front part of the ear through which the bul- let had passed was blackened with powder so as to be almost as dark as black hat. The bullet was not located The body was removed to the undertak- ing rooms of Robert A. Burwell or Chapel street, where the examination was made.
 It appears that MT. Edwards came tC +his city Tuesday, probably on business connected with the settlement of the estate of his late mother-in-law, Mrs Abigail Hitler, who died few months ago leaving an estate valued at abou' sf0000O. Social interests also appear tC have formed part of the object of hi' visit.
 MT. Edwards went out to lunch Tuesday at the residence of Mrs. Har' ris widow of the late Professor Sam ,,al Harris who was for many years an eminent professor in the Yale Di' vinity school Mir. Edwards was cousin of MT. Harris. and the luncf was an informal event in observance oi her birthday anniversary. There Mrs Timoty Dwight, wife of ex-Presiden' Dwight of Yale, who is also a cousin of Mir. Edwards, was also guest, ano ,yban she left for home, MT. Edwards nvbo was a great favorite of Mrs nwipbt. accompanied her to her home l
 where he was guest at dinner.
 Returning to the residence of 1l7 Col 1eoe street shortly after g o'clock ht called upon Dr. William Metcalf, wht lived next to the Hitler home on Col age street. Dr. Metcalf is an old frient of hoth the Hitler and Edwards fam tliss and MT. Edwards stayed witt him until about 10 o'clock. He appear ed in the most cheerful of spirits ant hest of health. When he left he en tered the front yard of the Killer home and whistled, evidently for entrance He went into the house. and MT charles H. Hitler states that he re mained up talking with MT. Edward for about an hour the two retiring shortly before midnight.
 MT. Hitler and MT. Edwards slept Il two adjoining bedrooms, the latter hay ing the guest chamber in the front O the house. The rooms were on the sec ond floor of the building. Sometime be tween ' and o'clock in the morning
 IContinued on Eighth Page.)