The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1906-01-04
4 new TRAGIC
MYSTERY CASE
Prominent New Yorker Found
Dead in Bed at New Haven.
A GUEST OF 8R0THERS-IN-LAW
Death Wound From Pistol Bill But No
Other Trace Of The Weapon
Was Found.
A GUEST OF 8ROTHERS-IN-LAW

New Haven. Conn, Jan. 4.-Charles A.
Edwards Of $50 Park avenue, New York.
formerly president OF the Passaic Chemi-
cal company OF New Jersey and more
recently an officer OF the General Chemi-
cal company, with an office I'm New York
city, was mysteriously given death
wound from a pistol ball while lying In
bed during last night. the guest OF his
brother-in-law. Charles A. Hitler.
SO mysterious was the case from the
outset that Deputy Coroner Pond opened
an inquest al police headquarters imme-
diately following long and seal ching
inquiry during the day at the Hitler home
stead at III College street. almost directly
opposite East Divinity dormitory or
Yale.
KEPT VERY QUIET.
For almost four hours Deputy Coroner
Pond conducted the preliminary inquest
into the shooting OF Mr.. Edwards. Those
who were examined were "A. MaXey Hitler
and his brother, Charles. Coroner Pond
said after the inquest that he would make
no formal statement.
He talked with the newspaper men for
a short time. however, on the case ana
said that as far as he could learn he could
find no reason for Mr.. Edwards taking his
own life. ION the other hand" continued
the coroner there seems To me 10 be
good reason TO believe that Mr. Edwards
was killed"
He was asked IL suspicion pointed TO
any one man. and he replied that he
would not discuss that phase Of the case.
The coroner was asked whether or not the
shooting, in his mind. was the result OF a
quarrel between members OF the Hitler
family but declined TO speak definitely on
Deputy Coroner Pond said that the en-
tire matter would be turned over TO
Coroner Mix this morning, and until that
time he would say no more.
FOUND POWDER ON HEAD.
nv ho In, ha
case and who was the physician 10 nou-
fy Deputy Coroner Pond. said last night
that when he arrived at the home Mr.:
Edwards was dead and that when found
I'm bed Mr.. Edwards was dressed in his
underclothes There were black powder
marks on the left ear of the dead man.
according to Or. Cheney, and there was
no sign OF powder on his fingers.
When A. MaXcy Hitler left the commits
sioners room, where the inquest was held.
he said that he would do all that he could
10 clear the situation, and that his brother
would do the same.
Charles A. Hiller refused 10 talk to the
newspaper men.
10 was nearly IL O'Clock before II was
over. Last night the Hitler home in Col
lege street where the shooting occurred.
was guarded by the police There will be
a continuation Of the coroner's inquest to-
morrow on the return Of Coroner Mix
Mr.. Edwards was found dying in his
chamber by Charles A. Hitler. He had
birthday party I'm honor OF his sister Mrs.
Samuel Harris. who is a cousin OF former
President Timothy Dwight OF Yale.
Earlier in the day he had come from New
York for this special purpose and OF late
he had been a frequent visitor here,
usually a a guest OF either Charles a.
or A. MaXcy Hiller both brothers-in-law
FOUND BULLET HOLE.
He retired apparently in the best Of
spirits. His failure TO appear at break
fast led Charles A Hitler to go upstairs
According 10 the latter. the chamber door
was not locked. and going in, he saw Mr.
Edwards apparently unconscious. lrom
what was at first taken TO be a stroke OF
apoplexy.
A 'neighbor Dr. Metcalf. who Is n dem
tist was called and he gave restoratives
under the impression that II was A stroke
Of apoplexy. little later DIR. Benjamin
H. Cheney reached the house. but Mr. Ed
wards was then breathing his last.
In the course of his treatment OF the
dying man, Dr. Cheney found a bullet hole
in the left side OF the head. directly behind
the ear. The hemorrhage from II had
been profuse. but as IT later was deter
mined. the missile had gone directly into
the brain.
The death Of MIR Edwards was re-
ported by Charles A. Hitler to Deputy
Coroner Pond, who at once went TO the
house. while n messenger summoned A.
Maxcy Hitler from the superior court
where he was trying a case.
At first glance Deputy Coroner Pond
thought that death was an act OF suicide,
but the absence OF the weapon. which
hours Of searching failed 10 reveal at
once gave rise to suspicion of murder.
although he declined TO so express him