Los Angeles herald., 1906-01-09
THINKS EDWARDS
KILLED HIMSELF.
CoR0NER'S EXPLANATION IN
NEW HAVEN MYSTERY
Theory Supported by Discovery Of
Morphine in Body Of Dead Man.
Revolver and Bottle Of
Laudanum Found
BY Associated Press.

by Associated Press.
NEW HAVEN, Conn. Jan. S.-sui-
eide by means of both bullet and poi
son is the explanation given by Coro-
her Mix for the death of Charles Ed
wards or New York at the Abigail Hill
ier homestead here on Tuesday night
laSt The finding Is contained i'm pre-
liminary report to state Attorney Will
Iians. and Is based in part on the dis
coNery OF morphine in the body of Mr..
Edwards, by Medical Examiner Bart
lett and the surgeons who performed
the autopsy The finding is supported
by some portions of the evidence taken
at the inquest which extended through
uNe DAYS ana which is not yet COM
pleted.
The preliminary report is made at
this time to relieve public suspense and
coroner Mix announced that Mr.. Ed
wards death probably was one of the
most remarkable on record. The theory
OF suicide appears not to have been
held by the coroner until Saturday,
when detectives unearthed in the shrub
berry near the Hitler house a 22-cal-
ibre revolver and a half pint bottle
containing a quantity of laudanum
Until that time and in the absence of
a report upon the chemical analysis of
the viscera, the weight of evidence
taken by Mix was that Mr. Edwards
had been murdered. The first action
taken by Coroner Mix today after
reaching conclusion in the case, was
to order the release of surveillance of
A. MaXsy Hitler, brother-in-law of Mr..
Edwards, who on Thursday evening
last was first placed in charge of a
police officer.
The coroner's brief report does not
dispell the mystery in the death of Mr..
Edwards and until the complete find
ings are read, probably no public solu-
tion can be found as to why Mr.. Ed
wards, as Coroner Mix describes his
actions, "at o'clock on Wednesday
morning last committed suicide in his
underclothes; left his chamber and de-
scended to the basement; lighted the
gas, unbolted and opened the rear door,
twice discharged Il revolver at himself,
one bullet going into the ear, then fail
ing to kill himself, threw the weapon
away, drank laudunum and tossed the
bottle after the pistol, and with blood
flowing from a wound in the head,
dragged himself back to his chamber,
got into bed, drew the bedclothes over
his shoulders and, after placing a hand
kerchief under his head to staunch the
flow of blood, lapsed into unconscious
ness, death coming six hours later"
Coroner Mix. in discussing his find
ing, said:
"The laudanum and revolver were
found two days ago thirty feet from
the rear of the dining room, just a good
throw from the back door. They were
in the same direction from the house.
The laudanum was i'll a half pint bot
tie in which an inch of fluid remained
Another revolver was found, but its
chambers were filled with dust and it
had not been discharged recently. The
handkerchief found under Edwards
cheek was wadded, and all indica tions
show that he had pressed it close to
his ear. Another handkerchief was
found near the rear door which had on
outside the rear dining room up the
stairs form a trail and stop at the land
ing. In my opinion the man shot him
self first and then took the poison
After taking the poison he threw both
revolver and bottle away and pulled
himself upstairs.
I'VE feel now" continued the coro
ner, that everything has been COW
cred and there remains no doubt that
Mr.. Edwards took his own life"
MaXey Hitler took his release from
surveillance calmly but denied him
self to all callers. BY advice of his
counsel he has refused to make any
statement whatever. Some of the in.
quest evidence is understood to be
startling almost beyond belief, the
coroner himself admitting this. For
this reason it is not expected that
States Attorney Williams will allow
the evidence to be opened for publi-
cation