The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1906-01-09
Charles Edwards Of New York
Committed Suicide.
KILLERS ARE EXONERATED
Sensational Case Drops With the An
nOuncement BY Coroner Mix That
Revolver and Poison Bottle
Were Found.

New Haven, Ct, Jan. 9.--Suicide by
means Of both bullet and poison is the
explanation given By Coroner Mix Of
the mysterious death of Charles A. Ed
wards Of New York at the Abigail Hitler
homestead here on Tuesday night last.
This finding is contained in prelimin-
airy report to States Attorney Williams
and i based, III part, on the discovery of
morphine in the body of Mr.. Edwards BIZ
Medical Examiner Bartlett and the sur
geons who performed the autopsy. The
finding is supported by some portions
of the evidence taken at the inquest
which extended through five days and
which is not completed
The preliminary report is made at
this time to relieve public suspense, and
Coroner Mix adds that Mr.. Edwards
death probably was one Of the most
remarkable on record. The theory Of
suicide, however, appears not to have
been held by the coroner until Saturday
when two headquarters detectives un.
carthed ia tho shrilbbery near the Hitler
/ house an old.fashioned 22.calibre rel
yolver and half pint bottle containing
d quantity Of laudanmn. Until that
time and in the absence of the report of
the qualitative analysis OF the viscera
Of Mf. Edwards, the weight Of evidence
taken BY Mr.. Mix from long and exhaus-
tive examination Of witnesses was that
Mr. Edwards had been murdered.
The first action taken hy Coroner Mix
after reaching his conclusion was To or
der the release from surveillance of A.
Maxcy Hitler, brotber-in law Of Mr. Ed
wards, who, on Thursday last, was plac-
ed in charge Of a police officer.
The cOroner's Report.
The coroner's preliminary report fol-
lows
Recent developments. after long
investigation concerning the cause of the
death Of Charles "a. Edwards which oe-
cured on the morning Of Wednesday.
January 3, 1906, including the finding
within the body Of quantity Of NOR
phine, possibly sufficient to cause death
and the discovery OF a bottle Of lauda
nun in the rear yard Of the Hitler resi-
dence within easy throw from the back
door and including the finding Of 4 re-
volyer in such yard within easy throw
of the hack door, 22-calbre, Colts new
% number 3seff, which was sold BY
the Colts Fire Arms company Nav 3.
1880, TO John Moore & Sons, New York
and shipped BIZ them in case number
141, together with 179 other reviewers
TO Moore { sous. which revolver ap-
pears to have had little use the cham.
Der OF which revolver contains two emp.
ty shells and five loaded cartridges.
also including the finding OF blood stains
from outside the rear dining room door
up the back stairway aud to The land
ing to the front hafl indicate suicide
I'm consequence Of such developments
all surveillance OF Allan Maxcy Hitler
has been withdrawn
The investigation has not been con
cluded and fnal report Is not yet ready
Discusses the Case.
Coroner Mix in discussing the find.
ing, later. said
"The laudanum and revolver were
found two days ago by Detectives Don.
nelly and Ward 30 feet from the rear
Of the dining room, Just a good throw
from the back door. The laudamnn Was
taken to Dean Smith Of the Yale Med.
ical school for analysis. II was il i
inlf.pint bottle in which an inch Of
luid remained. Another revolver Was
found, but its chambers were filed with
dust aud it had not been discharged
recently. The bottle and revolver were
found in the grass, both in the same
direction from the houee. TIE blood
stains were discovered by Detectives
DAILY and Ward on dark stair ease.
The handkerchief found under Ed
wards cheek was wadded andNall inai-
cations show that he had pressed ii
close to his ear Another handkerchief
was found near the rear door which
had on it the initial ~. The blond
stains from outside the rear dining room
up the stairs form trail and stop at
thc landing Ii my opinion the man
shot himself first and then took the
poison After taking the poison he threw
both revolver and bottle away and pull
ed himself mp stairs. Under certain
conditions either the pistol wound or
the dose of poison would have killed
man, but in this case it is my belief
that one acted with the other in causing
the death Of Mr. Edwards
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