Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-01-06
Coroner Still Trying to De-
eide in Edwards Case.
Conflicting Clues Point to Both
Suicide and Murder.



TO bring the inquest in the mysterious
shooting case in which Charles A. Ed
| wards of New York met death at the
home of Charles A. Hitler Wednesday
| morning to an end as quickly as posi-
| bic, Coroner Mix conducted long ex-
amina ion in his office tonight, several
witnesses whose names have been men
toned in connection with the affair
| giving testimony. This inquest was q
continuation of the session started late
| i'll the afternoon in which the only wit
| ncsscs were Charles Hitler and Mar
garct Reynolds, the servant i'll the Hill
Ter house where Mr.. Edwards was
killed. Until the coroner renders
finding, no developments of great I'M
portaHce are expected, and as he said
tonight previous to his entering his
office for the late inquest, the case is
at a standstill. Tonights session was
a late one and at its conclusion the
coroner said that there was nothing to
give out. No charge of any kind has
been made against any person in con-
nection with the shooting.
A. MaXcy Hitler is held by the cor
oner as a witness, and spent tonight
at his home in Temple street, closely
guarded by a Uniformed policeman
ana seemed to be i'll as cheerful q mood
as 1t any time since the death of his
brothcr-in-law WAS made public. He
insists that he will be able to estab-
fish an alibi when the proper time
comes but refused to make any other
statement regarding the mysterious
case. His counsel. +. p. Arvinc, who
doing Mn
that there will be no writ of habeas
corpus for the release of his client and
is satisfied that Mr. Hitler could have
had no motive for killing Mr.. Edwards
An investigation was made today re-
%arding the report Of missing papers
alleged to have been taken from the
clothes of the victim Of the shooting
but nothing new developed along that
line. The reported missing papers are
alleged to consist of a diary compiled
by former servant of the Hitler falni-
ly and its value in establishing a mo-
tive for the crime is not known.
One of the interesting developments
during the day and which at first
looked to be important. was that Chas
"A. Hitler had turned over two pistols to
the coroner for his inspection the cor
oncr later giving them to a gunsmith
1t has since developed that these
weapons were old firearms which had
been part Of n collection in the Hill
Ter family for years. The theory that
the fatal shot was fired with one Of
these pistols is secuted by the police. ii
is alleged.
Although the police have not given
up the hope "f finding the weapon
which caused the death Of Nj. Ed
wards. they are convinced that il II
nowhere about the Hitler homestead.
Today the coroner ordered the search
there discontinued
Tho body Of Mr.. Edwards was taken
to New York this afternoon at 4
O'Clock
n. Maxcy Hitler acted as legal and
financial adviser or his mother. H.
said yesterday that he believed She
left a will hut he declared that he did
not draw up the document. Mr.. Hitler
expressed the opinion that the will
would bc found in an old safe M the
Hitler homestead. The key Of this
safe he said had been missing since
the death of his mother two months
ago. but as it was thought probable
mat II might be found any day. no
attempt had been made to open the
safe by other means. Judge Charles
\. Hitler, who lives at the Hitler home
stead is resident OF Kansas where
his wife and children now are but he
has been here for more than Il year.
having remained at his mothers side
during the closing days Of her life.
Although the report Of the Medical
Examiner DR.. G. I. Bartlett. who con-
Quoted the autopsy yesterday has not
bccn given out. it is understood that
the examination of the body did not in
itself throw light upon the question
whether the case WAS one of murder
or suicide. The course Of the bullet
which entered the head through the
upper part of the left ear and stopped
just beneath the top Of the skull,
Continued on Page Two.)