Milford chronicle., 1906-01-12
c. A. EDWARDS
KILLED HIMSELF
Man Found Dead in Bed at New
Haven, Conn.,, a Suicide.
He USED BULLET AND POISON

New Haven, Conn, Jan. 9.-Suicide
by means Of both bullet and poison is
the explanation given by Coroner Eli
MiX OF the death OF Charles A. Ed
wards. of New York city. at the abb
gall Hitler homestead. This finding is
contained in a preliminary report to
State Attorney Williams, and is based
in part by the discovery of morphine
in the body Of Mr.. Edwards by Medi-
cal 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 yet completed.
The preliminary report is made at
this time to relieve the public sus-
pense, and Coroner Mix adds that Mr.. /
Edwards death probably was one of I
the most remarkable on record. The /
theory Of suicide, however, appears
not to have been held by the coroner
until Saturday, when detectives un.
earthed in the shrubbery near the
Hitler house 22-calibre revolver and
half-pint bottle containing a quantity
of laudanum. Until that time, and in
the absence of a report on the chem
ical analysis Of the viscera the weight
OF evidence taken by Mr.. Mix was
that Mr.. Edwards had been murdered.
The first action taken by Coroner
Mix after reaching a conclusion in the
case was to order the release from sur.
veillance of A. Maxcy Hitler, brother !
in-law of Mr.. Edwards, who on Thurs. ,
day evening last was placed in charge
of a police officer !
The coroner's brief report does not :
dispel the mystery in the death of Mr.. 4
Edwards, and until the complete find r
ing is ready, probably no public solu. a
lion can be found as to why Mr.. Ed. {
wards as Coroner Mix describes his 4
actions "at 2 o'clock on Wednesday n
morning last clad in his underclothes. .,
eft his chamber and descended to the II
basement, lighted the gas, unbolted ~
md opened the rear door, twice dis r.
harged a revolver at himself one bull. ~
ct going into the ear; then, falling to fo
Ill himself, threw the weapon away. q,
- t'A--@ %NoNtaAAuAAi anu bOoSGu luB DOLLlG g
fter the pistol, and with blood flowine
rom wound in the head, dragged
imself back to his chamber. got into
ed. drew the bedclothes over his st
and after placing a hand. tn
erchief under his head to staunch an
le flow Of blood, lapsed into uncon. do
death coming six hours fe,
ter" ~
In discussing some Of the facts OBJ.
ined on which the suicide theory was
nhrmed, Coroner Mix says that one 60
Illet went wild. being imbedded in
g door. while the other made the
ound PEI
The hand rail on the stairs and the pre-
III show bloody hand marks as if ses
wards had first put his hand to the VIII
'und, smearing it with blood, before INC
lrting upstairs. That Edwards had sys
rtially disrobed before going down. and
-irs is shown by the care taken in pen
ding his outer garments. Besides. f
'ording to Charles Hitler, he retired as
'ut midnight. The time of the shoot bill
is fixed by a maid servant next door Of
by the watchman at the Graduates law
ID in the rear, both Of whom heard imp
} pistol shots at 2 o'clock. Charles orig
Ter slept through this noise. n