The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1906-01-09
II TWAS SUICIDE,
NOT MURDER"
Charles G. EdW4dS Shot Him.
self and Drank Laudanum.
COR0NER'S REPORT is READY
Remarkable Statements In New Haven
MysteU-Says Edwards Went Out
Doors 10 Do the Trick
CORONER'S REPORT IS READY

New Haven. Conn. Jan. 9-Suicide by
means OF both bullet and poison is the
explanation given by Coroner Eli Mix OF
the mysterious death OF Charles A. Ed
wards OF $50 Park avenue, New York city
at the Abigail Hitler homestead. III Col
lege street. on Tuesday night last.
This nndlng is contained in a prelimi-
nary report TO State Attorney Williams,
and is based in part upon. the discovery
OF morphine IN the, body OF MI. EDWARDS
by Medical Examiner Bartlett and the
surgeons who performed the autopsy.
The hnding is supported by some por-
tions OF the evidence taken at the IN
quest, which extended through nVe days
and which Is not yet completed
The preliminary report is made ar thls
time 10 relieve public suspense, ana Soro-
ner Mix adds that Mr. Edwards death
probably was one OF the most remark
able on record.
The theory OF suicide, however. appears
not to have been held by the coroner unul
Saturday. when two Headquarters detec-
tves unearthed I'm the shrubbery IN the
rear OF the Hitler house an old-fashioned
22-cal6re revolver ana hal1Plnt po'-
Until that time, and I'm the absence or
a report Of the qualitative analysis or the
evidence taken by Mr.. Mix from long and
exhaustive examination Of witnesses was
that Mr.. Edwards had been murdered
STILL A MYSTERY.
The first action taken by Coroner Mix
after reaching conclusion In me case
was 10 order the release from surveillance
OF A. Maxcy Hitler brother-in-law OF Mr..
Edwards. wlrc on Thursday evening last
was placed in charge OF a polce olticer
under a recently enacted law which gives
the coroner the right 20 hold an important
witness I'm case as he sees NJ.
The coroner's brief report does not dis
wards, and until the complete finding is
ready probably no public solution can
be found as 10 why Mr.. EDWARDS az
o'clock on Wednesday morning last clad
I'm his underclothes. left his chamber and
discended 10 The Easement nghtVd t1e
gas and unbolted and opened the rear
door. then twice discharged a revplNea 10Y a,
himself, one bullet going into the ear,
then falling to Kill himself, threw the
weapon away, drank laudapum and tossed
the bottle after the pistol and. win oiood
head. dragged himself back TO his cham
ber got into bed. drew the bed clothes
over his shoulders and aftsr placing pstdIigcs =
the flow OF blood lapsed into unconscious
ness. death coming Sx hours later.
Coroner Mix so describes the actions OK
Mr. Edwards on the night in question
CORoNER's REPORT
Tho Coroner's preliminary report Is as
follows:
Recent Developments. after n long In
vestigation concerning the cause OF the
death OF Charles A. Edwards, which oc-
CURED on the morning OF wednesday
Jan. 3 1906. include the finding within the
body OF n quantity of morphine, possibly
sufficient 20 cause death. and the discoV-
cry OF a bottle OF laudanum In the rear
ward OF the Hitler residence within easy
throw from the back door, and include
the finding OF a revolver In such yard
within easy throw OF the back door, %
calibre Colts new %, No SS,074 which
was sold by the Colts Firearms company
May 9. 1850 10 John Moore & Sons. New
York. and shipped TO them I'm case No 1il
together with 17e other revolvers. TO said
Moore e. Sons which revolver appears to
have had little use. the chamber OF which
revolver contains two empty shells and
five loaded cartridges; also including the
hsding OF bloodstains from outside the
rear dining room door up the back stair
way and to the landing to the front hall.
indicates suicide.
"In consequence Of such developments
all surveillance Of Allan Maxcy Hitler has
been withdrawn.
THE Investigation has not been con-
cluded and final report is not yet ready.
FINDING OF THE REVOLVER.
Coroner Mix in discussing his finding la
ter said:
'The Iaudanum and revolver were found
two days ago by Detectives Donnelly and
Ward, 70 feet from'the rear Of the dining
room, just sOOd tnToW from tIc bdCh
door
"The laudanum was taken 10 Dean
Smith OF the Yale Medical school for an
analysis IL was I'm a half-pint bottle, IN
which an inch OF fluid remained. Another
revolver was found, but its chambers
were filed with dust, and il had not been
discharged recently
"The bottle and revolver were found I'm
the grass. both I'm the same direction
from the house The bloodstains were dis
covered by Detectives DAILY and Ward on
a very dark staircase.
"The handkerchief found under Ed
wards cheek was wadded and all indica-
tions show that he had pressed IL close 10
his ear Another handkerchief was found
near the rear door, which had on II the
initial &c The blood stains from outside
tho rear dining room up the stairs form n
trail and stop at the landing In my opin-
ion the man shot himself first and then
took the poison. After taking the poison
he threw both revolver and bottle away
and pulled himself upstairs.
rCnder certain conditions either the
pistol wound or the dose OF poison would
have killed a man, but In this case H. is
my belief that one acted with the other
In causing the death OF Mr. Edwards"