Daily Kennebec journal., 1906-01-09
He MAKES A PRELIMINARY REPORT,
MaXCy Hitler Released From Sur
veillanCe===COrOner Is RetiCent
About Details of the Case.

New Haven, CT, Jan. S.--Suicide by
means of both bullet and poison, is the
explanation given by Coroner Eli Mix
OF the mysterious death of Charles A.
Edwards Of $50 Park avenue. New York
City, at the Abigail Hitler homestead,
III College street, Tuesday night last.
This finding is contained in prelim-
mary report to state Attorney Will
lams and is based in part upon the
discovery CT morphine in the body of
Mr.. Edwards by Medical Examiner
Bartlett and the surgeons who per-
formed the autopsy. The finding is sup
ported hy some portions of the evidence
taken ut the inquest which extended
through five days and which is rot yet
completed.
The preliminary report is made at
this time to relieve public suspense ana
Coroner Mix adds that Mr.. Edwards
death probably was one OF the most re-
mark;i Bile on record. The theory Of sui
eide. however, appears not 20 have been
held by the coroner until Saturday,
when two Headquarters detectives un-
earthed i'll the shrubbery in the rear of
the Killer house an old fashioned %
calihrc revolver and a half pint bottle
continuing a quantity Of laudanum
Until that time and in absence of re-
port of the qualitative analysis of the
viscera of Mr.. Edwards the weight of
evidence taken by Mr.. Mix from long
and exhaustive examination Of wit
ncsses was that Mr.. Edwards had been
murdered.
The first action takn by Coroner Mix
a oh
was to order the release from suryeil-
lance of A. Maxcy Hitler. brother-n-
law of Mr.. Edwards, who on Thurs
day evening last was placed in charge
of police officer. under recently
| enacted law which gives the coroner
the right to hold an important wit
ness i'll a case as he sees lit.
The coroners brief report does not
dispel the mystery in the death of Mr..
Edwards. and until the complete find
ing is ready probably no public solu-
ton can be found as to why Mr. Ed
wards at O'Clock on Wednesday
morning last. clad in his underclothcs.
left his chamber and descended to the
basement: lighted the gas, unbolted
the rear door then twice discharged a
revolver at himself. one bullet going
into the car; then failing to kill him
self threw the weapon away. drank
laudanum and tossed the bottle after
the pistol, and with blood flowing from
wound in the car and head dragged
himself back to his chamber, got into
bed. drew the bcdclothcs over his
shoulders. and after placing a hand
kerchicf under his head to staunch the
flow of blood lapsing into unconscious
ness death coming six hours later.
Coroner Mix so describes the actions
Of Mr.. Edwards on the night in ques-
tiCn.
The coroncrs finding came late this
AFTERNOON true to promise made
early in the day and after ne had had
conferences with State Attorney Will
liamS. Medical Examiner Bartlett and
Charles Hitler brother of A. Maxcy
Hitler. In the forenoon it was expect
ed that the finding would be that rur-
der had. been committed by a person
or persons unknown.
The coroner's preliminary report is
as follows:
Recent developments, after long
investigation concerning the cause of
the death of Chas. A. Edwards. which
occurred on the morning of Wednes-
day, Jan. 5. 1906, including the find