Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1906-01-09
SU|C|DED v
BY BULLET
AND POISON
Death Of Edwards Most
Incredible on Record.
FINDING OF REVOLVER AND
LAUDANUM CHANGES THEORY
Coroner Mix AStounded at Tale Told
by Mute Evidences Of Self
Destruction.
FINDING OF REVOLVER AND
LAUDANUM CHANGES THEORY

A New Haven, Conn, Jan. S.-Suicide
bS. means of both bullet and poison is
the explanation given by Coroner Ell
Mix for the death of Charles Ed
wards, of New York City, at the
Abigail Hitler homestead here on
Tuesday night last. This finding Is
contained In a preliminary report to
States Attorney Williams and is base
in part on 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 Ave days and
which is not yet completed.
The preliminary report is made at
this time to relieve public suspense,
and Coroner Mix adds that Mr.. Ed
wards death probably. was one OF the
most remarkable on record. The the
ory of suicide appears not to have
been held by the coroner until Sat"
urday. when detectives unearthed In
the shrubbery near the Hitler house
a 22-eallber revolver and a half pint
bottle containing a quantity of lauda-
mum. Until that time, and In absenc,
of a report on the medical analysis
Of the vlscera, the weight Of evidence
taken by Mr.. Mix was that Mr.. Ed
wards had been murdered.
The first action taken by Coroner
Mix today after reaching q conclusion"
In the case was to order the release
from surveillance of Maxey Hitler
brother-ln- law of Mr. Edwards, who
ON Thursday evening last was placed
I'm charge of police officer The
al
the mystery in the death of Mr.. Ed
wards. and until their complete finds
ing is read probably no public solu-
tion can be found as to why Mr.. Err
wards, as Coroner Mix describes his
actions. "at 2 o'clock on last Mon
day committed suicide In his UNDER
clothes; left his chamber and descend
ed to the basement; lighted the gas:
unboted and opened the rear door.
twice discharged a revolver at himself.
threw the weapon away drank laud-
anum and tossed the bottle after the
pistol. and with blood flowing from
wound in the head dragged himself
back to his chamber, got into bed,
drew the bedclothes over his should
ers. and. after placing handkerchief
under his head to stauneh the flow
of blood, lapsed into unconsclousness
death coming six hours later"
Coroner Mix in discussing his find
ing said;
THE laudanum and revolver were
found two days ago thirty feet from
the dining room. just a good throw
from the back door. They were In tho
same direction from the house The
laudanum was In a half-pint bottle H.
which an inch of the fluid remained.
Another revolver was found, but its
chambers were filed with dust and
1t had not been discharged recently.
The handkerchief found under Ed
wards cheek was wadded, and ali
indications show that he had pressed
II close to his ear. Another handker-
chief was found near the rear door.
which had on 1t the initial e." Tho
bloodstains from outside the rear
dining room up the stairs form trail
and stop at the landing. In my opin-
ion the man shot himself first and then
took the poison. After taking the poi
son he threw both revolver and bottle
away and pulled himself up the stairs.
1--WE feel now" continued the cor
oner. that everything has been COW
cred and there remains no doubt that
Mr.. Edwards took his own life"