The Washington times., 1906-01-12
AMATEUR SLEUTHS
FIND NEW THEORY
IN EDWARDS CASE
Closed Shutter Suggests
He Was Killed While
ProWllng.
MISTAKEN FOR BURGLAR
Or Else Shot Deliberately
While Outside Closing
Blind.
MISTAKEN FOR BURGLAR

NEW HAVEN, Conn. Jan. l2.-Sone
amateur sleuths of New Haven nave
built up a new theory on the strange
death of Charles A Edwards-the death
which the public here believe TO be
murder and which Coroner Mix calls
probable suicide.
II would be strange, indeed, If these
amateurs had hit upon a clue 10 the
solution TO one Of the most puzzNn6
mysteries ever propOunded, IN hctlon OF
in actually. Because they are men IN
private life and little afraid OF their
own theory's consequences these anna
teurs OF detective science insist that at
present their identity shall be concealed.
prominent citizen OF New Haven,
who knows how the theory was evolved,
says IL has been brought 10 the atten-
ton of Coroner Mix, VINO is giving it
serious attention. This preamble Is re-
quiIed by the very nature or the new
suggestions.
Inspected the Premises.
Several gentlemen OF high standing at
the Yale Graduates Cl had heated
discussion after the c, -0ners much
criticised decision that Edwards com
mitted suicide. One of the party sug-
gesJed That they All 20 and look At the
HITLER house and grounds To settle cer-
IaiI disputes how the various rooms are
placed ia their relation 10 the grounds.
they walked about Jbe yard. and ilnaliN
went along the south side OF The house
III the parI which leads from the street
10 the back garden.
Suddenly one oI the private invesl-
gators gave "a cry. lie ad discovered
u new piece OF evidence. which all
other detectives had overlooked.
The shutter OF The next 70 the rear
most window on that side OF the house
had been closed recently. There were
fresh breaks IN the vines which had
held it open for years, breaks not more
than a few days old.
out OF that circumstance. with the
facts already known, grows the new
theory--0r rather TWO new theories one
involves killing by mistake. with intent
10 hide the deed The other, intentional
killing.
Talk of a Will.
Charles A. Edwards many recent Wis
It's 10 New Haven were inspired by his
desire to settle certain disputes over the
distribution of the estate of the late
Mrs. Jonathan Hitler, his mother-in-law
and the mother Of Charles \. and MaXcy
KILLER
There has been a good deal OF talk
about a will said to have been in exist
ence which never was offered for pro-
bate. Information comes to light tuat
there was another document in the ex-
isteHce of which Edwards was deeply
interested, especially if he was actually
in financial difficulties and needed all
he could get out Of the Hitler estate
This document was found by Coroner
MiX's detectives in the room of the re-
Gently closed window shutter. the room
in which old Mrs. Hitler died. 1t is 2
draft OF a deed recently written. by
which Mrs. Edwards and Charles y. Hill
Ter. on consideration of 81. agree to waive
in favor of MaNcy Hitler their rights Il
one OF the parcels of real estate that
belonged 10 theiT dead mother This deed
had not been signed By Mrs. Edwards
nor by Charles Hitler.
Now. suppose that Edwards believed
in or knew of the existence of a certain
paper which was important TO him. and
which was concealed, or whose exist
ence was denied by one OF the other OF
the Hitler brothers. Suppose, again.
that he determined to search old Mrs
Killers room for this document at a
time when no one else was awake.
Was Edwards Prowling?
That supposition would account in
some measure for his staying up. as he
did. until Charles \. Hitler retired
Imagine him gone TO bed. in his under
clCthing and socks, not TO sleep, but tc
wait until he could be certain that
every one in the house was soundIy
slumbering. Then would be the time fol
him 10 take some matches IN his hand
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