The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-01-09
New Haven Coroner Causes Stn-
 satiOO bI His Finding
CLINICS ID SUICIDE IDEA
Thinks Man Shot Himself Twice Downstairs, Drank Laudanun and Went Upstairs to Bed,
 Where He Expired.

New Haven, Conn.,, January s.-Suicide by means of both bullet and poison, is the explanation given by Coroner Eli Mix of the death of Charles A. Edwards of New York city at the Abgnail Hitler homestead here on Tuesday last. This finding is contained in preliminary report to State Attorney Williams. and is based on the fact of the discovery of morphine in the body of MT. Edwards by Medical Examiner Bartlett and the surgeons who performed the autopsy. The finding is supported by some portion of the evil dence taken at the inquest which ex- tended through five days and which is not yet complete.
 The preliminary report is made at this time to relieve public suspense and Cor oner Mix adds that MT. Edwards death probably was one of the most remarkable on record The theory of suicide, how ever, appears not to have been held by the coroner until Saturday when de- tectives unearthed in the shrubbery near the Hitler house p calibre revolver, and a half pint bottle containing a quantity of laudanum. Until that time, and in the absence of report on the chemical anal ysis of the viscera, the weight of evil dence taken by Coroner Mix was that Edwards had been murdered.
 The first action taken by Coroner Mix today after reaching conclusion in the case was to order the release from sur veillance of A. Maxcy Hitler, brother-in- law of MT. Edwards, who on Thursday evening last, was placed in charge of a. police officer.
 Does Not Dispel Mystery.
 The coroners brief report does not dis pei the mystery in the death of MT. Ed wards and until the complete finding Is ready, probably no public solution can be found as to why MT. Edwards, as Cor ner Mix describes his actions. lat ? o'clock on Wednesday morning last, clad in his underclothes, left his chamber and de- seconded to the basement; lighted the gas unbolted and opened the rear door, twice discharged revolver at himself, one bull let going into the ear, then failing to kill himself. threw the weapon away, drank laudanum and tossed the bottle after the pistol, and with blood flowing from a wound N the head, dragged him. self back to his chamber. got into bed drew the clothes of the bed over his shoulder and after placing a handker- chief under his head to stop the flow of blood, lapsed into inconsistencies, death coming six hours later.'
 The coroners finding came late this afternoon after he had conferences with State Attorney Williams, Medical Ex- aminer Bartlett and Charles Hitler, brother of A. Maxey Hitler. He said that for the present he had little to say ex- cept that up to two days ago it was his belief, supported by the evidence at hand that MT Edawrds had been mur- dered.
 Different Aspect to Case.
 The finding of the pistol with which the wound in Mir. Edwards head was inflicted, the recovery of a bottle con- taining laudanum and the partial report of the autopsy, gave a, different aspect to the case. The pistol and bottle were discovered Saturday by Detectives who were using a rake on a deep litter of leaves under a lot of shrubbery. The pistol which was exhibited was bright in it's niclkled parts, almost to newness, although the barrel and the chambers were slightly rusty from being out in the rain last week.
 In discussing the find, the coroner said:
 "In my opinion the man shot himself first and then took the poison. After taking the poison he threw both revolver and bottle away and pulled himself up- stairs. Under certain conditions neither the pistol wound or the dose of poison would have killed man, but in this case it is my belief that one acted with the other in causing the death of MT. Edwards"