National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1872-12-05
JUST PUNISHMENT.
A RUFFIAR SHOT BY POLICEMAN.


james Burnct Killed by Onicer AuIdridge-,
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS "o AHF"t
Of Lawful AuthOrity-Sletch Of the Dea-
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Perh"o-Sohe OF iis bNPIohH-An IN
quest to be Held To-Day.
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'a'SI"'' "'.s,,'o'',, H',"u' Nv ~ MuIu
was sent to police headquarters that Onicer
had sboi and Ins,sntIy snisJ linn Rnrnet
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notorious neEro lnlel anu ru,lah' VI course,
such an announcement created considerable
cOmmotOn and inquiry as 10 the facts In the case
which have snrc been asrertaIned IN no nbnnt "a
t,oTs. ''' ''''' '''''' w w """'' W
kboui four O'Clock. while On1cer w H. Breis
fori was standing on hIs beat. at the corner Of y
street soutb. and
ytaUrrya ALLEY.
he hoard some inud h1isternns anil profane
language in Inc bonse Of ,Tohn SeSngni in Sbe
oir, liz walled InVn nnpncb inc ,innr ami
SaE in the room a woman Known a. MAG Foster
ami Two mon. James and 0corge burner yybn
seemed 10 he engaged in a war of words MAJ nj
The time having ibe fooT "
iIe Snoge 10 beT' and tolI nor IN stop curling
10 which lin RnTnrt said al ainf rnTsinVN
The oiiiceT repiieJ tbaf h. was moi taking 10
him, 10 which MIN said who In iamnation are
n. ny ocsr Snss ~ Nav "' sni isS sWah 10
The end Of the strrct, where he met a friend. and
sant Worl by him 10 the station house Thai he
wASTEp AsSIsTAgCE.
While waiting Tor soIne one 10 come TO his relief
a woman named Louisa Lucas walked up to him
and Complained OF the noise In the house de-
Glazing that Il was a shame that such proceedlngs
shnnIf be allowed
When Inc messenger reached the station and
delivered his message Oficer AuIdrI,IRe though
moi on duty, responded. and on his arrival Al he
corner the two walked 10 the house, entered, and
Brelsforll arrested Jim. In a moment George
heuan 10 abnse them lin chImed in declaring
they could not take him without a warrant and
that he would
DIE nRrnRE M vOtTn M
the resuIt Of HbIch Wa tbst ne oi.ers .lso ar
rested George and when they attempted 10 take
them TO the station a light ensued Both the
men were large, stout fellows and they gave the
Ofiicers a rough tumble in the house and finally
the four got on the street BrelsforI being
CInched with George and AuldridVp with linn
In the scufTie both The officers mad been rough.
ly handled, and a man named Minor appearing
on the scene BrelsfOr,l called on him for assist
ance. Just then George broke and run, the
Ofncor pursuing and firing
TnRER sHOfs At MN,
the effect OF which are AS vet unknown. as he
managed to escape While this was going on
Auldridge and Jim were having It hot, the col
Ored man getting the best Of t. lie suddenly
concluded TO follow his brothers example, and
broke and ran closely pursued nv the officer
revolver In hand one circuit nf the square was
made when Jln finding that he would he over
taken turned al bay
The oaacer demanded his surrender, to which
he replied hy a renewed attack and then the
pistol was fred and In second he fell with a
curse on his lips AZ this critical moment Brels-
ford returned, and the two Officers raised him to
n sitting posture. hit the hall had done Its WORK
completely, Burnet was dead, and the city was
rid Of one Of Its worst and most dangerous lnhab-
ttants.
The officers then secured a wagon In which
TiE DRLp BODY
was placed and conveyed TO the statlon-house,
followed by an immense crowd which had gath.
cred after the firing Of the shots ON their Al
rival The off,ceTs gave detailed account of the
occurrence TO Lieut., 0essfnrtl, and surrendered
TO him their weapons when they were placed
under arrest.
examining hn hn1V | pa aina1 that
the hall had entered the riaht breast RhOut an
inch from the nipple, making a small, clean
wound, and locating somewhere In the body.
The Offcers then began TO look at themselves,
and found that AuldrdRe had received four cuts
on the face and head, one Of them rather severe,
and BrelsfOri had hls nose broken Both have
the reputation Of being excellent Officers, and
the opinion OF all who spoke Of the matter was,
that Mr.. Auldrdge was not only JUSTIFIED In his
action, hut that he had conferred a positive hem
eft to the community.
TIE DECEASED
was about twenty-eght or thirty years Of age,
dark copper color, about i've feet eleven inches
In height, well prOpOrtiOned and possessed OF
great physical strength. lie followed thleving
Tor living, and 10y his open and frequent viola
tons Of the law and good luck In escaping pun
lshment had gained for himself the admiration Of
gang with whom he Travelled, and who looked
upon him as leader. lie was known TO every
policeman In the city, and his name has appeared
on the criminal calendar as frequently as that OF
any other offender, and his boast was that the
police as a body were afraid Of him.
Inc nrst hOtOrlety Whlch ne gained was ABOUT
three years ago. when he assaulted and cut OniceT
McCOlgan, who arrested him for theft. The ON
Ger was severely wounded In the scunle, and
again arrested him for assault and battery, with
intent to XIII. When the case was tried the court
Judge fisher decided that the OfiiceT had no
right 70 make the arrest without warrant, and
that the man was
JUSTIFIED IN THE ASSAULT,
after which the case was dismissed. Major
Richards Immediately issued an order to the force
tOrbiddlng them to make any arrests unless they
Witnessed the offence q armed with n
rant,
One or two cases occurring at this time which
showed the utter iOOllshness Of the ruling, the
MAJ Or was called upon by another of the judges,
aud after talk with him decided TO revoke the
order, which he diO But Burnet always bore II
In mind, II was his defence In his many sCrnpes,
his warrant for resistance TO lawful authority on
all occasions, and the defiant declaration which
preceded and resulted In his death was that he
"wOuld not 20 without q warrant"