Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1882-01-25
was on the point of leaving the bank

was on the point OF leaving the DanI
Mr.. Richards called me and said
Here is package containing 50, 900,
| wish you to take to Mr.. Martin, cash
ier of the City Bank of c.; you can
explain to him about our vaults not
being any too secure, and apologize for
coming at such an unreasonable hour,
and ask him as q personal favor to me
to receipt and return in the morning
you can take the O'Clock train this
evening" -Ive
i took the package containing the
nine thousand dollars, and after receiv-
ing some money for my expenses, /
started. / arrived at my destination
about half past 6 o'clock, and went di.
rectly to Mr.. Martins house, but found
they had gone up town, and later was
going. to the theater. Whereupon, ]
sought the principal hotel, thinking
might see him there, but was disap.
pointed here and there. I walked
around where / thought I would be
most likely to meet him, until about
$50, and then returned to the hotel,
took supper, and engaged a room, to
which | went / sat down and read
the evening paper until about 1920,
when / started for Mr.. Martins house.
As / came down stairs and opened
the door, burly fellow touched me ON
the shoulder, and whispered
I arrest you for the robbery of the
farmers Bank of K, and the. murder
of Mr.. Richards
He then placed the handouts on me
and escorted me here; and now / have
told you all l know of my case, and it
is the truth. Ny name is Howard
Burton have no parents
This is the substance OF what How
ard Burton related to me in his cell at
G. / had not interrupted him during
his recital, but had listened attentively
to every word. | was much interested
in the young man, who was about my
own age, and who felt was innocent
of the horrible crime with which he
was charged. l remained with him
long after. midnight. and then, charging
him to converse with no one on the
subject of the murder, / left him. /
knew nothing of the circumstances of
the murder as yet, but / thought 1
would go to K, and learn what could.
On my arrival at K / went directly
to the bank, and found two or three
detectives there and some of the officers
of the bank. Nothing had been moved
except the body of the murdered man
He was found lying on the floor, with
his skull crushed and his throat cut
from ear to ear. Some of the drawers
had been rifed, but aside from this
there was nothing to indicate robbery.
There was missing from the safe $9,-
000 / found that belief in Burton's
guilt was quite general.
| stood at the window in the Presi-
dents Office, staring vacantly out, hard
at work thinking, when my eye no.
ticed on the sash of the lawyers Office
just across the passageway little
scrap of pape: with the word paint
written on it. A suggestive thought
flashed through my mind as / walked
out of the bank and stepped into the
law Office door. l was slightly ac-
quainted with its occupant, who wei
coined me and invited me to q seat.
We talked of the frightful occurrence of
the previous night for some time, and
at length l said, raising to go.
so you have been painting little,
Mr. Harris?' f+
Yes sir did you observe my sign?
Kelly, the painter has young Ger
man working for him who is really an
artist. He did all the work here
When was the painting done? l
asked.
'All done yesterday-be CAREFUL of
your coat
l bade Mr. Harris good day, and
left his office
| bad learned who painted that win
dow, which was just what most want
ed to learn, without asking leading
question or letting Mr. Harris know /
was interested in Mr. Richards MUIR
der more than he. | made up my
mind to see the man without loss of
time, and find out if he saw Mr.. Rich
ards after young Burton 4sft the bank.
/ went to the paint shop.
You painted Mr. Harris's sign and
Office, did you not p l asked.
Yes, sir
We'll what time did you finish up
there p
AT 6 o'clock, SIR
Did you paint after dark?'
Yes, sir after dark l painted the
outside of the window, about half
past 5; the man in the bank lighted
the gas, and it shone so brightly that
1 finished the window
Did you see this man in the bank
handle any money!
'The. man looked puzzled at this
question, but answered:
Yes, sir; L noticed him counting a
large pile
What kind of a looking man was
hep
We'll. kind of good looking man;
it was Mr.. Richards. If you don't
know him | will describe him to YOU
| answered that had seen him, and
then inquired what he. did with the
money
He made bundle of it and handed
it to young man, telling him to take
it somewhere. l could no hear all he
said. In addition to the bundle he
gave him what I judged Ito be few
dollars in change, and told him to come
back in the morning. Then the young
nan went away. By and by Mr..
Richards put out the gas, and then |
work and went hone
Did you see Mr.. Richards again p
! Yes, 1 saw him in the cigar store
as l passed.
l concluded my examination with
the question:
S Did you know Mr.. Richards was
last night, and the money in
fha hant cfa1ap 2, 2,-----st+a--- raa-