The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-10-23
DUKES EXPLAINS.
The Coronerss Investigation at Linz
coin, Illinois.
J0hn Dukes, the Murdered Girls
sw, efiscart, ON the stand---alr.
Carpenters hearing The
Bloody Harness.

LINCOLN. He. Oct 23.-The coroner's jury
sat with open doors hearing the tes-
tinony III the zura Burns case. The girls
lover, Tboinas d. Dukes was put on the
stand, and rotated the history of his ac
quaintance with the murdered girl. He SAID
hehad not been out of Indiana since last Jan
uary. The last time he saw her was January l.
Heaccouitesl for his whereabouts at the time
the murder was committed by say
ing that he was at home Saturday, week
ago. with the members of bis family. On
SUNDAY he was in Kewanna, Ind He sat up
with Miss Freel Sunday night in Kewanna
until o'clock During Sunday afternoon he
saw Mr.. Carter, the postmaster of Kewanna,
and his wife, Mr., Hihicker and Dr. Howard.
He hurt his hand two weeks ago Tuesday,
loading a big hog into wagon on his farm.
AWilliam H. H. Burns, the father Of zura,
testified that his daughter received two let
tiers from Lincoln during the six weeks she
was at home before she came 70 Lincoln, and
that she told him one was from o. A. Carpen
ter. She said Carpenter owedsher $40, and
she read part of letter from him, saying
that he had sent two letters previously
to her, each containing 81. Zura claimed
she never received them and was angry at
Carpenter ia consequence. Zura asked per-
mission to go to Lincoln to get the money,
and upon his refusal started for Ramsey,
to visit schoolmates, with her fathers per-
mission That was the last time he saw his
daughter alive
Henry NJ Behrens one of the jurors,
testified that he was in Peoria on the 18th
and 18th of August last, and that o. A.
Carpenter went TO Peoria ON the same train.
Witness lent Carpenter $40 on the train, aud
saw him on the street that evening with
lady whom he remembers as the murdered
girl. Witness, Carpenter and the girl came
back to Lincoln on the next day-thS 18th
on the same train.
Mrs. Burns-Zura's tepmother-corrobor-
ated the testimony of her husband, and said
she mailed letter from Zura to Carpenter,
and received the reply. She read Carpenters
letter to Zura- 1t was in very familiar
tone, aud inquired why she did not come
back right away.
Mr. j. NJ, Hubert, pastor of the Cumber-
land Presbyterian church here, of which
Carpenter is member called upon Mr.
Carpenter in jail, to express sympathy, and
assured the man suspected of a terrible muir
der that many believed him guiltIess II am
glad, said the prisoner, that my friends be-
heve me innocent, as l am" The sheriff and
Mr.. Esten, Carpenters partner, say that he
exhibits no fear of the consequences, and
views bis predicament as the result CT un-
fortunate circumstances.
''The burden of proof, said Col. Lynch, of
Carpenters counsel, :" is on the state. Mr..
Carpenter is TO be considered an innocent
man until he is proved to be Guilty. The
Times correspondent questioned Col. Lynch
somewhat closely. 'sYes, "said the lawyer,
81 have spokento him upon the case"
did he admit to you that he wrote letters
to Zura Burns"
81 can't say that he did"
Ibid he deny that he wrote the letters
Il can't answer that question
"Col. Lynch, if Mr. Carpenter werean limo
cent man and could easily explain this CORE
spondence, would he not do so Immediately
in preference to remaining in jail under such
terrible Suspicion
81 don't know. lido not propose to speal,
Oh this subject until the time comes, and then
we will be ready
Are you not ready nowm
''We will be ready when the prosecution is. "
They will not be ready for several days.
suggested the correspondent "If your mar
is innocent, what is the reason you consent t.
delay and do not demand a preliminary ex
aminationn'
The attorney turned aside, declining to ex
plain these puzzles.
At the Jail Carpenter is provided with al
the comforts and conveniences, his famil,
having sent him articles which would indicat
that he expects TO make stay of some tim
behind the stone walls