The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-04-21
WILD COLLEGE LIFE
A Chapter of 1t Reviewed i'm a
Case Before the Supreme Court.
Ward Burrows and the Check He Is AL.
legged to Have Stolen-Criminal
Court Sentences.

The well-known case of Ward Burrows
came up for oral argument in the Supreme
Court. yesterday, on the appeal of the de-
PENDANT for new trial. Burrows was sent
TO the Prison North last fall, having been
convicted of stealing a fifty-dollar check
from Arthur Leroy Piser. a boon compan-
ion, forging the latters Endorsement and
securing the money. II seems that the two
young men are from New York State, and
Piser had been sent out TO Wabash Col
lege at Charlottesville, by his father, in
the hope Of Strengthening him out. He had
been very wild at home, and the change
did not seem to improve him, for he spent
almost all of his time in drinking and gam
bling, and in consorting with tough ele-
ment at Charlottesville. Burrows was his
constant companion, and is said TO be
brilliant fellow, while Piser himself, it is
said, is not regarded as amounting to
great deal, intellectually or otherwise. The
latter was supplied at intervals with money
by his father, while Burrows does not APP
pear to have had any money or occupa-
ton, having once been student at the
college, but more recently putting in his
time with Piser.
During the two months preceding the
loss of the check Piser had spent about
SJUU, anu wrote I'd his loI illOlC
money. AS his father had sent him check
for $50 two or three days before receiving
this letter asking for money, he was some
what surprised, and wrote to his son to
that effect. Young Piser claimed he had
never seen the letter, and the father, angry
at his sons profgacy, wrote him that he
need not expect any more funds. This So
bered the young man up, and he began
looking into the matter of the missing
check, which was discovered in a Logans-
port bank, apparently properly Endorsed, the
money having been drawn on it. Piser then
charged his friend and companion, Bur
rows, with stealing the letter containing
the check, which Burrows denied, claim
ing he never saw the check and had never
been in Logansport in his life. About the
only evidence against Burrows, other than
that he was constantly with Piser and had
access to about all his effects, is that OF the
bank cashier at Logansport, who, after
some hesitation, gave ii as his belief that
Burrows was the man who Endorsed the
check at the bank and drew the money on
IL. Burrows claimed that Piser was an in
veterate gambler and that he frequently
INDUCED iri that vice while under the in
fiuence of liquor. He charged that Piser
had gambled the check away and had for
gotten the circumstance. The points made
in his favor were that unless the check
time ii was stolen the crime was not lar
ceny; that Piser never was the owner OF
the check, because he never received it;
and that there was evidence to show
that the check was ever stolen, or that
Burrows stole it, except the doubtful inden-
ti1catiCn by the bank cashier. The defend
ants attorneys contended that. some gam
bier had Endorsed the check after having
won il from Piser.
Burrows was sent to the Prison North
for two years, and is now serving his time.
Attorney Clodfelter, of Charlottesville, ar
gued his case before the Supreme Court
yesterday, while Attorney general Smith
appeared for the State. The latter simply
made plain statement of the facts as they
were brought out in the trial. He has lit
tie confidence in the slender testimony upon
which Burrows was convicted, namely, the
rather dubious Identification. 1t seems like
ly that Burrows will secure a new trial.