The Portland daily press., 1895-06-25
ATTEMPTED MURDER.
Mike Burns Of Original Package Fame
in Trouble.

He Had Gun and Attempted to Use 1t On
of Bonds.
Augusta, June 24-At g. 45 this forenoon
the well-known Michael Burns of unbrok-
enspackage fame, walked coolly into the
office of the judge of the municipal court
and quietly laid revolver down on the
table, saying: "Tve killed man. Judge,
and there is th Q revolver that did it. 1
fred two shots. You'll hear from it
soon"
Mike wore natty black suit with a
white pink in his buttonhole, and light
ing cigar, sat down, remaining quiely
five minutes without uttering a word.
When the officer came in excitedly and it
was learned that Harry Hopkins was the
man shot at, the judge inquired, "Did
you really mean to kill him"
Mike replied, " Yes, did; he meant to
kill me. :"
The story of the affair is as follows:
Mike was walking down street and met
Harry on the sidewalk opposite Beals
paper store, when without a word on eth
er side, Mike pulled a pistol from his
pocket and holding it level at Hopkins
heart fred twice rapidly in usccession
Hopkins reeled as if wounded but man
aged to walk into Beals' store where he
appeared white and fainting. A physic
| ian was sent for, who on examining Hop
kins found that he was uninjured.
One bullet had passed between his left
arm and side and opposite the heart,
entering the sleeve and just grazing the
| limb The other bullet glanced on the
| button of his coat and did not enter the
| body.
A crowd collected in the court room
and officers placed Burns under arrest
taking his revolver, 3S-calibre, five shot
| cartridges and two shells. The revolver
was taken apart and Mike assisted in
| putting it together. A man in the crowd
exclaimed, Hang the son of b."
Hang him. Hang him. - The officer
was ordered by the judge to find the man
and take him down stairs, but he could
| not pick him out. vi a @4
Burns, in an interview; said, ~ did
this in self-defense. Hopkins several days
ago sent me word that he was going to
kill me. He had revolver in his pocket
when l fired.
party who saw the shooting said it
was the coolest act he ever witnessed.
Burns fired the Shots and without any
agitation whatever walked down the
street to the judges office with a smoking
| revolver in his hand, never looking to the
| right or left or saying word. EARLY in
the morning as Hopkins took the shutters
down from his shop Burns came along
and remarked: 81 have got one warrant
| against you for liquor selling and will
shortly have another -
The trouble between the parties arose
over the guardianship of Bridget Katron,
Hopkins wife's aunt Hopkins and
Burns conducted saloon near the rail-
road bridge until several months ago
when they parted, the latter going out.
The woman owned the building in which
the traffic was conducted and Burns
brought an action in the probate court to
have Hopkins removed from her guar
dianship charging that Harry was un-
faithful to his trust and some of the mon.
ey should have gone to Mrs. Sullivan and
other heirs Judge, Stevens refused Go
remove Hopkins and the two men have
been at swords point. Burns is broth
er-in-law of Hopkins s,
Burns was required to give S. 900 bonds
for appearance at the September term un-
der warrant for assault with intent to
kill and S., 900 bonds to keep the peace for
six months. On the first Burns waived
CAc1hiiletplOil ebuet Ou UllO S6COllQ dpp6bl
ed Hopkins testified that Burns came
into his shop last Saturday and angrily
demanded some papers, exclaiming
"You son of b., I'll bury you before
I'm done with you, also that at the time
of the shooting Burns said: "You son
of b., you've threatened to shoot
me-
Not obtaining bonds, Burns went to
Jail. @E
Burns acquired notoriety several years
ago by an attempt to avoid the prohibito-
packages. The liquors were seized and
the State supreme court sustained the
seizure. But the supreme court decided
in favor of Burns. He and Hopkins for
merly were in partnership which recently
was dissolved.
Heath and Andrews appeared as Burns
counsel, and Leslie G. Cornish for the