St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-02-05
SHE'S after JIMMY.
EX-AuditOr Burns Mother-in-
Law Wants the InSur-
ance Money
HER HUSBAND LEFT TO HER
And Which She Claims Jimmie
Did Convert to His
Own Use.
JIM SAYS IT WAS A LOAN
And That Will Be His Defense
Amusing Scenes in
Court.

Ex-County Auditor James Fl. Burns
figured i'll the municipal court yester-
day. His examination was begun on
law. Mrs. Grace ReideI, who accuses
Burns of converting to his own use sew
eral hundred dollars of insurance money
collected by him on life policy issued
to her husband, who died nearly three
years ago. County Attorney Butler aD-
peared for the state, and Mr.. Burns
was defended by BoWe & Woodruff.
Mrs. Reidel, the complainant, was the
first witness called. Mrs. Reidel took
the stand and told her story. She said
that her husband died two years ago
and left life Insurance policy for
S2,O75. Mrs. Reidel lived in Milwaukee
at the time. Soon after, in July, 1898,
Mir. Burns, SO Mrs. Reidel testified.
wrote her lawyer, Mr.. Wood, a letter. in
which he said he would collect the in
surance money, and instructed Mr..
Wood to read the letter to Mrs. Reidel,
who could not read English, and inform
her that MIR. Burns wished her to come
to st. Paul and live, and that he would
invest her insurance money in city esr-
titicates bearing IL per cent interest.
A controversy arose over allowing
Mr.. Butler to read the letter to Mrs.
Reldel for the purpose OF identifying,
but it was finally read and
She identified 1t.
Then dispute occurred over admit
ting the letter itself as evidence, as
there had been no proof offered to show
that it was written or signed by James
II. Burns. The effort 10 show that the
signature was that of Burns was pro-
ductive of much amusement.
p. ID. Scannell. who was once en-
ployed by MIR. Burns to run the ST. Paul
Herald, was put on the stand by Mr..
Butler to identity the signature of Mr..
Burns. Mr.. Scanuell looked at it and
said:
Il wouldn't swear to the signature.
"W ell, what is your opinion, in view
of what you have seen of Mr.. Burns
hanawriting?' asked Mr.. Butler.
well, it looks like Mr. Burns writ
you couldn't tell the difference"
''Oh, yes" said Butler, II always
thought you were Skillful in duplicat-
ing"
The laugh that followed rendered the
rest of Mr.. Buffers remarks iDaudible.
Judge Orr was of the odlniop that the
signature had not yet been sufficiently
identified, SO Mr. Butler called more
witnesses. He called both of Burns
counsel, Messrs. Woodruff and BoWe.
Mr.. Woodruff knew Mir. Burns hand
writing, and was of the opinion that the
signature was not his. whereas Mr..
Bowe was inclined to think it was.
Pat Egan was called. Mr. Egan
knew Mr.. Burns, but did not know his
handwriting. Clerk Ahern was then
sworn as an expert, by reason of his
experience as bank clerk. Mr.. Ahern
WAS shown "a 8ond
signed by Burns last December and the
signature 20 the letter of July, 1898 and
asked to state whether. in his opinion,
they were written by the same man.
Mr.. Ahern would not swear they were
written by the same man, but he thought
they were.
Jugdc Orr decided that the signature
had been identified, and admitted the
letter in evidence.
Mrs. Reidel was then recalled and
told how Mr.. Burns had collected the
S2,O75 insurance money and had told
her that he had invested it in city GER
tifcates of Indebtedness in her name.
though she said he had never shown her
any of these certificates. Mrs. Reidel
testified that she had not received more
than $500 or $500 from MI. Burns since
he had collected the insurance money
and invested it. She had asked him for
money every week, but he had put her
off by saying that the money was in
vested in the certificates.
A written agreement, signed by Mrs.
Reidel, was next put in evidence, show
ing that Mrs. Rpidel had entrusted and
loaned MIR. Burns S2,057 TO invest
in city certificates of Indebtedness.
The examination was then continued
until Thursday at 2 p. III.