The evening times., 1896-05-27
SHE could MlNleE MEM
One Professional Nurse Who
Didn't Fear an Assault.
QUEER CASE IN THE COURT
Although Leland and Adams Drove
Mrs. Burdina to u Secluded Place,
She Didn't scream When They At
tempted Liberties With Her-Judxe
Miller Sent Both Men Down

Judge Miller today sent Richard Leland
ana James Adams. young cabmen. To JAN
FOR assaulting Mrs. Catharina BurdlDa,
professional nurse. Adams got four months
and Leland three. The case had some very
peculiar features, notably the remarkable
conduct of Mrs. Burdina In not making any
outcry at the time.
The assault occurred on May l, last.
On the eve ming of that day about o'clock
Mrs. Burdina was standing at the corner
OF Four and-a-half and l. streets, waiting
for 4 car to take her to the residence
OF a patient on Seventeenth street.
A coupe drove by with twoyoung men On
the box, Leland and Adams. They halted
in front of Mrs. Budina. and asked her
where she was going. She told them.
whereupou Adams invited her to use his
cab. saying there would be no charge.
Mrs. Burdinia got inside. and Adams. who
was driving. whipped up the horse and
drove through the Smithsonian and Agri-
cultural parks TO the Monument grounds.
where the cab halted opposite the State,
War and Navy Building.
Adams swung off the seat and got in the
carriage. 81 want to fix the window"
lie explained, as he fumbIed at the fixtures
IoI d ne UlIn5tiI
beside his passenger. He threw his arms
around her waist and tried to kiss her. =.
GOT IN THE CAB.
In the meantime Leland bad also gotten
in and attempted liberties with the woman.
who, according to her own testimony, never
made an outcry. They made insulting pro-
posals and treated her in a free. scandal
Gus manner. She evidently kept her nerve
and demonstrated until they finally stopped.
The two men then mounted the box and
drove her to the Avenue, where a trace
broke. and again a stop had TO be made.
Mrs. Burdina alighted, and, as she herself
,old it on the stand, thanked them. She
then proceeded TO the judges house,
where she told of the occurrence.
The next day the police were informed
and began to hunt for the two men. The
only ciew they had was Mrs. Burdina's
description. Yesterday Adams and Leland
were arrested and she identified them as
the ones.
Mrs. Burdina is portly woman OF forty
five or fifty, good looking-it might almost
be said handsome with thick, wavy, gray
hair. and fresh complexion She main
tanned on the stand the composure that is
the most important requisite in her calling
She told the story Of the assault. or rather
the attempted assault, as the chargewas
technical one, and was severely cross
examined by Lawyer Siilers, the counsel
for the defendant.
When she came TO the point where Adams
tried to raise her dress, SiIlers said land
of course you screamed"
''No, sir. did not she replied d ceoly.
Judge Miller leaned back in astonish-
meat.
Mrs. Burdina said she made no outcry
because she felt sure she could handle them
herself.
WAS A NEW WOMAN"
Again the stoIid confidence Of the train
ed nurse manifested ITSELF Mrs. Burdina
certainly looked Us II she were able to hold
her own against half a dozen men like the
prisoners. who are both undersized and
weak looking
Il told them to stop. and after a while
they did, she said, speaking in low
I tone.
what happened them? asked Judge
Miller.
They drove NE In front OF the State
Department, when trace broke j got
out, thanked them and went to the judges
house,
Thanked them:' said the court.
Thanked them" echoed Attorney Sill
ers.
Mrs. Budina nodded calmly in the af-
firmative.
She was then put through a severe or.
deal OF questioning by Attorney Sillers, who
'iweit on the fact of her not screaming and
calling for help.
Mrs. Burdina gave the impression that
She regarded Leland and Adams as mere
boys, whom she could combat successfully
Adams and Leland on the stand denied
the accusations of Mrs. Burdina. and
said they got in there to fix the window.
Adams said he was the regular driver of
the cab, and Leland was taking ride with
him. Detective Horne testified to Adams
good reputation, as did some other wit
nesses. But Mrs. Burdina's statements
were too strong to be controverted, and
the Judge imposed q fail sentence