The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-09-08
BURTON IS IDENTIFIED
WILLIAM PRUITT SAW HIM RUNNING
FROM JOB ELDRIDGE'S STORE.
Also Saw Him Kill Redmond-Man
Who Saw Him Buy Cap Also
Recognizes Him.

The identity of James Burton as the
man who murdered Fireman Frank Red
mond on the night of Jan. % is becoming
strongly established, Notwithstanding Bur
tons change of tactics regarding his con-
fession Superintendent Colbert said yes
terday that Burton would be convicted on
facts to be established in court. and not
upon any confession which he may have
made. The confession will not be made
a part of the prosecution, as the police
are confident that the crime can be placed
to Burton's account without difficulty and
in a most positive manner What part
Edward Phillips is to play in the trial is
not made known by the police, but it was
on information from him that Burton was
located. and it will probably be in the line
of his conduct to tell all he knows about
the case on the witness stand. Then if
the theory of the police that Phillips, Bur-
ton and Harvey attempted to rob Job
Eldridge and that Burton shot Redmond
in making his escape is true, the first posi-
tive step in the case will be established.
Yesterday number of people called at
the Jail to identify Burton. 1t is well
established that the murderer of Redmond
had to fight and bluff mis- way out of Job
Eidridges store; that he ran through the
alley at the mouth of which Redmond was
shot; that he purchased a cap at Busch
mans store, on Fort Wayne avenue; that
he was shaved in Kline's barber shop on
Massachusetts avenue, and that he was
driven to Greenwood that night; that he
spent the night at +. O. Hoyt's hotel, and
took an early morning train for the South.
Yesterday William Pruitt took look at
Burton and was positive that he was the
man who attempted to rob Eldridge.
Pruitt was passing the store when he saw
two men run out, and heard Eldridge's
screams He started III the store in time
to see the third robber coming out past
the hanging lamp. He had good oppor-
tunity to see the man, and intended to
make an effort to stop him, but the robber
placed a pistol in his face and passed on
out the door, Pruitt ram to the door after
him and saw him fall in the street get up
and run across. He also saw the hreman
run after him and saw the flash and heard
the shot fired which killed Redmond.
Pruitt is positive that the third robber is
the man who killed Redmond, and is equal
ly positive that Burton is the third rob-
Der. He said Burton is somewhat feshier
than on the night of the murder.
A young man by the name of Wilson,
who is employed at L. S. Ayres & Co.'S
store, identified Burton as the man who
bought a cap at Buschman's store a few
minutes after the murder. He was in the
store at the time, and his brother waited
on the man. Wilson says the man looked
frightened, was out of breath from run
ming, and in several ways was a Sus-
picious character. On this account Wilson
made special effort to obtain good
view of the mans face. He says he would
never forget Burton on account or his pc
culiar eyes. He is positive in his identifi-
cation.
Burton now looks more like he did when
he committed the murder than when he
was seen at the Nashville prison or when
brought back here Saturday. Saturday he
had about two weeks growth of beard.
His beard and mustache grows rapidly. and
yesterday when his beard was shaved on
there was left a fairly heavy mustache
which promises to become the. long mus
tache such as was shaved off the murderer
at Kline's barber shop.
GREENWOOD MEN IDENTIFY HIM.
A most important identification was that
by f. o. Hoyt, of Greenwood. Hoyt and
an employee of his, William Peek. accom-
panied Superintendent Colbert on the first
trip to Nashville. Hoyt had a long talk
with Burton in prison, and he says that
Burton recognized him and talked with
him about having been at Greenwood and
stopping at Hoyt's hotel over night Yes
terday Burton gazed at Hoyt blankly, de-
claring he did not know him. He could
not remember having ever seen him.
Don't you remember seeing me at the
Nashville prisoE?" asked Hoyt-
NO"
Il was there with Superintendent Col
bert the first time
II remember Colbert's visit" replied
Burton "but l don't remember you"
You certainly remember stopping at my
house in Greenwood, don't your asked Mr..
Hoyt, with some impatience.
well, that would be talking about this
case and as to that l will say nothing"
said Burton.
Burton's story since his return to this
city is that he feft Indianapolis two weeks
before the Redmond murder, and never
was in Greenwood
Burton's change of manner is explained
by Chief of Detectives Splann on the theory
that he did not realize the enormity of
the crime which he had committed until
he was brought back to this city. ION the
way up from Nashville on the train he
talked over the case freely" said Mr..
Splann. He compared the newspaper &C
counts of the robbery and murder with the
facts as he knew them to have been, and
talked about his trip to Greenwood and
his escape. Suddenly after he reaches here
he shuts up and denies everything. The
reason is clear to me. He had over two
years are almost equivalent to death, for
if there ever was a hell on earth 1t is that
Nashville prison. Burton did not know
that the killing of Redmond could be made
murder in the first degree, and thought
he could come back here, stand a trial
and get off with an indeterminate sentence
which good behavior might make as low
as three or four years. But one of the