The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-12-23
THE PRISONER TOOK THE NATTER
EXCEEDINGLY COOL ALL
THROUGH.
STILL PROTESTS HIS INNOCENCE.
In An Interview With n Statesman
Reporter He Says That He Is In
nOcent of the Crime and Will
Talk in the Near Future.

Eugene Burt was yesterday sentenced
TO be hung on Fridsr. January 81, 1898,
between the hours Of II a. IN. and 6
p. N.
The sentence was pronounced by Judge
Brooks of the Twenty district
court. last afternoon at ) o'clock III the
presence of the defendant and his at
tOrneys. and a number of witnesses who
happened to be laying around the court
house, and who were attracted to the
court room.
Eugene Burt, the man who now stands
sentenced TO be hung on the charge of
numbering his wife and children entered
the court room under heavy guard at
40 O'Clock. and after carelessly throw
ing his hat on the table, took his seat
near his attorneys. He wore a brown
suit of clothes, and since his last APP
pearance in the court room has changed
very little, indeed, in personal appear
ance. still having that same nonchalant
look on his face, and apparently indif-
ferent TO all his surroundings. When he
came into the court room and took his
seat. ne glanced carelessly around at the
crowd and allowed a smile or two to
play across his cOuntenance as one or
two OF the spectators gazed at him with
every nerve in their face depictive of
suppressed excitement and interest. Dur
ing the court proceedings. and at the
time the sentence was passed upon him,
he did not in the least betoken any sur
prise. For a few minutes after he came
into the court room his chest rose and
fell rather rapidly, but he soon regain
ed control of himself even then, and
for the balance of the proceedings he
was absolutely immOvabe. He stood
while the sentence OF death was being
passed upon him, and not a single muscle
Of his face quivered during the ordeal.
Burt Interviewed.
As soon as the sentence was passed
upon him he was taken back to Jail
where a Statesman reporter at once
sought an interview with him. Upon
approaching his cell. which is on the
second floor of the jail, Burt was found
sitting within playing dominoes with
another inmate of the cell. As the re-
porter approached Burt arose. and in re-
ply to a 'hOwdy do from the reporter.
came to the front of his cell passing his
fingers through to be shaken, remarking
at the time, Hello, how are yOu:'. In
reply to the statement from the reporter
that things had just gone pretty bad in
the court room, Burt replied: "Oh that
don't make any difference, although L
am not being interviewed at present.
l was Interrupted in my game of domi-
noes which | was playing when they
took me over to the court room. and
now | am trying to finish it," Continu-
ing, he said that he did hot know what
his lawyers intended doing in the matter
as he had not seen them. and knew
nothing about his contemplated sum-
mons until he had been taken into the
court room. He stated further that
while he was not ready to do any talk
ing at present, that he might submit to
an interview sometime soon. and when
he said anything that the blame in his
case would fall on ether shoulders than
his. as he had said once before. He
assured the reporter that while he did
not generally say much, that when he
did say anything that he said every
thing he wanted too at one time, and
that he would tell everything connected
with the case, and that the blame would
certainly not fall on his shoulders. He
further stated that now he simply
reiterated W hat he had said in the past,
that he was perfectly innocent of the
murder, and that when he had mis- say
he could not only prove it, but that the
whole responsibility would rest on other
shoulders than his. He was as cool as
least disconnected by the situation.
When the reporter turned to leave Burt
turned around and taking his seat at
the table in his cell. resumed the play
ing of his game of dominoes, and he and
his cell mate were talking and laughing
as the reporter went down the stairs and
left the Jail.
When the sentence was passed on him
in the court room Maj. Buck Walton,
his attorney, who was standing near him,
turned TO his fellow counselor. Mr.. Geo.
Walton. and said: I'VE can't help it"
and smiled. Burt responded by a very
broad smile himself and walked quietly
out of the court room to Jail.