The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-07-29
KILLING OCCURS At PARIS
POLK BURRIS WAS SHOTTO DEATH
YESTERDAY BY LUTHER II.
GUTHRIE.
ACTED IN Defense Of HIS FATHER
Burris and John 4. Guthrie Were
Graphing When the Latter's Son
Fired the Fatal BuIIet-State-
ment by John 4. Guthrie.

Paris. Tex. July 21.-(Special)-A kill
ing occurred here about 8 o'clock thi,
morning. j. 4. POLK Burris, one OF
the best known citizens of Paris and
Lamar county, was shot to death by
Luther II. Guthrie, who fired the fata
shot in defense of his father, John y
| Guthrie
The encounter took place in front of the
Guthrie marble yard. which is located on
Church street, between Ciarksville and
Kaufman streets. The cause of the
fatal affair was the separation of the de-
ceased and his wife, Laura Burnett
| BurriS the decree of court divorcing them
dating back to April of last year. The
one shot entered the left side of the head
into the cheek bone, just about an inch
in front of the ear, and went crashing
into the mans brain. The bullet did not
come out, but lodged. possibly behind the
right ear, as there was protuDcration
there.
Immediately after the shooting Il large
crowd gathered. There were but few eye
witnesses 10 the affair. none of whom
are inclined to talk for publication The
best information Obtainablc, however. is
TO the effect that County Tax Collector
John Il. Burlington and the deceased had
arranged to attend II picnic al ChicOtc
today, and the two had gone to the Ken
lucky stables and secured Il team. Com
ing up the street from the south Burris
met James Guthrie, who is Il brother of
John a. Guthrie, and he and Mr.. James
Guthrie were standing talking when John
\. Guthrie drove up to his place of bust
ness in Il vehicle of his own. As MIR.
Guthrie alighted from his buggy several
words were exchanged between him and
the deceased, and the trouble began. IL
clinch followed and they grapplcd for
minute or two. when Luther Guthrie ran
out from the marble yard with pistol in
his hand. approached the man who had
his father embraced and reaching across
his fathers shoulder, placed the deadly
weapon at Burris' head and fired. and he
fell instantly to the ground a dead man.
Polk Burris was the son of DIR. Bur-
ris. who resided for II number OF years
on Blossom Prairie. six miles east from
here. He was born in Louisiana. His
father, who was Il highly respected resi-.
dent. has passed to the great beyond and
his mother lives at the old homestead at
Blossom Prairie. For long number of
years Burris had been peace officer in
some capacity.
Immediately after the shooting. Luther
III. Guthrie, his father. J. \. Guthrie and
~
Guthrie. were found in Tax Collector
Bullingtons office. The party remained
in the tax collectors office until complaint
was made by Sheriff Hammond before
Assistant County Attorney Hardcson.
charging Luther III. Guthrie with the
murder of the deceased. A few minutes
afterwards the party repaired to the of
flee of Sheriff Hammond and Mr.. J. A.
Guthrie consented to make statement.
In the presence of his attorney and repre-
scntativcs of the press. he said:
'The killing is II very unfortunate af /
fair That it was justiiiablc under the
doubt. This morning ut about S:45
o'clock, drove up in front of my marble |
yard to hitch my horse and buggy at the I!
usual place. AS approached | saw Bur |
rs talking in very loud tones to my !
brother Jim. and rs | reached the hitch |
ing post | heard him say: There is the
. - - now As | alightcd from
my buggy | asked what he said. and what
he wanted with me. and in reply he said: |
I will show You what | want, you -
- -, and with this he threw his
hand in his hip pocket drew ont large
pistol and was in the act of shooting
me when / grabbed him around the
shoulders and a tussle followed, and he
hit me on the right cheek. Burris was
very desperate. and have no doubt but
what he would have taken my life had
not my son come to my rescue. My son,
who heard the trouble, after he saw that
Burrs was determined to kill me, ran
to the back end of our office. secured a
pistol and placed it to the right side of
Buris' head and shot him. The powder
burned very badly the right side of my
face and portion of my ear. and ] can
hear but little from my right ear. Burris
has been mad at men for some time for
no good reason. j want TO say the
trouble was on account of his wife. from
whom he has been separated. and lady
for whom | have the greatest respect
She conducts boarding house across the
street from my marble yard, and she
has several times used my buggy. Burris
was very jealous of her, and his wrong
and unjustifablc opinion has caused this
of the affair"
Luther Guthrie was perfectly cool
after the shooting. and when asked for n
statement he said he had nothing to say
further than that he shot Burris to save
the life of his father.
The examining trial will be held before
County Judge Neatherby tomorrow.