The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-09-05
REDMOND'S SLAYER HERE
BURTON, THE CONFESSED MURDER
Err, BROUGHT FROM NASHVILLE.
Cause OF Governor TayIor's Tardy
ActiOn-The Ex-COnvict Talks
Briefly About His Case.

James Burton, the self-confessed slayer
of Fireman Frank Redmond is safely
locked in the Marion county Jail this morn
ing. He was brought to Indianapolis by
Police Superintendent Colbert and Chief
Detective Splann, who arrived here from
Nashville, Tenn. at 1925 o'clock this morn
ing
The police officials started in quest Of
Burton last Thursday morning. This was
the third trip to Nashville, where Burton
was confined in the Tennessee penitentiary.
The last time Superintendent Colbert went
after Burton he received q promise from
Governor Taylor to look into the matter"
and let the Indianapolis police hear from
him in a few weeks. But nothing was
heard from him, and on Thursday Mr.. Col
bert set about again after the slayer of
the fireman. 1t was at the urgent request
of Detective Splann that the chief consented
to make third trip.
Friday morning the officials made visit
to Capitol Hill to call on Governor Taylor.
His Excellency was in, but was in a bad
mood. He has been subjected to consid-
cradle criticism lately on account of one
or two pardons issued to murderers at
Memphis, and the chief executive was
smarting under the newspaper talk which
had become extremely distasteful to him.
However, he recognized Superintendent
Colbert and they talked over the Burton
matter for an hour. At length the Gov
ernor asked the police officials to call in
the afternoon. This seemed encouraging, .
said Superintendent Colbert last night,
land we felt there was a chance of our
getting our man. We went back in the aft
ernoon and found the Governor had made
r. L h.
don Burton, and we could have him on one
condition. That was, that Governor Mount
should personally request the pardon. lie
said there were number OF other
men waiting for pardons whose
claims were prior to our own. However, If
Governor Mount would ask for a pardon for
Burton by wire it would be granted. Fri
day night ] sent a long message TO Mayor
Taggart and yesterday morning we called
again at the executive parlors. Governor
Taylor met us with a telegram in his hand.
1t was a message from Governor Mount,
and L knew we had won our case. Gov
ernor Taylor said then he would have to
consult Judge Anderson, of the Criminal
Court, on the matter, and tried to get him
by telephone but could not AT length he
de clared he was the Governor of Tennessee
and would issue the pardon anyhow. 1t was
placed in our hands at II O'Clock yesterday
and ar hour later we started home with
Burton"
HANDCUFFED TO SPLANN.
The prisoner was brought to the station
in carriage handcuffed to the wrist of De-
tective Splann. He was not put in muir
derers' row, but was locked up the north
side of the Jail. Burton is a mild-looking
fellow of about twenty mine. He talks we'll,
and shows that he has had schooling and
has known some refinement. He declined
TO talk about the case last night and would
neither deny nor affirm the statement he
has made to Superintendent Colbert. Bur-
ton gave his address as Cincinnati He
says he has people living away from here
whom he does not want to know of his
present plight. That is the reason he keeps
his identity concealed. He admits that his
name is not Burton In the Nashville
prison, where he was sent for a daylight
burglary, he was known as James Hen
Messy.
The murder of Fireman Redmond oc-
CURED on the night of Jan. % last. 1t was
about O'Clock in the evening and the
fireman was in the act of stopping burg
lar when he was shot down and killed. Bur-
ton admits he was the burglar and the
slayer of Redmond, but he also duplicates
Carl Harvey, whom he knew once in the
Columbus, O., prison, and Ed Phillips, a
young man living in this city. Harvey is in
jail but Phillips is out on bail.
Il understand that Phillips is the man
that has ma de all this trouble for me-" said
Burton last night. II expect to take my
share of this blame, but | want the others
to take part of it too. don't want to talk
about this thing now until I have had
more time to think il over 1 did not know
/ was to be brought here until % clock
this afternoon, and have had little time to
get myself together / knew I would have
to face this some day and although / had
nearly six years yet to serve in the Nash
Vile prison, I was ready to come back and