The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-05-28

rast at the railway eating house Mt that
point After that he was seen at junction
POINT In Kansas, where the trail came to
an end.
Before leaving Austin Burt. In a casua,
way, told several persons that his wife and
children had gone first here and then there,
presumably for the purpose OF heading off
Troublesome questions which their disap-
peorance might have dictated. To one he
SAID they were in Waco; to another that
they were in San Antonio. Finally he gave
1t out that they were at Mrs Burt's motn>
er's, where they would remain until he
eeuif make arrangements for their recep-
tiou In Fort Worth, at which point he had
secured employment which he was going
up to enter into
On Sunday. July &c, the day after Burts
dishppeafance, Mrs. Burt's sister called to
see her, but found the house empty. aud
returning home reported the fact to her
mother, who was much astonished because
her daughter had not Informed her OF her
supposed change of residence. The same
evening her establishment became alarm
wEen her milkrsn, vic also served the
hcrt family and who had been told by Bnrt
10 III the future deliver his milk at a cer-
tam number on West avenue, reported that
he had found that said number had no ex-
is'ehce in fact. which led him to conclude
tnat Burt had purposely mislei him
On Monday. July q, negro porter Mt the
itote! salge bar, who was keeping company
with Minnie Sims. Burt's servant. made It
known that she had told him that Burt
hsd cautioned her against using water out
OF The cisterm in cooking breakfast on the
n aFt ~. IN
ted, because cat had fallen into It, THIS
story was carried to Mrs. Powers Mrs
bprts mother) and her alarm Immediately
became terror. At once she declared tina,
Burt had murdered her daughter. and sent
ioF Minnie Sims to hear the cat story from
her own lips but for some reason the girl
did not show up.
ON Tuesday July rs. the general public
got hold Of the story and the police visited
ene Burt place, finding nothing to arouse
their suspicious; but the fact that Burt
had shipped several boxes OF stuff to Hous-
ton under fictitious name was ascer-
tanned and an investigation was started
Nothing new developed on Wednesday
July %, but on the night of that day at an
informal reception given at the residence
of Mr.. Marion Rundel the disappearance OF
theories advanced to account for it, one OF
which was that Burt had murdered his
wife and children and thrown their bodies
into the cisterm under the house in which
they lived. This made such an impression
upon the mind of Mr.. Rundel's younges.
son that he started out on a tour of IN
VeStlgation on bis own account before
breakfast on the morning of July 30, the
cistern receiving bis especial attention.
horrible stencil arising therefrom greeted
his nostrils and he FASTENED home 10 In
form his mother Of his discovery. she at
tempted to convince him thar his magma
ton had led him astrny. but he insisted
that he had smelled corpse end became so
earnest in the matter that one of Burte
brothers was called in End told about 1t,
aud he and City Health Officer Calhoun
started out to verify young Rundels sus-
plciors. Arriving al the late Burt resi-
ienoe. they uncovered the cistern ard
brought themselves face to face with the
evidences of an appalling tragedy.
Three mangled corpses. with the heads
wrapped In white cloth the throats en-
circled by tightly drawn handkerchiefs the
feet tied together with wire and the bodies
bound in blankets met their gaze. The
sheriff was Immediately notified and the
remains of Burt's victims were conveyed to
an undertakers establishment. where they
were identified, although much disfigured |
and partially decomposed Mrs. Burts |
face showed that she had been struck and !
killed with a blunt instrument, while the |
children each had hole in the temple |
an ice pick driven into their skulls.
Following the discovery of the bodies |
came that Of the boxes shipped to Hous-
ton. They contained bloody night and bed |
and bloody Ratchet with which |
The crime had undoubtedly been committed
These evidences of his boodthirstness
having come to the surface, steps were at
once taken TO locate Burt. He had six |
days the start of the authorities and had |
apparently dropped off the earth. Rewards
TO 5000 were offered for his |
capture. bat without result His penchant
lot tilpptu UP thobbh' ~
had gone straight to Chicago from Austin,
and once there in the great bucket shop |
.enter he couldn't tear himself away.
future" fiend he. to his ultimate undong,
haunted the places where that kind OF spec
llaton is INDUCED in. Recognized on the |
street by NJ. y. Piety, an Austin produce
dealer, who happened TO be in Chicago at
the time. he was followed into bucket
ship and with the assistance Of a young /
man named Polndexter former resident
of Austin, he was completely identified aud
pointed out to the police, who took him in |
On August 49, 1885. less than a month after |
the triple murder. He made not the slight |
ssG demonstration when arrested, but hand |
ed the officer knife ne was carrying, say
ing: Take this before | hurt somebody
He pretended that he was expecting ar
rest when captured because he had for
,eited a bond he was under in Austin, and |
failed to manifest the least emotion when |
asked If he knew the whereabouts of his
wife and children
Immediately after receiving notice OF
purt's capture, Sheriff White went to Chi |