The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-01-01
BURNS ACcUSEDBY ORGANS,
OUTLINE OF THE DEFENSE IN IA
COMA's MURDER TRIAL.
Prisoner Ciaims He Awoke to Find
His Throat Get, sad. Horror
Stricken. Biindly Ran Into the hay

Special Dispatch 70 the Post-Iutef'tseneer
TACOMA, Dec. I--As was predicted in
the Post-tnteIiigencer. the defense in the
Creams murder trial Is made and based
upon fun denial OF the crime. This
morning al the opening OF court, Attorney
Harvey, one Of the trio OF attorneys for
the defendant, made brief opening state
rnent OF their case, saying they would
show Creams IN al entirely new light
Summarized, the announcement 10 the
jury Included statements Indicative OF the
defense showing that Creams bore a good
character in the community, while TIE
chief witness for the prosecution is known
as consummate liar; that Burns told
many different and conflicting stories as
10 the time he retired on the night of the
killing of the sqoaw. Celia Hanson: that
while he swore he was in bed at O'Clock
in one instance and not later than
oclock in another, it would be proven
he was seen on the street after midnight;
that he held a conversation with a man
named Low the day following the crime
which throws suspicion on him tBurns):
that certain evidence as to screams being
heard TO emanate from the cabin of
Burns, where the crime was committed,
and other important testimony to be
brought out was offered TO the prosecu-
ton, ana that the witnesses were tod
they were not wanted; that Burns falsi-
lied in his entire story concerning his own
acts on the night Of the crime; that after
Creams and the squaw had gone to sleep
Burns came TO the cabin and aroused
Creams by trying TO pun the woman from
the bed, and declared Creams should de-
part and leave the squaw there; that
Creams then put Burns out OF the cabin.
the latter declaring he would play even
by saying: TN tx both OF you for this:
worse than BolIin fixed you last night.
The Climax Of the attorneys statement
came when, in conclusion, he said after
explaining how Creams had purchased a
pail OF beer and drank 1t at the caoin,
directly thereafter going 10 sleep. I'VE
viii show that the next he knew he
awoke with a terrible pain in his throat
srasItd II. and realized he had been cut;
that lie then ran EorroT-stricken from the
room, attempting TO call out as he es-
capped from the cabin; that he blindly ran
down the wharf not knowing where ne
was going. and next found himself in the
bay, having fallen from the dock above.
Here he continued TO call for help and
was at last pulled out of the water. only
10 pass into Inconsistencies, and he next
knew what had happened after he had
been made comfortable at the hospital
The first witnesses for the defense to-day
were in accordance with the opening
statement and their testimony was given
evidence thus far furnished by the de-
fense is not sensational. but nearly every
witness IN one way and another told of
something which confiicted with some
statement made on the stand by Burns,
relating chiefly to the time of his retiring
on the night the crime was committed,
and concerning the happenings In the
Burns cabin during the day preceding the
killing.
An indefinite report was received by at
torneys in the case today shat some one
had found the razor with which the kill
ing was done, and which, according 10
the prosecution. is supposed to have fallen
overheard after Groails cut his own
throat on the dock. SuJpoenas have been
issued for these who know of the discov-
cry of the razor. IT is said the weapon
was found near by a billboard not far
from the Burns shack. and not in the
direction from the cabin taken by Creams
as he ran toward the dock. The matter
Will be fully investigated, but as yet
nothing definite has developed.
IL is quite evident that In case the de-
Tense cannot prove their client innocent,
they will exert every effort to cast an
uncertainty about the killing sufficiently
strong TO create a doubt in the minds OF
the Jurors. in the hope of a compromise
verdict. Creams today exhibits more in
terest In the case than ever before. and
on several occasions during the session
assisted his attorneys with suggestions.
Further hearing of the case will go ova-
TO Monday. The defense expects to place
some eighteen witnesses on the stand and
Il is likely the end Will not be reached
until next Wednesday or Thursday.