The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-12-15
NAN UPON The ROOF
Mrs. Burnett and Ella Rucnan-
an Tell of Him.
MORNING OF THE MURDER
They Were Out Early--John
Collins Main Witnesses.

The two most important witnesses for
the defense in the Collins murder trial
have come and gone. The testimony OF
these two women, Mrs. May Burnett and
Ella Buchanan, 10 the great sensation in
the case tina. tas been promised all along
by toe lawyers for the defeuse. This is
tho strong evidence upya which they ex-
pect the acquittal of John Collins.
Mrs. Burnett is a scrawny woman with
red hair. She mas been arrested number
Of times for keeping a resort. Ella Bu-
chanan is Topsy-like negro girl.
Mrs. Burnett said that at the time OF
the murder she lived at eighth and Adams
street. The night before the murder she
went on the 11:90 o'clock train TO Scranton.
twenty miles from Topeka, to see her
folks, and returned on a train at o'clock
the morning of the murder. She went to
her home, changed her dress and her ne
gro servant, Ella Buchanan, told her of a
house for rent near by. She was intend
ing TO move, so she and the girl went right
over to look at the house. On the way
they passed the Collins nome. 1t was
earlier nor later. This was about the
time of the murder. AS she passed the
Collins home she glanced up and saw
someone on the tin roof OF the coal shed
in the rear Of the Collins house.
The Importance of this testimony may
be realized when II is known that the
only window down in the Collins home
that was unfaetened the morning of the
murder was an up stairs window, open
ing upon a kitchen roof so that a man
might step right out upon il. This kitch-
en- roof was joined 10 the coal shed roof,
so that a man could get out of the win
dow, run ACROSS the roof OF the kitchen
to the shed and drop into the ally.
Mrs. Burnett said she merely glanced at
the man and saw that he had something
in his hand.
What was that he had in his hand?"
she was asked.
81 don't know"
How did i tcompare in size and general
appearance with a pair of shoes?
1T might have been pair OF shoes, 1
wouldn't say positively"
Did you watch the man go away?"
mo, did not. I Just glanced at him"
w as ne WHITE OF cOlOTeu.
81 can't tell"
"What is your best recollection about
whethe he was white or colored7'
To this question Assistant Prosecutor
Stafford interrupted:
Your Honor, we object. She says she
cannot tell. I don't suppose she has any
recollection about it If she cannot tell
''She may answer the question" ruled
the judge.
What is your hes. recollection" asked
Attorney Goddard.
'T don't think he was as light as you"
was it a light black man or dark
white MANI
ST think it was light colored man I
should think"
''Was it broad day light Them
cit was not as clear as later. It was
not very light"
was the man on the roof in officers
Uniform
'I don't think so.''
Ibid you see anyone standing around
the house?"
81 did not stop to look"
what was the date that you saw the
man on the roof"
II think It was the morning Mr.. Col
Inns was murdered. l heard of the MUIR
der later"
That was the end of Mrs Burnetts
direct examination. Prosecuting Attor-
ney Jetmore was smiling confidently as
he hitched himself Onward in his chair
TO begin the cross examination. Assis-
tant Prosecutor Stafford was right behind
him, ready to whisper suggestions in his
ear.
What is your name?" was the first
question asked Mrs. Burnett on cross-ex-
animation.
MARY Burnett"
'How many other names do you go
by?" Mr.. Jetmore was asking questions
in loud. bantering tone. Mrs. Burnett's
eyes flashed and she trembled win rage
as she answered:
MY own name"
Judge Hazen seemed more deeply in
terested in the testimony of this woman
than of any other witness during the
whole trial. He leaned over the edge OF
bis desk and tried to lookinto her face
and never once took his eyes from her
while she was testifying. The jurors
were equally as interested.
WAS that your name before you came
to Topeka inquired the prosecutor
1T was
Have YOU been married.
81 was"
What was your maiden name?"
MAY Burnett
How does that Gomez
Il never lost my maiden name when I
was married"
What was your husbands name?"
Burnett Beck"
Then why didn't you take the name OF /
Reck2''