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

as the spectators could see uumindful o.
the fact that his life was the stake in tn,
game being played before the blind god.
dess.
Once, and once only. did he lose control
4 OF himself, and that was when District
Attorney Burleson In closing the case he'd
up before his face In exhibiting Il to the
Jury his wifes bloody night robe aud
waved aloft the Ratchet which had served
his cruel purpose in taking her llfe--the
Ratchet over the price OF which he had
haggitd, as was proven by competent tes-
| timony, saying that a second hand one was
good enough for the use he intended TO pu,
1t to- HIS face blanched; his partially
closed eyes for moment opened and di-
lated with terror, and his temple throbbed
guilty when these evidences Of his saw
agery were displayed within few inches
OF his visage. He was caught off his
susri and he weakened, and the hundreds
OF eyes which were fixed upon him noticed
it. and II there we're any there who hal
doubted his responsibility or held to the
theory that he waste be siangy but ex-
pressivc~-dead TO the world, they In a
shorter space OF time than IL takes TO tell
1t changed their minds
| The trial closed on the night OF Novem-
Der %, and after being out all night the
| jury returned verdict OF guilty"
The case was carried to the higher courts
and every exped!ent known to the legal
fraternity employed to secure a reversal
but without avail. 1t was affirmed, aud
on December 26 1897. Burt was by Judge
Brooks sentenced to hang on January IL,
| 1873
i n I'm Ia
pealed TO the governor. Petitions were
| prepared and pretty freely signed esklng
| the communication OF his sentence to lifo
| imprisonment IN the penitentiFry on tho
| ground that there Is sufficient doubt
about his responsibility to warrant execu-
| tive interference, but the governor refus d
TO interfere saying he did not believe Burt
insane and that the triple murder OF In
nocents had motive in his deed.
The murderer was afterwards tried for
| insanity but the jury returned q verdict to
the effect that he was sane.
On May 90 Burt gave statement to the
Austin Statesman. which follows:
To Whom Ii May Concern.
Austin. May 2l.--As the near approach
OF my demise is plainly visible and after
much consideration. | have decided TO saw
few words in general and not much In
particular. The existing circumstances un-
der which | have heen placed. confined
and soon to he deportod, are of such a
character that am NOT persuaded that 1t
Is my duty 10 elaborate upon, further than
TO say few words and LET the reader
draw such conclusions as may seem COM
patible with facts already In their possess
sion; either from personal knowledge or
from matters rehearsed at different periods
curing my Incarceration.
"A NJ Ia S,to
Tor the satisfaction of the masses but
rather for the understanding of the few
therefore, since | feel that ! can stand
your persecution. pardon me II | do not
yield to your curiosity. II is well known
10 the attorneys who were employed In nv
behalf, as well as to some others, that at
no time have | In any way. BY word or
explanation, assisted them in the defense
or the preparation of defense Of my case
Although they and others have inccssantly
beiabored me from right to left, before and
art. for something they could not get and
could not command Some weeks after
my having been imprisoned and after
had refused to employ cousel, my brothers
engaged the services of eminent ATTORNEYS
On their visiting me refused their $ rv-
ices and wisdom and have never aided
them in any manner In the various pro-
ceedings that have been had; and further.
the counsel have never given me their
confidence as to their contemplated move
fnents, for they know that instead of as
sis,ihg them have done various thinQs
10 thwart the accomplishment OF their de
sired ends
have been able TO koef abreast OF
movements by the aid of OTHERS. and the
publication in the daily papers, and have
peen left alone TO weave beautiful imarl
nations and be solaccd by the tender
r meioaies that ever flow through my en-
II is with much satisfaction that amid
all the trials and tribulations OF life no one
mas besn shle TO point TO one instance
when the loving relations OF husband and
wife, parents to children. were for n mo-
ment rupturad. How pleasing is the re-
inenbrance OF that oasis IN the deaseri Of
my me- when without interruption there
was the loving embrace. the stu burning
caress. the purest affection in the small
circle OF my home, aud at no time a disa-
sreement. My wife and children wore the
orly gods knew or worshippei ana in
this hour, when the demons OF night arc
lowering their mantle Of darkness, how
consoling Is the knowledge OF their pres
enoe with ne now, and how grand the
thought OF what will be on the rising in
the morn. For what is death to those who
know its mysteries? 'Tis but little more
than the retiring at night. and an awaken-
Ing In the glorious sunrise OF the morning.
1t is difficult to limit space. as thought
after thought fiaghes with electrical speed
through my brain, But none are re-
quired TO read. and when you are wsarled
quit; your curiosity will not be gratifed
l have been called everything from
peryert TO a DR.. Jeckcl and Mr. Hyde. and
as the one Is complimentary and the other
not acquired, must not complain. But II
you please permit me to say that the law
has erred; yet It knows II not. The law
Will never grasp its prey. Do realize the
awful enormty Of such a crime? Does the
sun ever shine? Both are equally as easy
TO answer.
The laws of today are not sufficient in
Furnishing crimes OF such atrocity. The
law VIII never punish. and in my death
the majesty OF the law Is still not main
tanned, the outraged law Is still outraged.
The guilty are already punished by forces
not of the law.
Perchance fend incarnate should slow
ly torture to death with hours OF excru-
ciating agony, helpless victim, Is the
punishment adequate. to confine him for
months, give him of the good stores OF
earth, and then take his life with only