The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-03
KISSED AND THEN KILLED.
BROORLYN NAV MURDERS MS WIFE
AM HiMSELE,

And no One Knows why-ThrouRh 1t All His
Little Roy Slept, Though Burns'A Fare
well Kiss Almost Woke Him-The MUIR
drrer's Last Caress to tho Dying Woman.
While their S-year-old son was sleeping In
the next room OF their tenement house at "
Bteuben street, Brooklyn. Michael Burns shot
and killed his wife. Annie. shortly after mid
night yesterday morning, tried to shoot him
self. and. failing. went out and got drink.
Then he returned homo and cut his own
throat. Through II all the boy slept. ard It was
not unit, he had been tax en- to his aunts homo
that no learned Of the double crime which left
him an orphan. So far az friends and relatives
know. there was no reason why Burns should
have wished to kill his wife. Tho only one
advanced Is hardly adequate to explain the
tragedy. 1t is that the man was jealous Of his
wlfe's fondness for her relatives.
Burns came homo late Friday night. When
ha arrived Thomas Hillman, one OF two
boarders. was asleep In his own room. and
Johnny. the boy. was asleep In I'm inside room.
Mrs. Burns was busy fixing the pnrlor Garrett
which was In need Of repairs. What passed
between them nobody will ever know. Hlllman
was awakened by pistol shot. Sitting up in
bed. In tho hazy state OF mind which follows
sudden awakening. he was trying to determine
whence the noise came that had reused him,
when a second shot removed all doubt. Then
he heard Mrs. Burns call for help and Burns
ran through his room and out tho back way.
As soon as he could pull on his trousers and a
coat the boarder ran into the front room. whore
he found Mrs. Burma lying on tho floor per-
fectly still. The front OF her dress was covered
with blood. Hillman ran out after Burns.
leaping over tho baustrade and injuring his
foot in his haste. In the hall below he met
Edward German. who lives on that floor and
who had been aroused by the shot.
Burns has killed his wife," cried Hillman.
Then It was him that Just went past" said
the other.
I'll follow him." said HIman. and tell the
police"
Meantime Burns had quietly walked over to
weingarten's saloon at Park avenue and
steuhen street. where he ordered and drank
two glasses OF beer.
I've shot my wife," he said to the bartender
as he walked toward the door; land I guess
I'm going to the chair"
Wait minute Burns" said the bartender,
who thought the man must be either crazy or
drunk. sit down and keep quiet for a minute.
You don't mean what you said. do vou?"
:. Yes, l do" said Burns, I'm going back
homo now"
He walked ba~k to the tenement and went
upstairs. Outside his apartment he saw Cor
man bending over Mrs. Burns. who had
dragged herself to the head OF the stairs.
my God. Burns" cried German soon as
he saw the husband. What did you do this
for2"
Il tried to do the same for myself" was the
reply. y" pulled the trigger but the cartridge
missed FIRE. I'm fixed for the chair all right"
What did you do 1t for" asked German
Agan. You've killed her"
- Is she deadp" said the husband. Annie.
Ire you dead?"
He lifted the woman's head on his arm and
booked into her face.
Il guess she's gone" he said. and put his lips
10 her forehead. We'll. l guess I'll be going.
! better 60. / guess"
He looked about him uncertainty. German
thought his mind was unsettled.
Go In to your ROOM" advised German.
''You 60 in and sit down until the doctors
come. May be she amt dead"
oh. yes" replied Burns. "Annie's dead.
Bhe didn't answer me. Its-it's all right. all
right. I'll go i'm
lie entered the apartments and went to the
room where the boy slept. Johnny said after
ward that he was half awakened by his father
coming in and kissing him. but he went right
to sleep again. Shortly afterwari the po-
lice arrived and also Ambulance Surgeon
Pnkham Of tho homeopathic Hospital. The
latter said that Mrs. Burns was alive. and had
her taken to the ambulance. Before the am
bulance started away. policeman's head was
thrust from a front window and voice called:
Come up here. doctor. Here's another
case"
DR.. Pinkham ran up and found Burns lying
dead upon the kitchen floor with his throat
cut. Beside him lay a razor German came
up. looked at the body and then went into the
room where Johnny was sleeping. Putting a
pillow on his shoulder. he caught up the boy.
who was fast asleep. buried his face into the
pillow and ran down to his own apartments.
The ambulance drove to the hospital with Mrs
Burns but she died as they were carrying her
In. Mrs. Margaret McGowan OF 10S Steuben
street, an aunt OF Johnny. took him away in
the morning. and at her house he first learned
OF the death OF his iather and mother. Ber-
nard Kearns Of Myrtle and Grand avenues who
Is well to do. will bury the Burnses and will
look after the boy.
II don't know OF any reason for this terrible
thing" he said yesterday. Annie and Mike
always got on we'll together. so far as | know
They always seemed to me a happy couple.
He must have been crazy"
The Burnses had been in the tenement only
three months. Some OF the neighbors had
heard that Burns scoded his wife for paying
zoo much attention to her relatives. Burns
had been drinking somewhat lately. but not
enough so 1t Is said. to make him quarrelsome
or vicious. The two boarders are friends OF
Burns'e. and there Is no suspicion that he was
Jealous OF either Of them Nor can the motive
for the killing be found In financial trou bles
Burns had regular employment machinst
at McDermott i Towards morocco factory.
Park avenue and Schenck street. and got good
wages He was 43 years old and his wife was
co. Johnny Is their only child.