The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-03-25

rather through tho outskirts OF town.
and stopped az the house OF a hrOthcr-in-
Law, named Jackson near Beauchanlp
Springs, where ne left his cap. which was
subsequently turned over to sherifi An
dcrson and became an important link 10
the chain OF evidence on the trial On
leaving the Meyers house he alf- cast of
shirt tn the held. which was also found
ard Identified as his and used against him
on the trial.
Burton WIS arrested IN the outskirts Of
the city on the morning following the kill
ing. but as his description was not then
well known and the officers failed 10
identity him. he was permitted to 60 bis
way after being brieSy detained and ques-
TONED.
IRE sherifgs department vas never more
diligent than In the search for the Meyers
murderer Guarfls were securing tho coun-
y IN every direction, Identification cards
~ere sent broadcast over the State. lib
erHl rewards we're offered and several ar
rests were made OF different parties re-
seinhiing the fugitive. but all we're re-
leased until about two weeks after the
Suing, when Burton was arrested while
employed on Dr. n r. Dolan's place in
Liberty county. when arrested he had in
his possession a silver watch. which. on
The tFisl. Was identified as belonging 10
Henry Meyers
On the night that Burton was brought
y from Liberty county young Gofleib
Meyers and others were brought down
from Cypress Young Meyers failed to
iuiiy identify Burton 10 the lail that night
but the following morning. when Burton
was aiiired IN the shirt and made to put
on The CAP hat ne vas supposed TO have
worn when young Meyers last saw him,
rue Identification was complete.
burton was indicted by inc next con
venius grand jury and was tried on the
I'm ara 18th q last October, the trial
consuming two days
AZ the trial young Cotlsib the chief
Witness Tor the State testified he was
awakened by defendant coming into his
. room and assauiting him. He LII him
Win iiis hAtchei over the head and cut
ms Hhger He exhibited his sears 20 the
jury When defendant was attacking Wit
ness Mrs. Meyers screamed and defendant
ran out "a where she was on the gallery.
ane witness jumped out Of the window aud
ran 20 the house oil Gotleib Zorn and told
nm WAT had iskeB place. Witness hrst
s"w Burton on Sunday evening" the kill
ing occurred the next day Burton came
. there 10 work or SUNDAY night before ths
tlliing on Monday. Burton had worked
Tor Ar. Meyers before. he slept on toe
gallery Srnday aipbf Next day ne helpcl
The Meyers pull fodder tAi dinner time.
After dinner the Meyers went to sleep on
the eaiI Fry when they were killed Wit
! ness dll not see the actual killing When
( De got hack 20 the house Meyers and It's
wife were dead. and The child iiet, tbrse
/ days later
Z Burton when placed upon the stand
sicutly maintained that he was lnnrcent
/ Of the crime and denied knowing anything
( atoui Cypress or the Meyers family. Tho
getense attempted 10 establish an alibi
p1, h9 neaTeF, approach to II was lie
p"oi mat Burton wGs seen about the
market in Houston on Saturday Jnly Is
| two days before the killing
me jury WIS out hut hny minutes
/ when they returned a verdict OF guilty q,
murder IN the first degree ANA iyts tbs
| penalty at death
An appeal was taken. but the case was
| affirmed and at the last February term of
The criminal district court Burton was
sentenced 10 hang on March q.
~
While Burton, up to the time oi his
execution. never confessed directly to the
I Meyers kiiliDg, abcu, three weeks ago he
made some startling statements 20 sheriff
Anderson. which were published at the
ume ~ The Post-snd are here reproduced
he iburtonl said that he used a knife
! instead OF Ratchet upon young Meyers
That he bad only been az the Meyers place
one day or a part OF the day. as was m
evidence at the time and that when ne
left after the kiiling-though he does not
admit 70 the killing OF Meyers and hi.
wiie--that he remained in tina woods with
10 mile and half OF the house Until
after dark. lie says ne sat upon log IN
the timber and played solitaire with a tech
~ cards until dark That while thus en-
gagged be saw one OF his pu-suers With 4
Winchester and he ran across a creek al
a place whore the mau could not cross on
a horse ana thus made his escape Thai
~ night he went back 70 Cypress 10 TAX,
a freight train. but saw posse OF armed
men get on the train. and knowing that
they were looking for him ne made him
self scarce. This crowd was Sheriff An
dersOn and his posse from Houston. Il
stated that he was arrested apput a.
light the following morning BY Deputies
Mates ana Kinsbach but that he taikes
them out q holding him on the Plea tina
he WAS a voud chopper and going to work
Deputy Sherin Mates corroboratcs thi
statement aud says that he aud Kinshae
did arrest Burton, as he states. but turne
him loose. as they believed his story an
the description OF the negro who wa
wanted FOR killing the Meyers family.
Sheriff Anderson told Burton about hi
having gotten on 10 his trail in the thicke
beyond The Hollywood cemetery by hndin
lot OF rinds OF wetermeions that had bee
recently eaten.
Yes said Burton. 81 ate those melons
1
county would have had to appoint anoth-
sheriff. AS | had two sixshooteTs and Wa
prepared to have killed anybody who a;
tempted to arrest me-.
Sheriff Anderson remarked that he woul
have mixed" It with him. as he was ais
: prepared 20 do some shooting al the tim
/ and that instead Of dead sheriff iher
! might have been a dead niger left
the thicket
, Burton says he killed ono man In Pol
county near the Trinity river. while he wa
a fugitive. that tho man came ZAP 10 hiI
with a Winchester and thar he secrete
Z himself Ia the bushes and shot him, Kill
ing him and taking his Winchester II
says II the body has not been found be ca
direct any one where 10 20 now and fin
It.
As no one WAS reported 70 have bee
+, | killed in the manner and at the time this
Burton describes, Sheriff Anderson AZ
tachex discredft 10 this statement hr
! has written to the sheriff Of Polk count
concerning II.
After telling this much concerning n
4 circumstances that followed the eeyer,
. killing. Burton voluntarily told OF mum
her q other killings IN which he claims 4
have heen implicated.
e He says that he and Kit Robinson killo
!, the old tank tender on the Houston Eas