The evening times., 1899-03-28
SAYS HE SAW A GIRL KILLED.
Light Upon My stcrious Death in
Staten Island Woods.

Light Upon 81 My stcrious Death in
Staten Island Woods.
New York, March 2S.-New light has
been thrown upon the mystery of the death
of Miss Anna V. Sullivan, the young vo-
man found dead in Grimes Woods, Staten
Island, last September by Joseph Burke,
a seyenteeE-year- old lad, who was COM
mitted to the Elmira Reformatory on Fri
day last on several charges of burglary.
The body of Miss Sullivan was found on
September IL 1t had evidently been in
the woods for several days. The discov-
cry of a revolver with several chambers
empty beside the body gave rise 10 the
theory that the young woman committed
suicide, and coroner's jury brought in a
verdict to that effect.
If the story told by young Burke is true,
however, the girl was murdered.
Burke says he saw Miss sullivan in eX-
cited conversation with man in Grimes
Woods on the evening of September 9. In
the midst of the discussion the man sud
denly raised revolver and shot The wo-
man through the head.
Burke has made a sworn statement of
what he saw in the woods on the fatal
night, and this statemet is now in the
hands of the Staten Island police, who
are working on the case. The police have
also acquainted District Attorney Edward
s. Rawson of Richmond county, with the
story told by Burke and Mr.. Rawson has
detailed two men from his Office TO assist
in the investigation Mr.. Rawson said
Yesterday that the confession of Burke
was not in his possession, but i'll the
hands OF the police, who wished TO verify
ii before making it public.
Joseph Burke is wild young fellow,
who, in company with Charles Johnson. a
lad of about his own age. committed Sc
r.es OF robberies and burglaries in the vi
cinity Of Clifton, for which the pair were
arrested last December and committed 10
the Richmond county jail. Just before his
trial Burke sent for Detective John p.
Smith. saying he had a commun. cation of
importance to make.
When Smith had heard his story he was
of the opinion that Burke had fabricated it
in order 10 secure mitigation of his szn-
tence. He questioned the lad closely, but
Burke stuck to the main details of his mar
rative.
He told the detective he had been led 10
make clean breast Of the matter because
his conscience gave him no rest The sub
stance of Burke's narrative is as follows
On the evening of September 9, very
hot day, Burke was roaming in the woods
in the vicinity OF Hillside Avenue, Staple
a
about the woods. The people in that neigh
borhood had named him the wool roam
err When he came to a dense th-cket on
Grimes hill his attention was attracted
by voices raised in angry alteration. He
crawled near the spot whence the sounds
came and saw a man and woman talk
ing eXcitedly
The woman was young and well dressed.
He was not close enough to hear what
they were saying, but he saw that the wo-
man was crying.
Suddenly the woman turned as IL to go.
AS she did so the man drew revolver
from the pocket OF his coat and shot her
through the head.
Burke said he was so frightened he did
not wait to see more, but turned and ran.
He could not remember whether any more
shots were fired. The next thing he knew
was that he was being pursued. He re-
doubled his eyertions to get away, but his
pursuer was faster than he. and in an in
stant had seized him by the collar and
thrown him heavily.
IF you move or cry out you're dead
man. said the pursuer, and Burke lay
still
After assuring himself that the coast was
clear Burke's captor jerked him roughly to
his feet, and again enjoining silence,
marched him rapidly through the woods.
with which he seemed thoroughly familiar,
to a bypath where horse and buggy drawn
into the shelter of some trees were in wait
ing
THE man bade Burke unite the horse.
which he did, and then ordered him to get
into the buggy. The stranger then got in
himself and took the reins.
Now said he, I've a good mind 10
kill you right now. and il you cry out or
attempt tc escape, I'll be as good as my
word I'll drive along bit and think the
matter over.
The man had fast horse and the scene
of the murder was speedily left behind.
When they had driven sometime in silence
the man said
''If You ever tell soul what you have
seen this night, or my friends will fix you
sure. You want to forget it. Do you think
you can forget it, young fellow"
Burke assured the stranger that he could
forget it, and also told him things about
his own lawless career, which materially
changed the murderer's attitude toward
him. When the man found that Burke had
done a few jobs himself he treated him
more kindly, and even went so far as to
say there was money in it if the boy could
keep his mouth shut.
Burke was voluble in his protestations
and finally the stranger stopped the horse
in a secluded spot and told the lad he
would let him go if he swore to be silent
The boy took the required oath. Then the
man handed him SIS and told him to meet
him that night week at a saloon he named
in Port Richmond. If he failed to be there
at the time appointed, or if he attempted
| in the meantime to communicate with the
authorities, he would be fixed" the man
S1Sd His every Jnaya would ho uratnboI