The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-04-12
Placed on the Stand in the Bur-
nett Perjury Case
To Impeach the Testimony of
Ella Buchanan.
GRACE COLLINS ALSO
Testifies Concerning the Morn
ing of the Murder.
Mrs. Burnett's Father and Sis
ter on the Stand.

The testimony in the Burnett perjury
cease viii be concluded this afternoon
Inc state introduced a number of wit
nesses yesterday afternoon who were
also witnesses in the Collins case.
Among them were Mr.. and Mrs. C. H.
Barry, testified that Ella Buchanan
was employed by them at the time Mrs.
Burnett said she was working for her;
A w Knowles, Edwin Lange and AL
bert Heartburg, who testified that they
searched for evidences of some one
leaving the house on the morning of the
murder, and found none, and Hugh
Dryden. the station agent at Scranton,
who testified that he did not believe
that any one beside himself got on the
train on which Mrs. Burnett claims to
have come from Scranton on the morn
ing of the murder, as he did not see any
one else at the depot and he did not
think the train came to a standstiIl.
Ralph Cav, the court stenographer,
also read some of the testimony taken
in the Collins case.
The state rested its case this morning
and the defense introduced four wit
nesses-Mrs. L. D. Middleton, sister of
Mrs Burnett; James Burnett. father of
the defendant; Attorney General God
ard, and Grace Collins. The witnesses
for the defense were not all present and
the court was delayed for some time in
finding them.
Mrs Middleton testified that Mrs.
Burnett came down to her house at
Scranton on the midnight train from
Topeka, returning on the early morning
train on the morning the murder &C.
CURED She said she accompanied Mrs.
Burnett to the train, and that they
did not reach the depot in time to go
up on to the platform but that Mrs
Burnett just had time to climb on to
one of the rear coaches before the train
pulled out.
Mr. Burnett testified to practically
the same statements regarding the visit
of Mrs Burnett to Scranton that night
and her return to Topeka. Her father
said that she had been married but
name restored. Mr.. Burnett is an old
man, and he seemed to make every
effort to be as exact as possible. and
his testimony evidently had consider
able weight with the jury.
Attorney General GODDARD was called
to contradict the statement made by
Ella Buchanan yesterday that she told
Mr. GODDARD before she ever went on the
stand that she knew nothing about the
Collins case, and that the story she had
first told him was all false. Mr.. GODDARD
sald ne n3d talked with Ella Buchanan
at his Office and again when Sheriff
Cook went to subpoena her and Mrs
Burnett, but had never talked with her
except in the presence of witnesses
Regarding her statements yesterday he
said:
Ella Buchanan most assuredIy never
told me that she knew nothing about
the case or that her former statements
were untrue"
Mr. GODDARD also said that both Mrs
Burnett and Ella Buchanan were averse
to tesufying in the Collins case. and
that there was some difficulty in get
ting them subpoenaed.
Grace Collins reached the court room
at 11:3O and was Immediately placed on |
the witness stand. She was attired in a
black gown with white lace trimming
and wore a black hat Her testimony
related to the happenings on the morn
ing of the murder, and she reiterated
the testimony she gave both at the cor
oner's inquest and at the trial of John
Collins about hearing someone rush
down the hall of the Collins residence
Immediately after the shots were fired
and before she went out of the room
and met John coming from his room !
This testimony was introduced by the
defense to prove that someone had es- |
capped from the house over the back /
roof Miss Collins was very positive in |
her statement about hearing the rusn-
ing noise and about its being some per- !
son.
1t is simply impossible that it could /
have been anything else" she said.
The defense had no more witnesses |
present when an adjournment was
taken for dinner, but the court ordered |
Ella Buchanan brought back for fur |
Their cross examination this afternoon