Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-11-22
TESTIMONY OF
CHARLES BURKE
Eyewitness to Strong Shooting
Tells What He Saw of It.
LOOKED LIKE BLUFF GAME.
Says strong Made No Attempts 10 At
tack Romoey After the First shot
Burke's statement

Burke's statement
The Romney murder case was re-
opened in Judge Diehrs court this
morning for further testimony in the
preliminary hearing.
The case was continued by Judge
Diehl for the purpose of hearing the
testimony Of Charles Il. Burke, an iron
worker. Burke was an eye witness to
the shooting which resulted in the
death Of Harry Strong at the hands OF
Miles w. Romney. former proprietor of
the Oasis saloon. The prosecution re-
lied strongly upon the testimony of
Burke, but 1t did not differ to any
great extent from that given by Man
ming, the other eyewitness. The in
sulting language used by Strong and
his threatening demands towards
Romney was repeated by Burke. His
testimony, in part, was as follows
BURKEs TESTIMONY.
81 was in Romneys saloon, the Oasis,
on the Sunday of the shooting, but
cannot recall the date. Mr.. Romney,
Mr.. Strong, Mcclellan, the bartender,
Manning and myself were present; and
also Mr. Romneys little boy. was
shaking dice with Romney and made
a proposition to shake again but Mr.,
Romney suggested that ! shake with
Harry (Strong). | agreed TO- ana
then Strong asked If his credit was
good In the house. Romney said no,
II was not good. Strong replied that
II Romney would pay him what he
owed him he would buy drink. Strong
then began to abuse Romney shame
fully and called him many vile names.
He then took off his coat and hat ana
wanted to fight Romney. The latter
went to O drawer and took out a gun,
but | persuaded him TO put 1t back.
Romney said he wanted no trouble
with Strong. The latter then became
more abusive than ever and dared
Romney to fight. Strong then leaned
over the bar towards Romney and the
latter pulled the gun and fired two
shots. They were In quick success
sion. There was quite an intermission
between the second and third shots
After the first shot did Strong make
any attempt to attack Eomney?" asked
the county attorney.
Il don't think so.
Witness then stated that he did not
see Strong pick up anything, and he
did not hear anything drop on the
floor. Strong was going up some steps
when the third shot was fired
on cross examination by Judge King,
Burke said that Romney was good
natured during the trouble and not
once did he abuse or apply vile epithets
to Strong.
GAME OF BLUFF.
1T looked to me like a game Of bluff.
! did not think there would be any
shooting because Romney did not al
first point the gun at Strong. The lat
ter was very angry and threatening
all the time. Strong stood on the bar
railing and was reaching with his right
hand over the bar, and II was then
that Romney pulled the gun again.
Burke said the first shot was fired over
Strong's head as though Romney was
trying to brighten Strong Witness
would not say that Strong did not pick
up a cusipdore, or that a cuspidore was
not dropped Burke was busy looking
at the gun.
At the conclusion Of Burkes testi-
mony the state rested, but Judge King
contended that Romney's little son
should be placed on the stand, as he
was an eyewitness to the tragedy.
Judge Dehl said II he We're sure OF the
authority to do so he would order the
boy to take the stand. The attorneys
then agreed to submit authorities on
the question and the case was contin-
ued until o'clock this afternoon.
BURKEs STATEMENT.
Immediately after the close Of the
hearing this morning, an official con-
nected with the prosecution stated TO a
News" reporter that County Atty.
Christensen had been put TO a great
deal Of trouble in securing the attend
ance of Burke at the preliminary hear
ing, and that the service Of detectives
was employed TO locate him. Burke's
testimony did not indicate that he |
was In the least hostile TO either side
N the case although a remark made by
Burke in the court room In the presence
OF Dist. Atty. Eichnor, County and
Deputy County Attys. Christensen and |
Irvine and News reporter, discos-
ed the fact that Burke has been doing |
mark was as follows: Il made some
measurements In the saloon at the re-
Guest Of Mr.. Hamilton and / got $40 |
for IT,"
The reporter asked Mr.. Burke for a
statement OF the facts and his reply |
was as follows.
About two weeks ago I was In the |
attorneys Office and Mr. Hamilton ask
ed me II would go over TO the Oasis |
saloon and make measurements OF the |
various distances NTH reference to |
where each person was standing when |
the shooting occurred. told him that |
| would, and that | would make a dia- |
gram, a blue print OF II. He asked me |
what ! would charge him for the work |
and | told him $40. He said he would |
pay me. ! did the work and Mr.. Hamll- |
ton paid me the $40 IL was business |
proposition. | had a right to do the /
work and was paid for IT,"
1T has been intlmated." said the re- |
porter that soon after making the /
measurements you disappeared and |
could not be found, and that someone |
was responsible for your disappear
ance, or. In other words, that you were |
being paid to keep out Of the case?"
There is absolutely no truth In that"
said Burke. mo one made any such |
a proposition as that to me and the
attorneys for the defense never init
mated such thing There is absolute
ly no reason whatever TO cast discredit
upon those gentlemen"
WHAT JUDGE KING SAYS.
The above statements were commune
Gated to Judge King Of counsel for de-
Tense. and that gentleman made the
following statement;
when Mr.. Burke was In our office,
and after the measurements were made. |
we said TO him that his testimony was
absolutely indispensable to the defense
and for him not to go away under any |
circumstances. He said he had to go |
TO Nevada and when he was not here
for the preliminary hearing w were