New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-02-27
THINKS HE'S BEEN TOO FAIR
JEROME ANGERED AT REFUSAL TO PRO
DUCE PARENTS OF FLORENCE
BURNS = NEWARK THE
ORY EXPLODED.
DRY EXPLODED

Several hours were spent yesterday IN the
continuation Of the examination Of Florence
Burns the young woman accused Of killing
Walter 5 Brooks. without developing any new
information apparently making any progress
in the ease. The most interesting development
occurred IN the forenoon. when District Attor-
ney Jerome tried 10 get the aid Of Foster L.
Backus. counsel for Miss Burns. in obtaining
the attendance o. the young woman's parents
and sister rs witnesses in the examination. Mr..
Jerome was carrying his arm in a sling, the
result Of a rheumatic attack. His assistant,
Mr.. Schurman said that the prosecution had re-
ceived friendly intmation from Mr. Backus
that the parents Of Miss Burns would be at the
hearing if their presence were desired.
This caused Mr. Backus TO make a denial. Il
did not promise to bring the parents Of this girl
here" he said "If the District Attorney wants
them, Jet him subpoena them"
Mr.. Schurman said the parents Of Miss Burns
had left their home and could not be found by a
detective. Mr.. Jerome said they were needed
as witnesses. and he desired TO avoid sending
policemen 70 chase after them. Mr.. BaclIus said
he could not promise 10 produce Mr.. and Mrs.
Burns. at least not until after Yesterdays SEES
sion Of the examination. It had not been his
practice TO put in defence at the magistrate
hearing, he said, but he might in the present
case.
IN tnlS case, MI jerome SalQ. i invited CO.
operation Of the defendants counsel in a de
sire TO get at the truth. In my desire to he fair,
I may have laid myself open TO criticism for
neglecting to subpoena members Of the Burns
family when II was possible to DO IL. think I
have been too fair in this case. Never again
while I am District Attorney shall offer the
resources Of my Office TO help defendant in
securing evidence. Hereafter shall recognize
the fact that the people have rights against
defendants in such cases. and shall subpoena
witnesses at once, or ask for adjournment
until the witnesses can be found
This closed the incident for the time but later
in the day Mr. Backus said he wished to resent
an intimation by the District Attorney that he
had caused the disappearance of the Burns
family. Mrs. Burns he said had been seized
with a severe cold few days ago. and it was
necessary for her to go to some place where she
could escape from the opportunities Of persons
who wanted to talk a bout her daughters case.
Anyhow Mr. Backus said. it not his duty
10 get witnesses for the District Attorney.
Justice Mayer said he would issue subp9nas
for members of the Burns family At the close
of the session yesterday he said the examination
would continue tomorrow afternoon and on
Saturday
Mr.. Backus took all the forenoon and part Of
the afternoon in cross-examining George Wash
fngton, the colored halboy. who identified Miss
Burns as the young who was with
Brooks al the Glen Island in Cortlandt-st., on
the night Brooks was shot. He managed 70 IN
volve the witness in several apparent contradic-
tons Washington had told the police before
Miss Burns was arrested that the woman with
Brooks at the hotel was not real white and
had said she had dark hair and was not tall
The negro admitted yesterday that Miss Burns
was fair, had light hair and was tall. The
cross-examina ton was so wearisome that Miss
Burns. who went to the examination room
dressed smartly in black, looked tired. The ne
gro's testimony dealt in part with the appear
ance of two other young women who went to
the hotel with men at the same hour that
Brooks and a young woman appeared there.
Mr. Backus made him admit that he might have
been. thinking Of one Of the other young women
when he described the appearance of the woman
who was with Brooks. Justice Mayer admitted
in evidence TWO signatures placed on the hotel
register Immediately before the Wilson sig
nature which Brooks wrote. The name or
Harry Cohen. Brookss partner. called. but
Cohen failed to appear as witness.
Late in the afternoon Mr.. Backus cross-ex-
snined Arthur c. Weibe. the conductor on the
Kings County Elevated Railroad who testified
that he saw Miss Burns ride train from the
Brooklyn Bridge late the night of the shoot
ing. Apparently the lawyer was not able to
shake the conductors testimony in the least.
he did not introduce any testimony yesterday
IN direct contradiction OF Weibles story
"A young woman VINO was said 10 be a walt
ress or chambermaid In the Glen Island Hotel.
was taken into the examination room yesterday
and sat watching Miss Burns and listening to
the testimony. II was expected that she might
be called as a witness, she had told something
10 one Of the assistants of Mr. jerome at a
private hearing, but il was near 6 D. m when
the cross-examination Of Weble was ended.
Isidore Katz butcher, at No 96 Orange-st
Newark, whose name brought in the case
by a statement that he had received checks
from a young woman to whom the checks had
been given by Brooks. denied yesterday that he
had any knowledge Of such a woman J. G
Wells who Brooks's partner. lives at No.
Al Eagle-st. not far from the butcher shop.
Katz says that Wells owed him bill for meat
and gave him a check for $40 The check was
returned protested. Soon afterward Wells gave
him another check for 81, and that also was re-
turned marked no good A third check for
S11 90 similarly treated Katz sold out his
butcher shop a week ago TO Ambrose Horton.
He came 10 New-York yesterday to receive the
money for the protested checks