The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-03-08
HOW MRS. BURRUSS
DECEIVED ALL
The Story Of Assault Arranged to
Hide the Fact That She Used
Her Husbands Money.
Especial Dispatch to The Timc..]

SPoTSYLVANIA, VA. March ION
Monday morning of February 18th Mr..
Nelson L Burruss, of Thornsburg, IN
this county. went to mill, leaving his
wife alone. On his return he found his
wife apparently in an unconscious con-
tlition. She soon rallied, however. and
told Mr. Rurruss that man with
rabbit skins on his HANDS and face, so
as tie disguise himself. forced an en-
trance into the dining-rocp1. and then
into her chamber, where she was about
her household duties Mrs. Burruss then.
said he assaulted her. aud she tainted
from excitement.
When she became conscious, she says
the man had a hatchet, with which he
cut open the bureaus drawer. from which
he took s63, consisting of a $50 gold com,
Il $40 gold certificate and the balance IN
smaller change She says she tried to
lun the man away when she resa1ned
consciousness, when he made for her
with a knife. which She knocked out OF
his hand. The man then left, going first
on his heels and then on tip-toes, so as
rot to be tracked Mrs. BurruSs claimed
to remember what kind cf suit, shoes
and hat her assailant had on. but she
could not tell whether he was white or
colorad.
Sheriff r. A. Harris and Common
wealtia's Attorney Lee j. Graves were
appraised OF the alleged assault went to
The place, and reported the above on
The night Of the 18th, and thought they
had a chain of circumstances which
might lead TO the arrest of some SuS-
I5icious parties, but all these We're able
to prove an alibi by RESP onsible people.
One $50 bill was found on the floor and
also the old knife on the return Of Mr..
Eiirruss.
On the 81 instant, it being court day
1:erc it was generally rumcred that Mrs.
Isurruss had not been assal ltcd but that
Si3 were gone, and that there was q
good deal of crook edness connected with
The affair. On The 4th instant Mr.. Eur
russ came here and told the sheriff that
he had been deceived by his wife, and
cried like a. child
He said he had been living in nell Lcr
the last week.
Sheriff Harris and Commonwealtl's At
torr,sy Graves made a thorough invests
ration yesterday before Justice Carroll
Goodlowe and the Justice. after a thor
nugh and rigid examination Of the many
witnesses. came to the conclusion that
beyond the possibility Of a doubt, Mrs.
Burruss had used her husbands money
and fearing that he would censure ne-
for so doing. artfully laid the criminal
plan for purposes Of deception. winch
plan was so successfully, on her part,
conceived and cal ried out as to deceive
not only her husband and neighbors,
hut the officials of the law.
This affair, which promised such SEN
saiional developments, has happily re-
suited. by means OF q thorough investi-
cation in the absolute vindicauon
Of The individual to whom Mrs.
Is,irruss directed suspicion, and at the
same time has been the means of remov-
ing from this county the stigma OF so
base crime.
'uzzlcs III. Authorities.
Especial Dispatch to The Timcs)
FREDERICKSBURG, VA, March T.
An investigation OF the Burruss case in
Wis county. about which there were SO
many sensational reports, disclosed the
tact that Mrs. Burruss took the sixty
tiree dollars herself and gave a large
r, rtion of it to a relative, who connived
With her to put out the assault and rob
berry story.