New-York tribune., 1902-02-22
HARMFUL TO HISS BURNS.
CONDUCTOR SWEARS SHE GOT OFF
TRAIN AT HOUR SHE SAYS SHE
WAS AT HOME.

Additional testimony which was regarded "a
strengthening the case against Florence Burns
was obtained by District Attorney Jerome yes
terday. Some of it was given by A Weibles
conductor on the Brighton Beach branch OF the
Kings County Elevated Railroad. He declares
that he Florence Burns get on his train at
the Brooklyn end of the bridge at HIS O'Clock
on Friday night of last week. the night young
Walter S. Brooks was shot in the Glen Island
Hotel. at CortIandt and West sts.. and that he
saw her get off the train at the Beverly road
station. near her home. Weibles says he has
known Miss Burns for some time and he could
not have mistaken another woman for her.
The conductors testimony is believed to go far
toward disprOving the statement of Miss Burns
that she parted from young Brooks soon after
p. m. on the evening of the shooting and went
TO her home in Brooklyn. 1t is regarded. too as
a positive check TO possible attempts TO prove
an alibi for the young woman. Weibles was ar
the District Attorneys office for two hours yes
terday, and was questioned closely by one Of
Mr. JerOme's assistants. Later Weibles said he
had got the sixth degree" he should Judge
and that he had been instructed not to talk
about the case to newspaper men,
Two other conductors on trains Of the sams
line were at the District Attorneys Office yestsr-
day. and one of them it said, had seen the
father and mother of Miss Burns on their wav
10 Jne brooklyn Bridge early on the evening OF
the shooting. This testimony would tend to con-
firm the statement of Miss Burns that when she
went home she learned that her father and
mother-had gone to theatre. They did not return
home until a late hour at night. Although Mr.
Jerome would not talk about new evidence IN the
case yesterday. of his assistants said that
the case against Miss Burns seemed 10 be grow
ing stronger.
The hearing in the case is expected 70 begin
this morning before Justice Mayer, OF the Court
of Special Sessions and the District Attorney
has declared that the investigation will be fun
and impartial and that no evidence in the case
will be presented to the grand Jury until the
hearing is finished Foster L. Backus counsel
for Miss Burns. had a consultation with Dis
trict Attorney Jerome yesterday afternoon and
asked for copies of all afidavits TO be submitted
for the prosecution, in order that he might have
time to examine them before cross-examining the
witnesses He was at the District Attorneys
Office two three times later. expecting to r.
ceive copies Of he afidavs. He was particu-
larly anxious to get an affidavit by DIT Weston
the coroner's physician. who performed the au-
topsy on the body of young Brooks This afH-
davit is understood to contain a statement that
the pistol shot wound in the head was con-
tact wound, one inflicted when the u1uzzle OF tha
weapon was pressed tightly against the head
Such wound OF course could have been self
inflicted. and the physicians statement would
tend 10 support theory that Brooks committed
suicide.
When Mr. BacE1us was asked what impor-
tance he attached to the testimony of Weibles.
he said he could not discuss il before seeing
the mans affidavit. II was TO be presumed.
however. that the testimony was volunteered.
and there had been reports that Weibles was
fond of getting notOriety- AS to a possible aHbi
for Miss Burns. Mr.. Backus said that inforrna-
tion that seemed to give ground for complete
alibi had been sent TO aim. but he had not in
vestgated the information by examining the
supposed witnesses 8Ir. Backus said he expect
ed that the hearing in the case would begin this
morning. but he did not think he would consent
to the appearance of witnesses for the prose
cution on the stand until he had been allowed
to see their affidavits.
Last evening four affidavits of witnesses vera
handed to NIr. Baclzus by Assistant District At
torney Schurman- one was an affidavit by De-
tective Colby, made on information and belief.
charging Miss Burns with the murder OF young
Brooks. Another was an affidavit by George
Washington. "A colOred hallbOy employed in the
Glen Island Hotel IhiS aIndaV1t IS long. tell
ing OF the arrival or Brooks with a woman al
legged to be Miss Burns. at the hotel on the
evening Of the shooting, of a call to the room Oc
Cup1ed by them and order Tor a drink received
at the door by the young woman, and Of the dis
covery of Brooks inSensbe the bed In the
room half an hour before midnight when the
daviJ declares that the colored boy Miss
Burns at the police station in Church-st- on the
following day. and recognized her as the young
woman who with Brooks at the hotel
An affidavit by John Earl. the night clerk OF
the hotel. contained some similar statements
but mention of Miss Burns. indication
that Earl had not been able TO identify the
prisoner
An affidavit by DR. Johnson. OF the hospital IN
HudsOu-st, who witnessed the autopsy. stated
that the death of Brooks was caused by q bullet
wound in the head. His description Of tha
wound follows:
This bullet had entered at a point about one
and half inches from the median line and be
hind and a level with the upper portion OF
the right ear. and the direction forward
and to the left a about on angle of ~ degrees
about horizontal with the plane Of the
floor of the brain
Florence Burns spent a quiet day IN the
TOmbs yesterday. varied only by a visit from
her counsel, Foster L Backus- The storm pre-
vented an anticipated visit from her parents
AIR Baekus talked with his client for over three
quarters of an hour Later he said 20 Warden
Flynn: The girls getting along all right"
PIGEON SLAUGHTER BILL ADVANCED.
Albany. Feb. 81 (SpeciaD-when the Slater bH
prohibiting the shooting Of tame pigeons from traps
came up in the Assembly this morning. Assembly
man Mckeown at first objected its advance
ment.
There not members here to consider a meas
ure which has awakened 50 much popular interest
this bill has" he said Then. too. understand
that some OF the boys want take a shot IT,
Inc OIL can be debated on its final passage.
said MI Aids who presided, and you can take
shot il then
With this agreement Mr. McKeown Withdrew his
of the measure confident that the bill viii
ee passed next Thursday. when IL viii come up for
final passage