The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-04-18
COHB MAY PROVE
BURNS GIRL GUILTY
Found in the Room With Waiter Brooks.
Is Positively Identified by a Mem
Der Of BIS Family.

NEW YORK. April Is.-Another strong
link in the chain of evidence which the
district attorney is endeavoring to fasten
about FIore4ce Burns. has been furnished
by Detective Sergeants McCafferty and
Price, who are investigating the mystery
surrounding the death Of Walter Brooks.
A new witness has been found, and as a
result the police are more than ever con
ident of c0nricting Miss Burns Of the
murder OF the man whom she had at
tempted 10 force into marriage with her.
subpcenas have been issued for Mr. and
Mrs. Fred Burns, the parents Of Florence.
and for her sister. Gladys. It IS desired
that they shall give their testimony al
the coroner's inquest. which has been
set for 4ext "Wednesday a detective
made an uz-zEccessfuI attempt to serve the
subpeonas yesterday. as the Burns fam
ily is believed to be out Ct the State OF
New York it is not probable that any Of
its members can be brought before the
co~oner's jury
at one time, when Florence Burns was
in trouble with her parents. she was sent
to live with the family Of a friend in
Brooklyn. She remained there until il
was thought best fer her to make another
change While living there she took
great care Of her hair. In this way she
attracted attention TO the combs worn by
her. The back comb was a peculiar one,
being of q changeabIe color Comment
was made upon this fact by members OF
the family, who also saw that it was much
diIapidsted A member Of that family has
now identified the comb found by Thomas
Brooks in the room in the Glen Island
Hotel, in which his son WAS murdered
as the one worn in her back hair by Flor
eace Burns. The Identification is said to
have been of a positive nature
Sergeant McCaferty learned OF this Wit
ness, and without telling him what he was
wanted for took him to the Office of the
describe the combs worn by Florence
Burns when she was living with his
mother The witness did so. Several
combs were then placed before him and
he was asked IL he could identify any Of
them. In the lot were four or FIVE re-
sembling the one found in the Glen Island
Hotel. These had been broken so as TO
give them a dilapidated appearance The
witness picked them up one after the
placed IN evidence during the preliminary
examination Of Florence Burns. Without
further hesitation he announced that the
comb which he held in his hand was the
one that he had often seen Florence Burns
wear He explained how he could identify
it, showing the peculiar changes OF color
when il is submitted to light and shadow
He convinced Mr.. Schurman, who had
watched the Identification. that ne was
not mistaken
Several other witnesses who may give
important testimony were seen yesterday,
aud at the close of the day it was said
By the detectives that there seemed to
them to be no possibility Of Florence
Burns to escape Indictment as a result Of
the coming inquest Mrs. Brooks has told
q story which cOnVinees the district at
torney that Walter Brooks had no idea
Of committing suicide. The mother says
that her son, just before leaving his home
the morning before his murder told her
that he was going cut" the next evening
and he asked her to press his trousers and
TO see that his patent leather shoes were
IN proper condition. This is offered to
prove that he was not thinking of death.
Captain Titus yesterday made the official
announcement that Florence Burns would
not be arrested before the c0ToneT's jury
returns its verdict.