Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-12-19
Thief GIRL ON STAND
Eta Odem, Burrier's Sweet
heart In Days Gone By, Is
Witness For State
SHE coRRoBoRATEs BURNER
Testimony Proves That the Latter Was
Acquainted ard Associated With
conroy-Miss c,dem Gives the Story
of Her Life and Tells of Her Love
for Noted Criminal.


Special to TimeSr Republican.
Davenport, Dec. l9.-Etta Odem,
sweetheart of George b. Burrier in DAYS
gone by, Il woman of the town at Oma-
ha. first as an inmate of disorderly
house conducted by former Daven-
port woman and later as the propri-
etress of that house, was the sensation
of the afternoon in the trial of NJ. +.
Conroy in the Scott county district
court. MdsS Oden was called as 4
witness for the state and for the pur
pose of corroborating certain testl-
mony.
Attorney George, the able Clinton
lawyer, who is taxing so large part
in the conduct Of the case for the
prosecution asked the questions of the
witness on both the direct and redirect
examinations. He first secured Miss
Odem's name and address and secured
the confession from her that she was
rs years of age. Then in reply TO his
Inquiries she told the story of her life
in place that was a resort of thieves
anu SoLlplCiS. NNiS ~ vas, siIt cttiti,
that she first met Burrier and 1t WAS
there that their acquaintance ripened
into fondness Sc far as she was con-
cerned. She said she did not know
whether the now famous burglar loved
her or not, She admitted, however,
that he appeared 20 possess a liking
for her and was the man who furn
ished her with the 5000 with which she
bought the place from the former Dav-
export woman. Passing from inmate
to landlady, she retained that position
for only one month, according to her
story, and she closed up the place TO
hasten 10 Davenport to see what she
could do to assist Burrier. He had
been good to her and when she learned
thru a common friend that he was
in trouble here. she came to this city
as fast as the Rock Island train could
carry her. Here she conferred with
his lawyer and took the steps which
enabled Burrier to be released on bali,
Letter From Conroy.
But the afe -, part CT the testi-
mony of this witness was her state
ment that while sh,. was in charge of
the dive in Omaha, she received a let
ter from NJ. j. Conroy. of Clinton, the
defendant in 1he present action. and
that this letter was In the nature Of |
an inquiry regarding whether she
knew anything Of the whereabouts Of |
Burrier and Rogers. the professional
burglars. both OF whom were welcome
and frequent callers at the house in |
Omaha. She had destroyed all of his
etter except that part of the sheet of /
which W. ha 81 t,,,..
The address OF Conroy.
Corroborates 6urrier.
The purpose OF this testimony was |
% confederate the statement OF Bur-
Ter made on the stand during the I
present trial that he was acquainted |
Ind associated with Conroy. The
state further secured the statement
rom Miss Odem that she had re-
ormed and was nov living a decent
life at the home of her parents at A.
antic. Ia.
In the cross examination w. A. Fos-
er, for the defense sought to show
hat the reason for her abandonment
If the life she led in Omaha was other
han the desire TO be good. Judge Boz
niger ruled that the witness might
answer the questions OF the lawyer G.
.ot as she chose. Miss Odem declined
O answer. Mr.. Foster brought out the
act. however, that the place on North
Ninth street, In Omaha, where tho
witness lived for several years, was
he resort of thieves and crooks of all
orts. She said she had not known
hat Burrier was a burglar during the
irst year or two of their acquaintance.
tut that she had concluded that he
vas from the kind of male company he
,ept.
Den Of Thieves.
So much OF the house in Omaha as
t was pictured in the trial yesterday
fternoon. Lawyer Foster. 1t is plain,
Till paint it on a large canvas and In
ivid colors during his argument 10
he jury. From other sources it is
earned that the low resort was con-
ucted prior to the time 1t was bought
" Miss Odem with Burrier's money
y one Cleo Weston, who had with
- 49, 4lzlli1l lka1ls.!