Amador ledger., 1903-11-20
THE BURBANK TRIAL IN SHASTA.
An Amador County Young Man on Trial
for his Life.

OF this county, was commenced IN the
superior court of Shasta county at Red
ding last Monday. Burbank is accused
of the murder of Dora Lemory, also
known as Viola Myers and Dora Streu-
Der, in dance hall at De La Mar on
the 18th of JUL last. After fatally
shooting his victim, he turned the
weapon upon himself, inflicting a super
fetal wound on his neck. The Sacra-
ments Bees special correspondent says
of the proceedings on the opening day:
The accused, John Burbank, wa
dressed up in his best suit of clothes
He had evidently taken particular
pains to make himself presentable His
face was cleanly shaven, and his toilet
had been made out with great care.
He looks to be in perfect health, not
withstanding his four months confne-
ment in jail.
Four women sat within the bar
They were privileged witnesses. Three
of them wore the weeds of mourning.
Everyone was curious to know who
they were. The first lady of the four
was Mrs. Dora LemOry, of Oakland,
mother of the Dora LemOry who was
killed in the De La Mar dance hall by
John Burbank. Next to Mrs. LemOry.
their elbows touching, sat Mrs. A. H.
A. Burbank, of Jackson, Amador coun-
ty. She is the mother of the prisoner
at the bar. She is bowed down by
years and grief and pain. She has
walked on crutches all her life. She is
dressed in mourning, as was Mrs. Lem
ory. Who can look into the two
mothers hearts and read the emotions
there? They attend this trial from
different motives-one in her heart-love
praying for mercy upon her wayward
son, and the other asking that justice
may fall upon the slayer of her way
ward daughter.
The two other women within the
bar are Mrs. Eva Leibhardt and Mrs.
Della Joyce, both of Jackson, Amador
county. They are sisters of Burbank.
The list of witnesses subpoenaed on
behalf of the defense is long one and
as usual includes large number of
character witnesses. Burbank's par
ents live in Amador county and from
there were called the following: Wal
ter Webster, William Denend, Robert
o. Mexican and Findlay Goodman, of
Volcano; Clarence Bradshaw and
Charles Stirnaman of Pine Grove, and
John Barton, Maurice L. Plasse and
Nick Ferari of Jackson.
Judging from the line of questioning
addressed to the prospective jurors,
Burbank S attorneys will set up the
claim that he acted in self-defense in
shooting Dora Streuber.
One noticeable feature of the prose-
cution was that every man in the jury
box was asked whether he was mem
Der of anyulabor union. This is les
son learned by the Callahan trial,
where the one juror who favored ac-
quit tai is said to have been Influenced
in his decision by the fact that he and
the defendant were both labor union
men. Burbank, in this instance, is a
labor union man.
Surprising progress was made on
the first day as the twelve jurors were
secured by the time court adjourned
for the day.
Contrary to the usual order in Grim
inal trials the testimony of the reputa-
tion witnesses was taken first, before
the prosecution opened its case. This
was done for economy sake. There
were eight of these witnesses from
Amador county, at a cost of $50 each.
They were examined at the commence
ment of the trial. paid off, and allowed
to depart.
The De La Mar witnesses, who were
on the scene directly after the tragedy,
and took part in the arrest of the al
legged murderer, told facts that were of
some Importance, They told of how
Burbank came down from the upper
room where he had fired three death
dealing bullets into the body of Dora
Struber, and used the words: 81 have
killed her, and am glad of it. 1 did a
good job on her, and a bum one on
myself" After the killing he had
fired one shot at himself, but had mis-
erably failed to do good work on him
self. Witnesses testified that he said
that if it was to do over again he would
do the same thing again.
Dora Struber was the inmate of a
dance hall. She had been living With
Burbank off and on, and because she
would not heed his entreaties and
leave the dance hall life to live with
him, he is alleged to have taken her
life. She lived but four or five minutes
after she had been shot, and before dy-
ing kissed the lips of the man who had
killed her.
1t is believed that the case will be
given to the jury Thursday evening.
Rainfall