Omaha daily bee., 1904-12-27
BURRIER'S RACY DEPOSITION
1t Throws Light or Governor oummins'
Refusal Of Pardsn.
WOULD TELL ANY OLD YARN TO GET OUT
Admits HIS Record as q Professional
burglar Has Few Equals
in the Annals of that
Sort of Crime.

The announcement from Des Moines that
Governor Cummins had declined for the
present to interpose his executive clemency
in behalf Of Convict Burrier, for whose
pardon Elmer Thomas made a special plea
in the name of the Civic Federation OF
Omaha and whose stories formed the basis
of the charges brought by Thomas against
Chief of Police Donahue, gives additional
interest to some of the questions and an
swers contained in the deposition Of Bur-
rier. filed with the police board in that
case. The deposition is lengthy one and
in the mass of evidence presented received
scant attention;
After giving his name as George B. Bur-
rier, No. 5,1is Anamosa penitentiary, Bur-
rier responded!
Q.-What do you claim is your business
or profession outside the penitentiary2 A.
1 don't know as 1 ever made a claim.
A Burglar by Profession.
Q-In reply to a question in the Conroy
case, didn't you say your business was that
of a professional burglar? Al don't know
as / answered that way or not
Q.-That is your business when you are
not within the walls of the penitentiary3
Att has been for the last few years.
Q.-Where did you live before you drifted
to Omaha, as you term It, Al have had
no settled place of residence for a number
of years.
Q.-where were you Immediately prior to
drifting TO Omaha? Al think l came
from Kansas City to Omaha or St Joe.
don't remember which.
Q.-Were you In the penitentiary In Mis-
souri2 A.-Yes, sir.
Q.-When did your penltentiary term In
Missouri end: Just before you came to
Kansas City? Al was released from Mis-
souri, either In 1894 or 1851 don't remem-
ber which now. / was there three years
and nine months.
Q.-what other penitentiary have you
been In outside Of this one and the one in
Missouri? A.-Iowa and Indiana.
Q.-What for In Iowa2 A.-Burglary.
Q.-How long were you in the penitentiary
in Indiana7 A.--About six years.
Q.-what were you In that penitentiary
for? A.-Robbery,
Q.-What were you In the penitentiary In
Missouri for?. A.-Burglary.
Q.-what are you in the penitentiary
here for? A.-Burglary.
Q.-Can you give an approximate estimate
or statement Of the number OF burglaries
you have committed for which you have
not been tried or convicted or sent to the
penitentiary9 A.-No. sir,
Q.--But there are a great many, aren't
thereY Ayes, sir.
Couldn't Operate In Omaha.
Other were a number Of burglaries
committed by you in omaha7 A-No, sir.
Ozone? Ayes, sir
Q.-Wright & Wihelmy's store? Ayes,
sir.
Q-Did the chief OF police at that time
know you did it2 A.-No, sir.
Q.-Did Tom Dennison7 A.-No. sir.
O-AhOut hnW many burRlariea did YOU
commit in Omaha outside Of the
Wright & Wilhelmy store robbery A.
guess / can answer that. Outside Of
the Wilhelmy and Wright robbery there
was only one burglary ever committed in
or near Omaha,
Q-Have you any objection TO stating
what that is? A.-No, 1 haven't any objec-
ton to stating what 1t Is though can't
locate 1t. 1t was a place near the railroad
track.
Q-Was It house robbery Ayes, sir.
GA residence? Ayes, sir,
Odd you see any women or children
while you were committing that robbery?
Al believe l saw a woman.
Q.-Was she badly frightened2 Ayes.
sir; a little bit.
Q.-So far as you know, did Chief Dona-
hue ever know what business you were
engaged In carrying on. or what your oc-
cupation was. until the day you came up
to his office? A.-Why. from his conversa-
ton that day / don't believe he knew
what my speciality, we will call 1t speciality
was because he asked me what kind of a
CRATER 1 was-he asked me what my line
and told him.
Q.-What did you tell him? Al told
him principally a prowler.
Q.-What do you mean by a prowler; you
mean a night burglar? Ayes, sir.
Q.-Did you know Elmer Thomas when
you were in Omaha2 A.-No. sir.
Q.-Do you know him now? Ayes, sir;
have met him two or three times.
Odd he tell you he represented the
Civic Federation? Ayes. sir.
Q.-Where did you meet him? Ain
this Anamosa pententiary.
Odd he mention Tom Dennison to you?
Ayes. sir; think he did.
Odd he talk over with you the object
and purpose of his visit to this peniten-
tary? A.-Well, he didn't tell me in so
many words the object of his visit.
had that TO infer from his conversation.
presumed he was here to see me in con-
nection with his duties for this Civic Fed
Grafton.
Q.-Did he tell you he was trying to make
case against Tom Dennison? Al don't
remember whether he made that particular
reHlaTh UT not vi course, from MS senerai
questions and the information he wanted
] was led 10 believe that attorney for
: that federation he was looking up all the
matter he could against Tom Dennison.
Odd he also make reference to Chief
Donahue? Ale asked me If l knew
him.
Q.-What did you tell him what you un-
derstood as to the chief having improper
deals with any parties in the way of CIV