The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-08-05
NEGRO ACTED AS
HIS OWN COUNSEL
ALLEGED ORDER RAISE
CONDUCTED HIS OWN DEFENSE BE-
FORE COMMISSIONERS HEWLETT.

shrevvd Questions Asked by the Ne
gro, Jim Burns, Attracted Con-
siderable Comment from Court
AttacheS-HeId by Commissioner
to BE Returned to Wilmington,
N. e., for TriaI-New Charges
brought Out at HearinE-Passed
Orders on Savannah Merchants.
Bound over to Grand Jury-Escape
of His Partner.
A negro boy conducting his own de-
tense was the somewhat unusual con-
dition that existed yesterday afternoon
in Commissioner Hewlett's court. The
defendant was jun Burns, the boy
charged with raising postoffice money
orders and cashing them, an account
of whose arrest was given yesterday
In the Morning News. He was bound
over to the grand jury.
Burns was before the commissioner
for a preliminary hearing. charged with
raising a 40 cent money order to $40.
He is wanted by the authorities in
Wilmington, N. c. Special United
States Attorney William r. Leaken
appeared for the government.
There was no one to represent Burns
and Mr.. Leaken asked him if he de-
sired a lawyer. The boy promptly an
swered that he did, but stated that
he would look out for his own interests
himself. He is bright and quick and
considerable admiration was expressed
by the court attaches of the shrewd-
ness of many of the boys questions.
Detective Frank Wall was first call
ed for the government He stated that
he knew Jim and had arrested him
and then told of his finding the ink
erasing fluid, ETC., in the boys room.
Later he introduced articles of cloth
ing that it was alleged that the boy
had purchased with the raised order.
Burns CrOSs-Exaniined Detective.
When Mr.. Leaken ceased his ques-
tioning, Burns took a hand in the
game. He had been arrested as Jim
Burns, with several aliases, and his
first question was as to whether De-
tective Wall had known him under any
other name than Jim Burns. Mr..
Wall stated that he had not.
"Out of which room did you get those
Clothes?" was the next question. Be
fore the answer was given Jim stated
that the negro Smith had occupied the
front room, and he wished to show
that nearly all of the clothes had come
from that room. After a series of
questions he finally established this
point.
The seemingly good effect of this,
however was obliterated when Inspec-
tor Buck stated that he had taken
from the front room only the clothes
which the women inmates of the house
said belonged to Burns. Burns then
insisted that Detective Wall picked out
from the bundle the clothes taken from
the rear room. where he was sleeping.
This was done and none of the articles
picked were of those alleged to have
bought on the raised order.
The circumstances against Burns
were so strong, that Commissioner
Hewlett decided to turn him over to
the Wilmin gton authorities.
New Charges Brought Out.
j. Finbelg, a Jewish merchant, ap-
peared at the request of Inspector
Buck and told a story that put a new
charge against Burns. He identified
him as the negro who had come to
his store with a money order for $40,
bought goods and been given the
change. Burns denied the charge in
toto
Mr.. Charles F. Pritchard of Haslam
& Co. then took the stand. He identi-
fed Burns as the negro who had come
to his store with a $40 money order,
which he claimed had been sent him
by his mother to buy clothing with.
re had shown a letter from Bir-
mingham to substantiate the claim.
Mr.. Pritchard had been taken in by
the scheme, and had sold the boy I'M
derwear to the value of $3.50 and given
him $3.50 change. He identified GER
tain pieces of Undertaking as the
clothing sold. Burns simply said he
knew Oh
Under the evidence Commissioner
Hewlett bound him over on the second
charge to await the action of the grand
jury here.
Prisoner Perfectly Cool.
When the decision was announced,
Burns did not seem in the least wor-
ried. He borrowed some tobacco, roll
cd cigarette, and smoked away
calmly, While the commitment was be-
ing written out by Mr.. Hewlett. He
does not appear to be at all concern
ed over the outcome of the case.
Burns shed considerable light on the
escape OF Smith, the other negro who
is wanted as equally implicated in
tne raising of the money orders. Jim
stated that negro man had come to
the house, where the boys stayed
about 10 minutes before the arresting
omcer, and warned them to skip out.
smith had then hurried off
he denied all knowledge of Smiths
whereabouts. Detective Wall has been
given the name of the negro who
carried the information to the bows
that they had better skip. and it
is hoped that Smith can be located
through this man.
Burns has a bad record with the
pOlce' lie was the negro who serv-
eu considerable time a short while
ego Tor shooting at Policeman Nc