Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-17
UHARGEDWTTHMURDER
w1II1AM BuRoE on TRIAL IN
ot11E1HAL COURT.
Jury SWORN Today and Case Explained
Both lfor Prosecution and
Defense.

indicted for murder In the first degree.
which was called for trial yesterday in
Criminal Court, No. /. the following were
impaneled this morning as jury to de-
eide the question of the guilt or innocence
of the accused: Messrs. James w. Atweil.
John Connell. Charles G. Meyer. Charles H.
Berkeley, Mahlon H. Belt william F. Rob-
erts, William H. Linger, Thomas w. Fos-
ter. Hin Blandford Harry T. O'Hara, Ell
Holt H. Thompson and Ernest L. Hibbs.
Assistant United States Attorney Turner
outlined to the jury what the prosecution
expects to prove. He stated that Daisy
Jordan was married or was said to have
been married to William Burge in June,
1902. The couple did not get along We'll
The prosecuting attorney declared that
Burge beat his wife and threatened to yill
Burge stayed away all day. His wife left
him Monday. He sought her, but being
afraid of him she kept out of his way.
Daisy was acquainted with woman named
Lena Lawson. who was employed at zoos
r street. Lena thought she could secure
for Daisy a. place to work away from the
city. The evening of January q last Daisy
and Lena visited a woman named Sarah
Williams in regard to the place in question
That day Burge purchased a revolver. In
the evening he went to the house of Sarah
Williams and insisted on seeing Daisy
They had some trouble there and the two
girls left. Burge followed and attempted to
separate them.
Alleged Fatal Shot Fired.
AS the party approached premises 2O06 r
street, Assistant United States Attorney
Turner asserted. Burge drew the pistol and
shot his wife. A second shot was fred and
struggle ensued. Finally. he shot a third
time and Daisy sank to the floor and died.
The defendant, 1t was added. made an eff
fort to shoot Lena Lawson, but the latter's
mother and brother succeeded In pushing
him through the doorway.
The jury was also told that later. Burge
proceeded to the home of Daisy's mother,
Mary Jordan, and demanded his trunk
Mary Jordan suggested that he was looking
for trouble
yes" Burge is alleged to have made an
swer, "here 1t isl
The charge is that he thereupon instantly
fred, the bullet entering Mary Jordan's
mouth. A man grabbed Burge. they strug-
gled, the pistol was discharged and Burge
was wounded. He was taken to a hospital
and succeeded in escaping from the insti-
tuition. Upon being recaptured it Is de-
clared. he remarked that he was glad he
had shot his wife; that he meant to again
try to escape and did not mind running the
risk of being shot, as he would be hanged
anyway.
For the Defense.
Attorney Thomas L. Jones outlined the de-
Tense to the jury. AT the outset he remark
ed that there are usually two sides to
story and the defendant had one to relate
different from that recited by the prose-
cutting attorney. 1t was stated that Burge
Is twenty-three years of age and had never
been arrested prior to the time of the
shooting of his wife. The latter and the de-
PENDANT had MISUNDERSTANDING, but there
were no serious differences between them
and he had never threatened her. The de-
ceased began running around with Lena
Lawson. Returning about midnight, Janu-
a % Rurpa HE yui ba
parted and taken his clothing and other
possessions with her. He searched for her
for two days, in the hope of learning why
she had left him and to get his clothes. The
afternoon of the third day, about 2:30
o'clock, Burge met his wife at 18th and o
streets. She was with a man. When the
defendant asked her question the man
chased Burge. He learned late the next day
that the man referred to was hunting for
him. In order to protect himself Burge
purchased a revolver.
He located his wife at the house of the
Williams woman the evening of January
q There was no trouble. After the party
left the house Burge kissed his wife good
night and arranged to see her the follow
ing day. Soon thereafter Burge saw the
man who was with Daisy when the de-
PENDANT met her at 18th and o streets. The
man Was evidently waiting for the de-
ceased. He Joined her and Burge followed
them. They entered an alley and the de-
PENDANT saw them in compromising POSI-
tion
Assault Charged.
Upon learning that they had been OBJ
served by the defendant the man ran to-
ward RuIge, with a drawn revolver. The
defendant then drew his pistol A struggle
ensued. Daisy had razor in her stocking
which she produced and with it cut Burge
on the arm. The pistol went off. 1t was
discharged a second time. the bullet going
through the defendants arm. The pistol,
while the struggle was in progress, was dis
charged third time, and then Daisy sank
to the floor. AT the time three persons
were attacking Burge.
After going home for a hat. according to
Attorney Jones. Burge walked to the home
of his wife's mother to tell her that Daisy
had been shot. son of Mrs Jordan
struck him with chair. grabbed pistol
and shot at the defendant, but the bullet
struck Mrs. Jordan
If the defense proved what it had out
lined Attorney Jones said to the jury it
would expect a verdict of not guilty.
The examination of witnesses was then
begun.