Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-30
HELD FOR GRAND JURY
William Burge, Colored, Re
sponsible for Wife's Death.
ADMITS HIS GUILT
ABSTRACT OF TESTIMONY HEARD
BY CoRoNER's JURY TODAY.
Witnesses Tell Of the Shooting and of
His Effort to Kill
Others.

4. William Burge colored, who killed his
wife and tried to end the life of his mother
in-law Mrs. Mary Jordan, Friday night as
published in Saturdays Star, is to be trans
ferred from the Homeopathic Hospital to
the Jail. to await the action of the grand
jury, as soon the physicians think ne is
out of danger. This move was directed to
day by jury OF six men, who assembled
at the morgue and heard the statements
of witnesses regarding the crime which, it
is alleged, the prisoner patient committed
at the nome of Commodore Williamson on
street.
Burge was too i'll to be taken to the
morgue this morning to be present at the
hearing. He had anticipated the result.
however. and was not at all surprised when
informed of it.
Testimony Submitted.
Deputy Coroner Glazebrook described the
two bullet wounds in the woman's head
One bullet had fractured her jaws, and the
other had severed some of the big blood
vessels. The doctor thought the hemor-
rhage could not have been checked had a
physician been there Immediately after tAe
shooting occurred. Her death, the doctor
stated. was due to the severe hemorrhage-
Lena Lawson. colored, a friend of the
to the house of Commodore Williamson to
see her, she was going with her to see
about getting service place. They left
the house, 2OO6 street, about $50 O'clock
and went to Mrs. Williams, colored,
two squares away. While at the latter
house, William Burge came to the door and
asked to see Daisy. The latter would not
GO out, and her husband was invited to
enter
He said no. the witness stated, land
asked Mrs. Williams to close the door,
She said she would not close the door in
erybody's face, and he finally entered
Burge and his wife. the witness stated, re-
manned in the dining room some little time,
and left there about II 80 o'clock. Witness
said that Daisy was so badly frightened
when she left Mrs. Williams house that
she could hardly walk, and stated that she
was going to escort Daisy to a street car,
but the car was so long coming that she
DAISY concluded she would go home with
witness. Daisy. she said, made the remark
that she was afraid to trust her husband,
and insisted that he walk in front of them.
When they reached the rear gate at Com
modore Williamson's home the gate was
hard to open. and while she was Juggling at
1t Burge fired one shot at his wife. Before
the shot was fired she heard William tell
Daisy he wanted her to go with him. She
told him she would see him in the morning,
and he said:
TN see you tonight"
Witness grabbed her friend and her hus-
band and attempted to prevent any further
shooting. The one bullet had inflicted a
wound, and the victim was unable to
scream, but she (witness) screamed "mur-
der"
While they were struggling through the
yard a second shot fired. Then the
trio entered the kitchen, where the third
shot was fired. This time witness said,
Burge held the pistol against the face of
witness mother. When he had killed his
wife he turned to witness and said:
gu are the next - - / want to get"
Witness grabbed the revolver and her
mother assisted her. The mother tripped
him and he fell out the door. She did not
see the razor until after it had been picked
up by policeman, who found it behind the
door.
Mrs. Lawson's Evidence.
Annie Lawson mother of the preceding
witness, also gave testimony. She was
awakened by her daughters cries and
other noises and thought there was fire.
She screamed fire" and started toward
the door. The door was forced open, she
stated and she was knocked down. She
got up and grabbed the man, but could not
prevent the discharge Of the weapon.
When the shot was fired in the kitchen
the revolver was pointed over her (wit-
ness) shoulder and held against her face.
She thought the wounded woman died
about ten minutes after the last shot was
fired Mrs. Lawson said she did not see
Alfred Lawson, fourteen years old, gave
similar testimony. He saw Burge dis
charge his weapon and also saw him point
1t toward his sister.
Frank Jordan brother of the murdered
woman. testified that he was at his home,
HOP o street northwest, about 12:30 o'clock
Saturday morning, when Burge called and
said he wanted to see witness mother.
Jordan said his mother not feeling
we'll and said she would see him in her
room. Witness mother asked him to re-
main in the room, and he seated himself on
a trunk. When witness saw Burge draw
his revolver he grabbed his hand and they
struggled for possession of the weapon.
The weapon was discharged and the bullet
struck his mother in the mouth.
Threatened Life of Witness.
Witness said to him: Willie, you've shot
mother" and he (Burge) said: Let go;
I'm going to kill you
Witness thought that three shots were
fred in his house, but could not account for
the shooting of Burge.
How many times was Burge shot?" the
coroner asked.
Three times" was the response of Po-
Eceman Sweeney. He was shot in his
hand, arm and head.
willie wanted to kill everybody in the
house, said the witness.
He said that Burge said he had seen
things she had left there.
Charles Venney, also colored who has a
room in Mrs. Jordan's house testified to the
part he took in the transaction. He grabbed
Burge when he realized what was going on
and disarmed him. Witness heard two
shots fired in the house. Witness was un-