The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1906-03-27
Puter Breaks Away From United
States Marshal Burns
HOLDS HIM OFF WITH REVOLVER
Then Darts Ia Crowd and Races Down
the Street Wanted In Oregon
Land Fraud Cases.

Boston. March 2.--Levelling a revolver
at the head OF his csptor. United States
Marshal w. b. Burns OF Washington. -.
c.. Stephen A b. Puter OF San Francisco,
known here as John IL. Brownell, who is
wanted by the government as witness In
the so-called Oregon land fraud cases and
by the state Of oregon on a charge OF
1orging school certificates amounting TO
$4,000 was able 10 back out into a crowd
hon one of the busiest corners of the Back
hay section OF the city last night and
escape after being under arrest less than
half an hour.
Marshal Burns was about 10 take his
sprisoner TO a local police station when
nuter drew his weapon and the two had
n tussle for IT, Twice Burns almost
twrenched IL away, but Puter proved more
kgile and finally shook himself free with
the revolver still pointing at the marshal
Nhe westerner then backed or until he
Ihad reached a safe distance. when he
Hursed and darted down the street. fol-
bowed by the marshal and the crowd. For
kear OF hitting some innocent person. the
bofficer did not dare TO fire his own re-
6olver
Burns arrived here last fall. but II was
mot until yesterday that Puter was located
Nm house on the Fenway. In the Back
kBay section OF the city. Burns also found
Efhat he was In the habit OF coming 10 a
tbranch postoffice on 4 populous corner
And getting letters u-,der the name Of
1ohn ii. Brownell Burns decided to walt
for him, and about half-past last night
u9uter appeared.
He recognized the OFFICER as the latter
appeared and asked him to go into the
"a ,Ff .f th.a Itastn
compiled at once and the two seated
themselves while Superintendent Swift
went out, as Burns thought, for two
policemen They waited almost half an
hour for Swift. and when he turned up
NE tapped on the window remarking as
he did so. Have you got your man,
Burns7"
The marshal thought the remark was
q hint that the policeman were outside
the door. so he told Puter that he was
under arrest. and made a. hurried search
for a weapon of any kind Mono was
discovered and the officer and his prisoner
stepped out on the sidewalk. There was
no policeman there and Burns found him
self alone with a man who was rapidly
becoming desperate.
Puter asked the officer to take him to
Washington at once. but Burns replied
that he would have to lock him up and
start for Washington in the morning.
Then Puter asked Burns to 60 with him
TO hts room for hts bag, but Burns de-
olined. At that Puter drew out his hand
kechief. and in putting II back In his
breast pocket suddenly thrust nis hand
inside his coat and flashed formidable
looking revolver I'm the face of the officer.
'I'll kill you, Burma" said the western
er IF you dare TO move"
The crowd about the two men was
quite dense. as IL Is a>street car trans
Ter point. and the home-bound people
were rushing about for their slips OF
paper. The crowd fell away rapidly at
the appearance of the revolver, but Burns.
although considerably older than his
prisoner jumped at him and pushed up
his hand.
Puter struggled and succeeded In poiut-
Ing the muzzle OF the revolver at Burns'
breast for a second time. Again the
plucky officer closed with his man and
this time threw down the levelled arm,
but his strength was not sufficient to
wrench the weapon away. and there was
no policeman near TO assist him, although
nearly hundred were assembled at Sta
tion IS. only a hundred yards away, for
the evening roll call.
Puter In the second bout was able 10
get entirely free from the grasp of the
marshal and then gradually backed away
from him with the revolver still pointing
at Burns. who did not dare TO draw his
own weapon for fear that the gun play
would result fatally 10 the crowd
Puter was about a dozen yards or when
ne turned and darted down the street.
followed by some OF the crowd and the
officer He seen disappeared, however.
and Burns after a frutless chase for
some distance returned and reported his
loss to the local authorities