The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-02-25
SHOT AND KILLED
Dennis Dunford Victim of a
Drunken BraWl.
Mae Burns Admits She Fired
the Shots.
WITNESS DENIES 1T.
Charges That Harry johnson
Held the Revolver.
Shooting Took Place at the
WOman'S House.
Johnson Makes a Confession to
Officers Today.
WITNESS DENIES 1T,

the murder of Dennis Dunford at
house on East Eighth avenue Satur
day night. Johnson is said to be the
lover of Mae Burns whom Dunforc
was annoying a the time of the shoot
ing.
Both Mae Burns and Johnson are IL
custody at the county Jail. Mrs. Burns
at first stated that she shot Dunford
but on advice of her attorneys this
afternoon refuses to discuss the sub
ject with the county officials.
Johnson, who told his story to Dep
uty Sherlff NJ Bundy early this morn
ing and who later told the same story
to County Attorney Schenck. Sheriff
Wilkerson, and County Coroner Kieth
refuses this afternoon to sign a writ
ten confession embodying the details
as related by him earlier in the day.
He refuses to sign the confession on
the advice of his attorney.
The case presents several unusual
features. 1t appears that Mrs. Burns
and Harry Johnson were lovers, and
each is willing to shoulder the blame
for the shooting if it will save the
other from a penitentiary sentence.
officer Bundy this morning entered
.Johnson's cell and said: What is the
use of both of you going to the psri-
tentiary2 We have evidence that you
are guilty of the shooting, so why not
tell us the details and save Mrs. Burns
from a sentence -
Johnson thought it over and then
told his story. Bundy later called the
other officers and they went to the cell
where he repeated the details. Late
this afternoon after he had talked
with his attorney he refused to sign
the confession.
Johnson states that he had been to
Mrs. Burns house early in the even
ing but that he went up town to visit
a "a r nc nf
ing shaved He says that as he was
returning he was met by his brother
who told him that Dunford was at the
house and that he should hurry on
back. Johnson says that his brother
handed him the revolver with which
he did the shooting and that he hur-
ried back to the house.
He says that he entered the room
and that neither himself nor Dunford
uttered a word. Neither of the men
spoke, but johnson says he deliberate
ly took aim and shot at Dunford. who
was standing. He claims that the
first shot missed and that Dunford sat
down in chair. Johnson claims he
directed the second shot at Dunford
after he had seated himself. and that
he then fired a third shot. Johnson
one that took effect while the officers
claim that it was the last shot.
The bullet struck Dunford in the
chin. knocking out three teeth. and
and penetra ting the jugular vein.
County Coroner Keith this after
noon swore jury and the members
of the jury viewed the body of the
murdered man. The jury will hear
evidence in the case tomorrow
Details of the Murder.
Who killed Dennis Dunford? That is
the problem that is confronting the
officers. 1t is certain that Dunford is
dead and a woman by the name of Mae
he i'm
comes al eye witness of the affair who
says the Burns woman did not fire the
fatal shot but that a man named Harry
johnson did.
Dunford. who was a laborer. was shot
about IL o'clock Saturday night at the
rooming house of Mae Burns. Gil East
Eighth avenue, and died about four
hours later after he had been removed
to DR.. Keith's hospital. Notwithstand-
ing the fact that Mae Burns admits
that she fired the shot which ended the
life of Dunford the sheriff's force is
working on a theory that her confess
sion is for the purpose of shielding her
lover Harry johnson.
Dunford was about thirty years of
age, has been reared in and about To-
peka. and for years has given the police
much trouble, especially is this true
when he was drinking. While he was
not feared by the police he was a man
who always resisted arrest and when
ever an officer went after him he ex-
pected that he might be called on to kill
him or get killed before Dunford would
submit.
The first that was known of the affair
by the police was when the telephone
rang and some one said Hello. As.
They have shot me down here" and
then rang off. A few moments later
the telephone rang again and Mae
Burns notified the police that she had
shot Dunford The patrol wagon start
ed with officers for the scene of the
found Dunford partially reclining on a
bed with the Burns woman standing i'll
one corner of the room with a revolver
In her hand.
In answer to a query from one of the
officers as to who had shot Dunford she
replied that she had and advancing
toward the officer handed him a 80
caliber revolver with which the shoot
ing was done. ''I shot him just as he
was about to strike me with a chair"
she said ''and 1 thought that he was
going to kill me-
He came to the house just a few
minutes before the shooting and kicked
in the back door and ran towards me
Z feel like killing some one and I guess
I'll commence on you l stepped to the
side of the bed and took my revolver
from under the pillow and told him to
stop and he stopped to pick up chair
and was in a STOPPING position with the
chair in his hands when 1 fired and he
staggered back and tried to telephone
the police"
The trouble which eliminated in the
murder Saturday night Is of long stand