Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-20
DEAD IN POLICE CELL
Fate of J. T. Burch, IL Years
Magistrate at BerWyn.
LOCKED UP AS INTOXICATED
Death Due to Heart Failure fastened
by Drink, Coroner Finds.
BODY IS TAKEN TO MORGUE
Recognized Authority on Govern
ment Land Afairs-Prominent
in County Politics.

John 7. Burch for twelve years magis-
trate at Berwyn, Prince Georg' county,
Md. was found dead this morning in a
cell in the sixth pr .cinct station, where
me had been locked up over night on a
charge OF intoxication. His body was
removed to the morgue.
Death was due to heart failure. hasteneC
by the use of alcoholic stimulants, &C
cording to the finding of the coroner
afte- an autopsy held at the morgue this
morning.
Burch. who was siXty-siX years of age.
and lived at Berwyn, was locked up about
$50 o'clock last evening. H. was seen
by police in charge Of the station a num-
Der of times during the night.
At midnight he was told he might go
home. He declined to go. saying the
last car had probably gon and he would
be unable to start for home before morn
ing.
This morning shortly before ) O'clock
Desk Sergeant Harry Evans went to look
after the man from Berwyn. The body
was on the floor. Evans opened tn
door and touched the body to find 1t cold
in death.
Coroner hewitt was notified. He direct
ed that the body be removed to the
moreue. There he held an autopsy later
in the morning.
Prominent in County.
Judge Burch, as he was known because
of his long service as a Berwyn mag-s-
trate. was a native of tbis city, born in
the vicinity of 5th and E sire is north
west. For years he lived near 9Th and H
streets northwest
There his mother ed only two or tire
years ago She lift large estate which
has not been settled.
A clerk in the general land office or
years, Mr. Burch was gard d as one of
the best governm mt land authorities.
He severed mis- connec ion with the CIV
eminent to engage in practice as an eX
pert In laws affecting COVE. men lanc
and had an Office in the Pacific building
There his son, John Earle Burch was III
the blueprint business.
About twenty years ago he moved to
Prince George county. There he peca ne
an active politician, stab-ishing and
editing democratic paper at Berwyn
several years ago.
Twelve years ago he was appointed a
magistrate und the republican admin
istration, although a democ. at. DurlES
two recent sessions Of the Mary and leg
islature he served as e. X in one of tn
Taken to Police Cell.
Vest rday Judge Burch emained at h.
Office until after O clock and showed n,
signs of ntox.cation " .en he left the
building. On his way out of the buiidine
he had a pleasant word to say to tnt
colored boy In charg. of TIL, evator
Little more than an hour la Poiicena
Humphries found him in .th street ant
ent him to the police station \ charg,
intox cat on was efe.. ed against hi
At the sta ion Mr.. Blu. CHI was abe I
give mis- name. age anu a.drls@ bofor
icing led back t. a eel.
He was visited very hour" Capt
Byrn stated this morning. ''At mid
night he was practic lily Jisch ged. he
was to that h might go. He aske.
hat he De perm tt Il to remaiu uni.
morn ng. His r gu st was an ed /.
vas ally not prisoner at the n
is Lea h..
Policeman Han.ey visited the c lrooin
sev raj times alter mi night and saw tina
Mr. Burch and others in tn cells WI
II right.
Friends of the dead man say that MI.
.5urch had suffered from ar trouble
FOR years. He was moi a staa ~ urinker.
they stated, but did indulge at long in
rvals.
The wife and three sons survive. The
sons are John Earl, Phi..p II shland an
Raymond Burch.
Mrs. Burcn is a daughter of thy late
IN. McEwen. Her mother is still livin.
n fhiS civ