The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-01-30


lie did not consider him mentally rev
sponstbie. Previous to the past Twelve
monthsbths defendant had always bean
nffable and cheerful, but lately thera
had been a change III his condition.
L On cruas.exainfnatton witness stateI
that he had bnsed his conclusions On
the fac. that@ne sometimes met Burke
on the street und he did not speak. n
had never occurred 10 him that Burke
was not o. responsible party to be III
charge OF d branch post-offlce. He did
not thinksne was normal or mentally
responsible man. or fitted for such du.
ties. but regarded that as the busi4
ness OF the government. and not q mats
ter that concerned him.
Kreley rnstitutc witness.
Charles Laurens. for twelve yeara
the manager OF 1.-the Kelley Institute OF
| Virginia, proved one OF the most VAL
liable witnesses OF tlle day. EEe had
known Burke twenty years. and had
observed a recent change In his COZ
dition. TIc was distracted, and at timea
duarrelsome. which was not his na-
ture. II don't think he was at all tlmea
mentally OF morally responsible In the
six months prior to his arrest. Ha
drank too much liquor to he himself
Tor to be In a normal. condition. fin
Iihad always been affable and pleasant
/ until recently. Lately he was abusive.
4 duarrelsome and obscene IN his lan-
on. cross-exam ina.toh tr,a witness
stated that he had Seen. Eurke fire.
lunently at the. Elksta Club. and had noe
lconsidered him montally or. morally re-8
sponsiblea Hts was SURPRISED at hts
/ holding his position In the post ofticI
when he was drinking so much.
! In answer to questions. Mi Laurena
stated that prior to the arrest OF Burko
he had suggested that he was prOpcr
subject for confinement In IN asylum.
II suggested some such STEP" he said.
|"althouGh never thought 1t lncumbent
upon mo to report his mental condl-s
ton to his superior officers at the posts
Office" nj
Witness said. Burke had. been a cans
didate for manager. OF the Ellts' Club.
lund that he had said at. the time that
lle did not think his mental. and ply
seal condition suited him for the
| position. In answer. to Judge Lewis
witness said that he thought Burke.s
mental condition resulted from the di.
Erect effects OF liquor. and that ha
would not consider him fitted for any;
lmental task, ~
/ Questioned by the court N1r. Lau-
I.rens said that whens his recommended
that the defendant be confined. he
i,wouid have suggested d, Kaeley euro
rather than on. insane asylum.
n Mr.. Edgar Bt..En glish,7 g. lawyer.
TESTIFIED that lately Burke looked
moody and did not respond TO saluta-
tons. Iio impressed the witness as
being "doped.'' Witness did mot think
The should be confEed In! an insane
.asylum. Had never suggested that no
twas mon coinpos mentis..
1 Went to Two Bars Daily.
4 James Lawrence. .barkeeper at Law
lrence's Hotel. at Twelfth and Main
Streets. said that. Burke came to his
saloon nearly every morning between
2 and IS o'clock. and. took two or three
drinks. This was kept up for nearly
two years, until. the time OF. the arrest
-septemher II. 1897. He. always took
whiskey, milk toddy or cocktail. Some
times he came in the afternoon ana
bought ,half-pint bottle, and Away
had a market basket with him. witt
ness never saw Burke too drunk to
attend to business, but had noticed
lpeculiarities during the past year. He
and Burke used to joke and .jolly,
each other. Lately Burke didn't seem
to like 1t. and the witness .'cut 1t out.
| Thomas IS. Hicks. liveryman. told
OF the change In Burke's character
from, a iovial. genial Sort TO morbid.
nnsoctai and unpleasant man. He said
Rurke was now serratic. and seemed to
be possessed of halIucinations. and
his conversation was disconnected.
= udge Lewis produced q laugh by
|induiring II there were not other mem-s
bers Of the Elks who drank too much,
and who made errat1c speeches while
under n "halIncination." Judge Wad-s
dill ruled the question improper.
/ witness said he had known men who
drank hard who. were not mentally
deranged when sober. He regarded
Burke as physical wreck. but had
never heard OF his being unable to 90
TO bnsiness&fon account of 9drunken-
ness. ~ 81
Fri- Daughter nan3 a .vny.
". L. Garnenter. a travelling sa'es-
Burke's house, on. Grace, Street. said
the defendant was. a hard drinker and
/ that, he thought his drinking custom
| had DAMAGE his mind. Witness once
llad a difficulty with Burke, when.
| without provocation, the accused had
ordered him from the house Mrs.
| Rurks had asked him to overlook the
offen.e, saving Mr,sBurkc would be
sorry for IT, Witness said that Nj.
and Mrs Burke had daughter who
| ran away and was married against
their wishes. This seemed to affect
his mind He had frequently spoken
" 49, " siiS w hlHSsS anu aCEleu at the
mention OF his dnugilter. About Christ
mas last year MrsABnrke was in bad
health; was taking aua1.ities of capu-
| ditie, a DIR s. 81 Ills. doctor told him. ir
would kill.him unless hetsstopped it,
MR. Carpenter said, :she did not think
his mind was m q; no rmal condition,
or, that che was mentally responsible,
Witness :>thought hegfwa s.harmless. ana
would not t,n,Yc shss1.ated to trust hin,
With his bocketboo,s, Neyertheless,
| lp,.:st hou ght Mr.: 4Burke's curious be-
Ehhvior vas due J. to merta, lrresponsi-
bjlity... He. never thought anything
should be done Ito restrain him. Fa
was: not crazy In; the sehse that he
shop ld, Ire n. m asylum. Witness had
/ no. n pprehanalon for the ladies OF the
famitX.sand yet though hit MR. Burke ir-
Irresponsible.
R..sW. spfllEnan. had noted q change
Lin Mr.. Rurkh from q il,sial 10 4 Nlprhii