The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1910-08-15
eemi-Professional choked TWO Men
to Death In Desperate Encounter
With Them on
Sunday.
USED ONLY HIS HANDS
Young Sampson strangled Both Men
and Left Them Lying
Dead at His
Feet.

ST. LOUIS, Aug. 15.-In his cell at
the county jail at Edwardsville, Ill,
yesterday, John Burton, youngest son
of George Burton, alderman and
mayor pro tenn. of Alton ILL.,, told how
he choked to death Leo Wentz a sa-
loon keeper, and Louis Weibracht, q |
farm hand, in a three cornered fight
in the darkness in a shed on VENTS
place at Marine, H., early Sunday
morning. Burton, a steamfitter, is q
emi-professional wrestler. He is 81
feet inches in height, and in condi-
ton for the mat weighing from 220 to
240 pounds Both men attacked him,
and while he intended only to subdue
them, he strangled them before being
aware OF thtir condition, Burton says.
When he was placed under arrest
an old pair OF handouts were put on
his wrists. He snapped them apart
and broke one off, asking that the
other be removed, as he had no inten-
ton OF escaping. He states he could
have escaped easily from the Jail at
Marine by pushing one side of the
building out. Burton says each of
his assailants were powerful men,.
He claims self defense.
Alderman Burton states he does
not believe his son knew the extent
OF his own strength. The father has
seen the young man bend twenty
penny nails In his hands, and like
wise iron piping, while following his
trade, instead Of using wise. He
is % years old. Coroner G. N. Streep-
er of Alton will hold an inquest on the
bodies Of the two men at Marine to-
day.
Burton says he had been working
at Marine as steamf1tter, and Wentz
persuaded him to remain Saturday
and tend bar in the saloon. Lato
Saturday night. Burton says, when he
started to leave for his home Wentz
asked him to go to vacant house
near the saloon, Weibracht accom-
panying the two men. The house is
an old tumble down building and had
no lights in it. The men entered in
the darkness and lay down on the
floor to sleep Burton missed pocket
book containing 500, and he suspected
that his two companions had it. He
claims they did not deny it, but kept
trying to talk him into waiting until
morning. He insisted upon the NOR
ey being returned at once, and a
quarrel ensued.
Burton claims that he first engaged
in fight with Wentz and that the
other man, who had been at Marine
only short time, caught him by the
legs. In the struggle with the two
powerful men. Burton says, he had
all he could do to hold his own. He
finally caught Weibracht with hA
head between his legs and he closed
down on him with the Scissors
grip. 1t is supposed that between
strangulation and his neck being
broken Weibracht died in few min
utes. Burton continued to press down
with the strangle hold on VENTS
throat until he ceased to struggle.
Later, Burton says, not realizing he
had killed Weibracht and fatally in
1ured Wentz, he attempted to rouse
the two men, Alarmed when he could
not rouse them, he went to a neigh.
bors house and got help but before
anything could be done, Wentz toe
died, He claims that he was match
ed against two men Of great strength
and that he found it necessary to re
sort to the measures he used.
Young Burton's disposition was
peaceful, in Alton, and sporting mer
say he made failure as a wrestler
because he was not brutal enough tc
enforce hard advantage on an op
ponent. 1t is cited that when he was
In match with Charles Olson, 6
wrestler of note. that Burton had ,
hammer lock and half-Nelson a
once on the man and could have
thrown him. but for the fact that he
was afraid that a spring Olson wal
about to make would fracture Olson!
arm. He released him and the mex
move Olson dislocated Burton's knee
Burton has many wealthy relatives
who will help him in any legal com
plications that may arise.
In Alton 1t is generally believed
among friends of Burton who have
seen him wrestling. that he was no
the man to wantonly kill two men un
less he was forced to do so. TIL,
noor OF the room where the fight oc