The Detroit times., 1911-08-12
PAIR OF RAILWAY POLICE
KILLED AS RESULT OF PRANK
tCo.tl.ssaI frsn paEs -.

"~~-~~--~@
~--s-
headaches and was all shot to pieces. !"
he Il big man, over six feet tall,
but the intense mental suffering he
has shad 10 endure has bowed him
down and he stopped like an old man.
High ana LArkins, who are inves-
tigating the case, do not think that
the Joke theory OF the tragedy In cor.
rect That experienced detectives
should jump out from the darkness
and tussle with an armed ofacer as
q prank seems hardly probable to
them. The theory that they advance
II that the men who were killed
thought Burnett thug and grappled
with him. and he used the only means
OF protection he had, his revolver.
Burnett has been with the Michi-
gan Central only about six weeks. He
was formerly with the Psre Ma
quette. He Is married and lives at
No. 137 Seventeenth-st. He Is re-
garded as a conscientious. faithful and
careful Official by his employers and
acquaintance.
Cook had been railway detective
for two years. lie was q second lieu
tenant II Company " OF the Twenty
second Michigan infantry, and hal
served In the Spanish-American war.
He lived at No. bs7 Ferdinand-ave,
Vreeland boarded at No. S95 Cmap-
behave. He was married, but was
not living with his wife. He was
formerly q member Of the police and
fire departments.
Coroner Rothacher took charge OF
both bodies and sent them to tile
county morgue He Is inclined to be-
hAN a. NJ 40 For
the tragedy and may not hold an In
quest. However. he win make a thor
ough investigation before reaching a
decision In the matter.
That Vreeland did not draw his
revolver was evidenced by the fact
that II still reposed In It's case when
his body was picked up. Cooks revcl-
yer was found some distance away
from where the shooting occurred,
and II Is thought he may have had 1t
In his hand to make the joke all the
more realistic.
That there can be no doubt that
Burnett 10 entirely innocent OF any
crime In connection with the killing
is the opinion OF Chief Special Officer
III. q. Dryer. of the Michigan Central
force.
Burnett came to my home about
1880 o'clock, Friday morning." said
Mr.. Dryer, to The Times, land told
me that there were a couple Of
tramps In the yards and that he was
going to watch out for them. They
had gone up TO the Grand Trunk de-
livery station and broken into some
box cars and stolen some sugar.
They put one over on me this
ime, Burnett told me, but I'll watch
hem tonight and get them.
SO Friday night he was making q
special effort to get everybody that
ooked suspicious. He was walking
Town the track between Junction and
rampbell-aves, about S:45 o'clock
when the two men jumped out az
him
We've got you nowr they said
WHO are you? asked Burnett.
They made no answer but one
|aid Is that you, BillyT 81.
Burnett saw them advance toward
i'm and he drew his revolver. shoot
hg four times. He was expecting an
tack, and when his two friends
umped at him he thought they were
hugs"
Mrs. Cook, widow OF Detective.
rook. IL sure that the shooting was
he result OF foolish prank. 49, t
Frank was on the best or terms
nth all the men OF his and other
ffices," she said. y have never heard
Inn say a word against any Of them.
q that | am sure that nonesgwould
~ to kill him. It's just q terrible
histake.r M
Mrs Cook Is In a serious condition
her home. She had always had "
EAR that her husband would be- shot
lille on duty and whenever he did
OF return home at about his usual
me she was extremely anxious for
is safety.
The shock of the tragedy was very
real, and she was In such serious
bnd.tion, Saturday .~that DIR. WilliaEi
hrper was summoned. He gave her
stimulant but several times during
be morning she tainted.
The loss OF her husband is but one
series OF tragedies that have be-
lien her, 10-year-old son having
ed about q year ago and two 9TH
children a short time before that.
he 10 trying to bear up bravely, but
er condition IL serious. -
The funeral of Mr.. Cook will prob
bly, be held from the Church Of the
oily Redeemer. Tuesday morning.
e was q member OF Myrtle tent OF
e Maccabees. He Is survived by his
idow, four brothers. George, Albert,
lmes and Frederick, all Of whom re-
de OF No. rs Nationalave,, and by
|ur sisters, Miss Anna, No rs Ma
pnal-ave.: Mrs. Edward Tuite. No,
Is High-st west, Mrs Frank Pol
I'd, No. col Ferdinand-st., and Mrs
dward Mcclure. Chicago. He was
years old.
vreeland has relatives In Flatrock,
ich, and his body will be taken
ere for burial In the family lot. He
survived by his wife, with whom
had not been living for about FIVE
ears, q. son, John. who Is at present
prking in Flatrock. and two, sisters,
r.. Alice Byrne, No. 212 Wabash
and Mrs. Walters. Of Flatrock.
DO wife resides At Spruce and Fifth
,. vreeland was AZ years Of age.
EAR gI.ASHER DIES IN AGONY.