Omaha daily bee., 1911-10-15
CHARGE BURKE WITH DEATH
Saloon Man Accused of the Murder
Of G. F. Robinson.
PAT MURPHY TELLS OF CRIME
Two Other witnesses say After
Quarrel Burke Knocked Rancher
Down and Caused BODY 60
BE Hidden,

w l. Burke proprietor Of two saloons
in Omaha was arrested at 4 clock Fri
day afternoon by officer John Para
nowsk at Fourteenth and Farnam
streets. He is charged with the murder
OF c. F. Robinson, the East Omaha hog
rsncher, who died at the county hospital
Wednesday night as the result Of frac-
ture Of the skull.
Burke was refused bonds His saloons
are located at Tenth and Davenport
streets and SOL North Thirteenth street
The W, l. Burke saloon. at Tenth and
Davenport streets, has been ordered closed
by Chief Donahue. The order, which was
executed Saturday morning, provides that
the saloon shall remain closed until the
excise board grants another license, II
at all.
Pat Murphy, = witness TO the tragedy,
was also arrested, and he has turned
states evidence. Robinson was found by
| Officer Hagerman at o'clock Monday
morning at Ninth and Davenport streets
and taken to the station. where he was
charged with drunkenness Tuesday
morning Robinson was so weak he was
unable TO talk and he was not taken to
the court room. Later in the day his
condition became such that he was hur.
| Iltu 10 ln6 county nOEplIhls WneIe sew
| eral doctors worked over him. and di.
agnosed his case as apoplexy or cerebral
hemorrhage. His condition became worse
until wednesday night he died. leaving
the doctors baffled and dlsagreeiug over
the casa An autopsy Thursday afternoon
brought out that Robinson had come to
his death from a fracture Of the skull
Two witnesses Tell of Deed.
/ ~
witnesses Of the tragedy TO Jail who made
sworn statements to County Attorney
English and Chief OF Detectives John
Savage that they saw W. l. Burke, pro-
prietor Of the saloon at Tenth and Daven-
port streets. strike Robinson and knock
him to the ground, where his head struck
the pavement with such force as to
render the victim unconscious.
The story told by Pat Murphy and the
other two witnesses, whose names the
police will not divulge, Is that Robinson
came to Burkes saloon early Sunday
morning. He entered into q quarrel with
Burke, which lasted for some time The
two men seemed to come 10 an amiable
agreement regarding the dispute and
shook hands over the affair and began TO
Joke with each other. Robinson then left
the place and returned within a few
minutes. AS he was crossing the street
toward Burkes saloon, II Is alleged
Burke went out TO meet him and Without
warning struck Robinson In the Jaw
telling him.
Robinson Lay in Weeds.
The witnesses then said that two men
we're hired by Burke to carry the body
away and hide It in some weeds at Tenth
and Capitol avenue All day Sunday
Robinson lay I'm the ratch of weeds Just
off from the street. The next morning
It Is alleged. the body was carried from
its place OF coRcealment to Ninth and
Davenport streets, where II was placed
in conspicuous place. and where It was
later found by Officer Hagerman
F. G. Robinson, a brother of the muir.
dered man, said his brother roomed al
617 North Twentieth street and Saturday
afternoon paid his room rent for the weel
and at that time he. had a large roll OF
money on his person. The roll consisted
OF five. ten and twenty-dollar bills. Wher
he was arrested he had but a very small
amount of change on his person and q
watch. The police now think that Robin
son was robbed while he was lying II
the weeds at Tenth and Capitol avenue
They think one Of the witnesses robbed
him.
Thinks Case strong One.
County Attorney English and the police
say they have very strong case against
Burke and will prosecute him to the full
extent of the law. At the present time
Burke is charged with murder. but IT IL
thought this charge will be changed tc
manslaughter
For some time the police have beer
watching Burke's place. as IT is alleged
he was running the toughest Joint IN the
city. Tuesday night a man was shot II
quarrel with q party of men In tn
same saloon, but the police could get n,
evidence aside from the statement OF III,
victim of the shooting.
ADD & uApUEcT TANEc