The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1912-03-06
MRS. BURTLANO
SENT TO JAIL
First Jury of Women in Coroner's
Inquest in State Unswayed
by Sympathy
DEATH TO BABY GIRL
CAUSED BY NEGLECT
Information Will Be Filed Today
Against the Mother, But Upon
What Charge Had Not Been
Decided Upon Last Evening

The members of the first coroner s
jury composed entirely of mothers in
the state of Washington did not allow
their sympathies to unduly sway their
Judgment, for they brought in ver-
diet that may mean term i'll the
penitentiary for the person under sus-
picion. This result was reached in
the inquest held Friday, March l, by
Coroner Fred e. Shaw, over the body
of the Burtland babe proven to have
been previously lying there dead, the
mem bers of the jury being women,
and all mothers.
The impaneling of the jury and the
taking of testimony was commenced
at 1880 and lasted three hours.
The Story in Brief.
Following is the story in brief, as
brought out by the testim ony of wit
nesses: That unto Mrs. Eva Burtland.
who lives in the 400 block on Roose-
welt avenue in Modern. addition, a
of Monday, February 10; that the
baby was found dead in the Yakima
Milling company mill race early on
the following morning by j. f. Hedge,
Waterman for that company; that the
body had been carried in a bucket
to the mill race and deposited therein
by Allan Burtland, the 12-year old
son of Mrs. Eva Burtland, without be-
inc nf The rnntpntS of the
bucket; that the child was dead when
placed in the bucket by it's mother;
that the baby had smothered While in
bed with its mother.
The principal witnesses were as fol-
lows: Mrs. Eva Burtland, who told
the story of the BIRTH death, DISPOSE
ton of the body and other Details
Allan Burtland, who related his con-
nectton with the matter; Health Of
ficer Dr. Thomas Tetreau, who pre-
sided at the autopsy; DR.. j. f. Lane,
county physician, who assisted at the
autopsy.
Before going on the stand Prose-
cutting Attorney j. LenoX Ward gave
to Mrs. Burtland complete information
as to her rights in regard to giving
testimany. He told her that she was
not compelled to go on the stand
that she might do as she wished in
that regard, testify, or refuse to say
anything. She elected to tell her story.
"A Difficult Question.
The women had a difficult question
to decide after they had listened to
the testimony. The principal point for
them to decide was whether the acts
of Mrs. Burtland We're of such char
acter as would justify her being held
for crime. After having deliberated
brought in the following carefully
worded verdict at o'clock in the
afternoon:
The Verdict.
An information was taken for the
people of the state of Washington, at
coroner's office in the city of North
Yakima in said county Of Yakima, on
the first day of March, A. D. 1912,
and for said county upon view of the
body of certain female child then
and there proven to have been pre-
viously lying dead, upon the oaths OF
six good and lawful women of the
said county, who, being duly sworn to
inquire on the part of the people of
the state Of Washington, into all cir
cumstances attending the death of the
said female child, and in what man
ner and when and where the said
child proven to have been previously
lying dead at coroner's office in said
city of North Yakima, county of
Yakima, state of Washington, came to
her death on the 18th day of Febru-
AIRY. A. ID. 1912.
We, the undersigned, find from the
evidence submitted In said cause that
that certain female child came to its
death through exposure and neglect
of the mother of said child, one Eva
Burtland.
In testimony whereof the said coro-
ner and the jury of this inquest have
hereunto set their hands the day and
year aforesaid.
ADA Il. WHITNEY,
Foreman
OLIVE LONG
MINNIE NJ. MOORE,
DAISY PEARL WYLlE
GRACE BIVENS
LORENA MILLER
FRED L. SHAW, Coroner.
1t will be noticed that the cause of
death is given as neglect of the
mother not criminal neglect"
Taken to Jail.
Immediately after the rendition of
the verdict, Mrs. Burtland was taken
to the county jail where she will have
the assistance of the nurse who has
been with her al her home.
Under the finding Of the coroner's
jury. Mrs. Burttand might be held on
any charge from murder in the first