Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-10-20

signs Of recognition. He showed
nothing but disgust, but there was
plenty Of that He vas sitting in the
rear Of the day coach, next to the
aisle. with Witness in the seat be-
side him. he didn't see the reporters
until they were almost on top of
him, and when he Gid Re wanted TO
ge; off the train.
'Nothing's going TO be said he
exclaimed, You fellows might as vel.
get off the train"
One Of the crowd volunteered the
Information that they were going to
Atlanta.
"Tve good notion to pull the bell
cord and get off the train myself"
said Burke. And ne reached up like
he was going to do it. too. but some
one gently remarked that II was
raining and no train for hours.
So Burke sat in his seat with an
eagle eve on Witness. and chatted
plea sa ntlv with the reporters about
everything except Witness Regard
ing Witness all ne would say was
this:
Nothing is going to be given out
until We get to Atlanta. There have
been enough boomers in this case,
and there isn't going to be any bloom
er this time
And Witness Keeps Quiet.
Witness never opened his mouth
during .he trip, partly because
Burke wouldn't let him, and partly
because he didn't seem to care for
converse ton. He sat huddled in his
seat. unshaven. without a collar, eyes
dull and listless. Either he fattened
his face against the window anG
gazed passively at the fleeting land
scape. or he looked trustingly into
Burkes face
Somebody asked Burke what was
the matter with Witness.
He's been drunk" the detective
said, "and he's probably got a hang
over. He doesn't talk much, any
way, at least so long as I'VE got him"
Witness wanted a drink once dur
ing the ride, and Burke kindly gave
him permission TO go TO the end OF
the train and get II. A reporter
wanted a drink, too, but Burke
blocked the aisle OF the car and
wouldn't let him get by.
When the train reached Mount
zion. WllCn is IN Inc CITY limits
about five miles from Five Points, ne
did trick that caused two of the
news paper men to jump from train
running about 20 miles an hour and
slide hastily and without dignity
down 50-foot embankment-all for
nothing.
Here's Mount zion" Burke ex-
claimed. Were going to drop of here.
Come on"
Burke's Ruse Almost Works.
The detective grabbed Witness by the
neck and dragged him to the rears plat
form. 1t looked like he was going to
throw Witness bodily from the train
and then jump on top OF him. There
was considerable commotion in the re.
portorial ranks about that time. Three
reporters leaued for the front platform
to beat Burke off the train Two Of
the reporters jumped off the train and
fell 90 feet down an embankment, but
the other, being heavily laden with a
equipment, didn't jump There were .
number o; reasons, one of which was
that a sneaking suspicion crossed his
mind that maybe Mr.. Burke was Stall
ing"
So this last reporter. the only one
that Burke didn't get rid Of through
his ruse, ran to the rear end Of the car
and out on to the platform Burke and
his man stood there, with the photogra
pher clinging to Burke's coat tails and
imploring him not to jump. But Burke
never intended to jump from any train
going 40 miles an hour. He merely
wanted to get rid of the newspaper
men.
Burke and Witness rode on the plat
form until the train reached the station.
despite the platntive protests OF Wit
ness that he was cold and needed some
Stimulanr