The Marietta journal and courier. (Marietta, Ga.) 1909-1918, 1914-05-08
defective BURNS is
RUN OUT OF TOWN
Famous Detective In Mary Pha-
gan Case Flees From An
Cry Crowd Here.

william ]. Burns, world famous
detective. was driven from Marietta
last Friday afternoon by crowd of
angry citizens to whom his presence
was obnoxious. Burns is at present
working on the Mary Phagan murder
ease in Atlanta and the testimony
which he is alleged to have dug up
in connection with that case has
turned public sentiment strongly
against him. There had been talk
in Marietta for more than week
before last Friday that indicated a
warm reception for Burns should he
come to this city, and hardly sooner
than his presence was known a crowd
gathered and threatened him.
Robert Howell walked up to Burns
at the Brumby garage on Church
street and ask if this is William j.
Burns The detective is said to
have denied his identy whereupon
Mr.. Howell proceeded to slap the de-
tective's face on each side. Burns
offered no resistance and when the
crowd began further threatening
Burns fled. He ran up Church street
to the car barn, through the car barn
and around about until he reached
the Whitlock House, where he took
refuge
Judge N. A. Morris, Deputy Sheriff
Geo. Hicks, Mayor E. P. Dobbs, Mr.
F. G. Marchman and the editor of
the Journal went to the Hotel to try
to prevent further violence. This
was finally done by agreement be-
tween the crowd and Judge Morris
that Burns be allowed to leave the
city at once in an automobile. Mr..
T. NJ. Brumby happened along in his
big six cylinder White car and agreed
to take the detective to Atlanta.
Aviator Beech should have stuck
around another week to learn some
thing on speed. Mr.. Brumby put
Burns out at the Piedmont Hotel just
thirty two minutes after he got in
the car at the Whitlock House.
D. S. Lehon, another detective who
is associated with Burns in this case
and who accompanied him to Mari
eta was also threatened. He was
mistaken for c. w. Burke, who is al
legged to have been responsible for
other work of which the public dis
approves, and was forced to take re-
fuge with sheriff Swanson in the
county jail. About eight o'clock he
was taken out the back way and sent
TO Atlanta in an automobile with Mr..
J. F, Shaw.
1t is safe to say had it not been
Tor the bravery of Judge Morris and
Deputy Sheriff Geo. Hicks, Burns
would have been very badly handled
by the crowd which surrounded the
"hitIock House. Burns was greatly
frightened and requested Judge Nor
rls and Mayor Dobbs to telegraph
PRESIDENT Wilson, who he said was a
personal friend, to send troops to
Marietta to protect him. And it was
no easy matter to persuade the de-
'ectLye that the crowd would let him
IeaVe Marietta in peace. He seemed
W feel that the crowd was bent on
lynchlng him when as a matter of
TACT they only wanted him to get out
Vi MARIETTA but to get out quick"
Just as the automobile started
some one threw an egg that struck
Judge Morris on the side of the head
ana ruined nice hat but otherwise
ai7 no damage.
All the way to Atlanta Burns
showed his uneasiness but the speed
VI -Ae big six over the fine new road
vas 100 much for any possibility of
'""Se' and any how all that the peo-
p'e wanted had been accomplished
""7A the automobile crossed the
ivy limits just below Buffers.