The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-05-26
BURNS ACQU|TTEDOF ARSON CHARGE; NO CASE AGAINST HIM
Proves Alibi Easily-Pritch- ard Makes Statement in Regard to His Connec-
 tion With Greene Case

K. J. Burns. the well known real estate dealer. was honorabfv acquitted of two charges of arson by Judge H. B. Aber- nethy of the court of common pleas yes terday morning. following a preliminary hearing that was commenced Monday aft ernoon. The charge was preferred against him by w. s. Pritchard, a local attorney Judge Abernethy held that the prosecu- tion failed to make out case of prob able cause and ordered his release The only witnesses put on the stand for the defense were two or three friends who testified that Mir. Burns was attending a meeting of a fraternal order on the night of the fire for which the defendant was arrested.
 When Judge Abernethy announced his decision friends of the accused crowded around him and offered congratulations MT Burns stated he never doubted the result of the investigation, but expressed regret at the unenviable notoriety that resulted from the very serious charge
 In connection with this case MT. Prltch- ard takes exception to the statement that appeared in The Age-Herald yesterday morning in reference to the case of Tom Greene, negro, who was arrested on a similar charge to one Of those preferred against MT. Burns. MT. Pritchard states that while he swore out two warrants out against the negro, Tom Greene. He states that the case against Greene never came to trial. but was nolle pressed on his motion, and that he did not appear
 in the court of common pleas as prose- cutor in the case of Tom Greene. Tn A statement about the case. Mir. Pritchard said:
 My sense of justness and fairness for.
 bids me from making any statement as to
 why the sensational speech was ever
 made against me in the trial of the Burns
 case. I am perfectly willing to stand upon
 my record as an attorney, as we'll as my record as a citizen. of both Jefferson ard Mobile counties, and allow the public to decide the issue
 The true statement of the facts in the Burns case is as follows:
 T swore out two warrants against E J. Burns on information and belief. ono for first degree arson, alleging that Burns burned house owned by Lucias Tender. son, negro near Roehlck Springs: the other for second degree arson, alleging that that he burned one of his own unoc cupied houses on Eleventh avenue, south l After swearing out the warrants fo, Burns. day or two later I, at the rcauesI | of an attache of the sheriffs office, swore cut one warrant for Tom Greene for arson l in the second degree. bail $500. stating te 1 Judge Abernathy at the time the warra n,
 was issued, that this was done mere,
 that we might hold Greene as witness 1 in the Burns case. stated to Tom Greene
 these facts at that time. in the presence of certain attache of the sheriff's of. l fee. As to my breach of confidence witt the negro, as previously stated. l no pressed the charge which I had placed against him, even before putting him OH the stan,, in the Burns case.
 "I regret exceedingly that I have been forced to appear i'll so conspicuous lsgl before the public of this city, but wha. | l feel to be an unjust and untrue accusa tion has been made against me in the loca press. and feel that should right tn, mmeasurable wrong which has been don. me through the same medium"