Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-07-26
TELLS PATHETIC STORY
Of ALLEGED INJUSTICE
Mrs. Lille B. Allen Accuses John
Burton of Securing Cash and Chat
tells on False Pretenses.
Gave Him Money, Heirlooms and
Laces, She Says, for Investment.
Promised Federal Appointment.

A pathetic story of how she nearly
lost 1925. jewelry valued at SIS and
some handsome laces and shawls. and
how the recovered possession Of the
gems and laces and all but $14 of the
money in a sensational manner, was
related today by Mrs Lille B. Allen, a
widow, before Chief Justice Covington
and a jury in Criminal Division 1.
The testimony was given at the trial
Of John Burton. a gray-haired. clerical
looking, bespectacled man, charged
with larceny after trust.
The defendant Is said to have repre-
scented himself as a member Of Con-
gress and brother of Senator Burton
Of Ohio.
Called In Answer to Advertisement.
Mrs Allen told the jury that the de-
PENDANT called at her house May last,
in answer to an advertisement inserted
in a paper by a roomer. Finding the
advertiser out, the witness said. Burton
inquired into the financial condition of
the witness and learned that 1T was
with difficulty she could make ends
meet, but that she had some savings
and several heirlooms. The accused.
she said, unfolded a scheme by which
he would sell the heirlooms to his sis
ter, described as rich woman OF
Pittsburgh, and with the savings stock
was to be purchased In a building as
ISOLATION, on which a loan was to be
secured.
The defendant also promised to Sc
cure her q position in the Smithsonian
Institute through his "brothers" in
fluence, Mrs. Allen stated.
mi 81 SnrrAndArNd
the defendant, she said, and $126 drawn
from the bank and given to him for
the stock investment. Together they
visited the Smithsonian Institution. and
there, she stated, the defendant tried
to lose her, but chose by mistake a
blind corridor and had to return to her.
He explained that the regent was en-
gagged. and they would have to come
back later in the afternoon.
Waited vainly for His Return.
Tho couple had lunch on F street. de-
clared the witness. and later stopped in
front Of a department store. where the
accused told her to visit the millinery
counter and await his return from a
bank with q check for the heirlooms.
Mrs. Allen said she waited vainly until
the store closed.
Three days later she was at 18th
street and Pennsylvania avenue. where
she accidentally met Burton. She COM
planned to him about his treatment of
her, and he suggested that they step
into tho ladies' room of an adjacent
hotel and discuss the matter. The wit
ness declined the invitation, but went
as far as the public lobby of the hotel.
where, by her loud talking and de-
mands on him, she attracted the atten-
ton Of the hotel clerk, who sent for
a detective Burton, she stated, when
thus cornered, surrendered SIP Of the
money and promised to return the heir
looms.
Burton Placed Under Arrest.
Detective Pratt responded to the call
and placed the man under arrest. He
testified that Burton denied knowledge
of the heirlooms, but the detective dis
covered them at q house where the pris-
oner rented room.
Attorneys ]. H. Bilbrey and Bruce
Baird, for the defense. received the
opening statement but intimated they
would claim that Burton exchanged con-
hdences with Mrs. Allen. also telling
her q hard-luck story. and that they
agreed to help each other. the money
and heirlooms being intrusted to the
prisoner In furtherance OF the agree
mont
Hawken conducted the prosecution.