The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-12-04
CONVICT SCORES IN
TILT WITH LAWYER
Burns. Confessing to Save
Baksa Girl, Amazes and
Amuses Court Room.
HAS LEGAL KNOWLEDGE
Admits Numerous Crimes, Con-
fuses Prosecutor and Makes
Judge Laugh.

James +. Burns, in Sing Sing under
the name OF Regan, confessed in court
yesterday that he and not Elizabeth
Baksa murdered Mrs. Helen Hamel,
for whose death the girl Is being tried.
Ills native acuteness made him n
pert and fascinating witness. He ar
gued with the Judge. upset the prose-
cutor by his knowledge Of law, blandly
confessed to numerous crimes. includ-
ing the robbery of the home OF one OF
the alienists who recently examined
him, and when pressed too hard took
refuge in techinal objections, In which
Judge Rosalsky was forced to sustain
him. He time and again provoked
laughter by his unexpected frankness
and evident pride in his professional
accomplishments.
Burns's reason for confessing, he
said, was pity for the girl and desire
10 see justice done her. although In
the next breath he admitted that per-
haps he wasn't the sort OF person who
would be interested in justice as
general proposition.
did your conscience trouble you?"
asked Assistant District Attorney Tai
ley, vigorously probing for his con-
structlon Of a motive.
Well said Burns easily, II don't
know as I have any from what I've
heard"
Tells OF His Exploits.
He crooked one leg over the other
as he told OF his many midnight ex-
cursions into other peoples homes and
OF a career so successful that he was
able, when he chose, to buy an expen-
sive automobile in which Ne could trail
his other prospective victims and be-
come acquainted with their habits.
He smiled easily as he told OF GO
,rg about with Brooklyn detectives on
the occasion OF his last conviction,
and pointing out to them houses he
had robbed.
"One OF them was, think, the home
Of minister next to Judge bikes"
he said reminiscently.
why didn't you rob Judge Dike's?"
he was asked.
We'll / would have but he was
In" he said quickly, and a laugh rip
pied over the court in which Judge
Rosalsky Joined.
The only things Burns refused to
divulge were the name OF his partner
in the Hamel murder, or details Of
the crime he committed in the days
when he spent part of his time follow
ing Mrs. Hamel In his automobile. The
morning of the murder. February IS.
he and his partner went down to
West Twenty-third street about IL
o'clock and stood for a time across
the street watching the Hamel house
He had n revolver and a blackjack in
his pocket.
We saw two men enter and my
partner went in about half past l2 or
So or l O'Clock. l stood outside ten
or fifteen minutes before entered"
How did you go in?"
Il went in through the door" he
said. yawning.
Did YOU see a girl"
No, not until we went out"
Did you see anybody so out?"
Yes a woman"
She dashed out a door leading into
the hall near the front of the house
he said, and he followed her to the
street to see If she went in the direc-
ton of the West Twentieth street
police station. Then he went back
and saw his partner again. He had
hold of Mrs. Hamel
Saw Her "Cave In,v He Says.
L saw n struggle going on. and
then she saEged. sort OF caved in.
as I went in the room"
At this point Judge Rosalsky again
took occasion to warn him that his
testimony could be used against him.
but Burns repeated that he appeared
voluntarily and that he fully appre-
Gated what the effect of his testimony
might be.
What did you see In the kitchen.
or do after you saw your partner and
the woman"
Il tied towel arounj her neck" he
said.
Then Burns ran UP stairs and took
what money and jewe.ry he could
And. Ile went outside. slgnalled to his
partner and they both left. Later they
mot in Harlem, at a place he refused
mention. and divided up the money.
lie didn't get as much as he expected
he said, because he forgot the mat
tress in which was $4,000.
DO you care for this girl?"
No. why should l care for her.
! never saw her before"
You know OF your own knowledge
that this girl didn't kill Mrs. Hamel?"
i do. ought to-" was the reply.
When Mr.. Talley took Burns I'm
hand II was with the attempt to show
that writing letters confessing 70
crimes was almost a habit with him.
Tie admitted that in April Of his wear
ne had written to District ATTORNEY
swami that he had information about
ne murder OF Harry Cohen called
Harry the Not, gambler whose death
mad never been cleared up.
Had n Motive for Lying,
lie said he had told detectives that
no had pegged bullet into the Yot
OUT that II was not the truth, that he
had an object I'm doing II.
Burns had lively little tilt with
Hr. Talley when the prosecutor tried
10 lind out where 1t was that Burns
had twice tried to commit suicide hv
his concession To Mr.. Talley to "brinq
II out In your own way"
little later Mr.. Taley took I'D bis
last conviction In Brooklyn, when
there were five other indictments
against him. Burns took a plea OF
guilty and said he was told that the
other indictments would be uuashed
lie hnl laan al q.