Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-12-06
CONVICT SCORES
in TILT IN COURT
WITH ALAWYER
Burns, in Confessing TO Save
BakSa Girl, AmaZes and
AmuSeS Courtroom

Rsonfessed in court that he and not
NNzabeth Baksa murdered Mrs
Helen Hamel. for whose death the
girl was being tried,
His native acuteness made him
pert and fascinating witness. He
argued with the judge, upset the
prosecutor by his knowledge OF, law,
olandly confessed to numerous
crimes. including the robbery of the
home of one of the alienists VINO
recently examined him, and when
pressed too hard took refuge In
technical objections, in which judge
Rosalslly was forced to sustain
aim. He time and again provoked
laughter by his unexpected frank
ness and evident pride in his pro-
tesslonal accomplishments.
Burns reason for confessing, he
said, was pity for the girl and a
desire to see justice done her, al
though in the next breath he admit
ted that perhaps he WASN'T the sort
Of person who would be interested
In justice as a general proposition
Did your conscience trouble
you?" asked Assistant District At
torney Talley, vigorously probing Tor
his construction of a motive.
Well" said Burns easily,
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 en-
cursions into other peoples homes
and of a career so successful that
he was able. when he chose, to buy
an expensive automobile in which
lie could trail his other prospective
victims and become acquainted with
their habits
He smiled easily as he told of
going about with Brooklyn detectives
on the occasion of his last convic-
ton. and pointing out to them
houses he had robbed.
"One of them was. I think, the
home OF a minister next to Judge
Dike's." he said reminiscently.
"Why didn't you rob Judge
Dike's?" he was asked.
We'll. I would have, but he was
in" he said quickly, and a lauSn
rippled over the court in which
Judge Rosalsky joined.
The only things Burns refused 10
divulge were the name Of his part
ner in the Hamel murder or details
OF the crime he committed In the
days when he spent part OF his time
following Mrs. Hamel in his auto
mobile. The morning OF the muir
der. February IS, he and his partner
went down to West Thirty-third
street about II o'clock and stood for
a time across the street watching
the Hamel house. He had re-
volver and a blackjack in his
pocket.
we saw two men enter and my
partner went in about half past Il
or so. or l o'clock. I stood outside
tenor fifteen minutes before l en-
tered
Il went in through the door he
said. yawnins.
, did you see a girl?'
mo. not until we went out"
Did you see anybody go 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 il she went in the d.
rection of the West Twentieth street
police station. Then he went back
and saw his partner again. He had
hold of Mrs. Hamel.
Saw Her "Cavc in" He Says
81 saw a struggle going on, and
then she sagged, sort OF caVed IN,
as 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 appreciated what the erect
of his testimony might be.
What did you see in the kitchen,
or do after you saw your partner
and the woman
Il tied a towel around her neck"
he said.
Then Burns ran upstairs and took
what money and jewelry he could
find. He went outside, siGnalled to
his partner and they both left. Later
they met in Harlem. at a place he
refused to mention. and divided up
the money. He didn't get as much
as he expected. he said, because he
forgot the mattress in which was
$4,000.
DO YOU care for this girl?"
NO; why should l care for her?
I never saw her before"
You know of your own. knowl-
edge that this girl didn't kill Mrs.
Hamel?"
Il do. ought to-" was the reply.
When Mr.. Talley took Burns in
naDN IL was Win lUe attempt "
show that writing letters confessing
crimes was almost a habit with him.
He admitted that in April OF this
year he had written to District At
torney Swami that he had informa-
tion about the murder of Harry
Cohen. called Harry the Yot. a gam
bier whose death had never been
cleared up.
Had n Motive For Lying
He said he had told detectives
that he had pegged a bullet into the
Yot. but that il was not the truth
that he had an object in doing It.
Burns had a lively little tilt with
Mr.. Talley when the prosecutor
tried to md out where II was that
Burns had twice tried to commit sui
eide ny. his concession to Mr.. Talley
TO bring il out in your own way"
A little later Mr.. Talley took up
his last conviction in Brooklyn. when
there were five other indictments
against him. Burns took a plea of
guilty and said he was told thai the
other indictments would be quashed.
He had been convicted six times.
You knew you would be sent up
for life as an habitual criminal?"
asked Mr.. Talley.
Il knew better" he snapped
back. 81 knew l could not"
Amazement on the part OF the
prosecutor. and Judge Rosalsky
. asked him why he made such posi-
tive statement.
for felonies." he explained. The law