Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1919-02-21
CONVICTED, BURNETT
WILL NOT APPEAL
JURY'S VERDICT OF GUILTY OF
FIRST DEGREE MURDER
MEANS LIFE TERM

Norman K. Burnett, convicted of
first degree murder by jury in the
local superior court late Tuesday af-
ternOOn after less than two hours de-
liberation, probably will not appeal
his case or seek new trial, but, ac-
cOrding to reports current Friday,
will "go over" to Walla Walla and
serve the life sentence the verdict
calls for.
Taking of testimony in the case,
which involved the murder of his wife
and two little children on Hawks
prairie last May, was concluded late
Monday afternoon after Burnett had
spent most of Saturday and part of
Monday testifying in his own behalf
The arguments of the attorneys were
made Tuesday and the jury retired
at $40 in the afternoon. 1t report
ed back at 4:5O, after having taken
four ballots.
From the time the state rested it's
case Saturday morning and the de.
Tense began, there were sensational
developments in the trial. First off
Geo. F. Yantis, the defendants attor-
ney, made a detailed statement, start
ling the whole court room by admit
ting, on behalf of Burnett, the murder
of Mrs. Burnett and their two chill
dren.
Yantis in dramatic tones told the
jurors and spectators how Burnett in
sudden fit of rage and mental de-
rangement discharged shotgun at
his wife and two children as the little
family group budding in mortal fear
stood with their backs against tree
in the woods on Hawks prairie.
The two children were playing to-
gether when Burnett seized his gun.'
said Yantis. His wife ran toward
them. Burnett shot twice, and saw
the wife and children fall wounded.
After that he did not know what he
did. but does not believe the shots ac
tually killed them. The skulls had
been crushed.
Taking the witness stand a little
later, Burnett quietly and painstak-
ingly as to the details of his long suf-
fering as a husband, in justification
attorney mentioned doubts of his
wife's fidelity and accused her of
being dirty. diseased and addicted to
excessive use of liquor. His testi.
mony was trimmed to indicate that
never in their frequent quarreling
had he himself given cause of offense.
After detailing his life history and
1T ~Sk AL n,,rs N0tk k01< n
how he brought his wife and the
children to Olympia last March. after
several years separation. to live in a
single lodging house room which Bur-
nett said was all he could find as liv-
ing quarters, and almost Immediately
his patience was again put under the
strain. Some strange man began to
come to the place while he was at
work. He knew that because the WIS.,
itor brought kindling wood. One of
the little boys tried to tell him of an
auto ride they had while Burnett was
at work, but the mother interrupted
him under a pretense. 1t all preyed
heavily on his mind and he talked
about It,
AS a calker Burnett said he earned
$12.75 day and was willing to buy
his family anything they wanted. He
gave his wife an allowance of SIS al
week to spend as she pleased. Pre-
viously she had taken care of all his
money, but he would no longer risk
that, he said.
He always planned their fishing
~ MI 10
and testimony was developed to show
that he took these frequently. 1t was
also shown that he had planned to
take them fishing with A. L. Sears
family on the Sunday they were MUIR
dered. The previous night his wife
objected and he gave it up, going in
stead with them alone to what short
ly afterward became the scene of
their murder.
Burnett himself was eating q ba-
mana and cookies his wife had given
him when she fed the children, and
was reading the comic section of al
Sunday paper immediately preceding
the tragedy, he said. His wife was
lying near reading another section of
the paper and the children were play
ing a few feet away when, he de-
clared, she suddenly said:
Look here, Norman, you've got to |
give me more money than you have
been giving me-"
Burnett said he replied that he
would take care Of the money, but
that his wife should have everything
Continued on Page Four