The Mankato free press., 1923-10-12
PROMPTED
TRAGEDY in HOME
Bullet Put Into Woman's
Back While At Work
FLEES FROM HOUSE
Frantic, She Drags Twins With
Her As She Leaped Sever
al Fences

CraZed by excessive drinking or
moonshine. Gilbert I"Gibb"l. Burt,
age fifty five years, shot and prob
ably fatally wounded his wife. Anna
Burt age thirty nine. and then COM
mitted suicide by shooting himself
through the forehead. The gruesome
deed occurred shortly after eleven
O'Clock this, morning at the home,
325 Poplar street.
Burt, who had been on drunken
spree since last Sunday. is believed
by the police to have committed
the deed through worry over his
coming trial for the third offense
OF having violated the liquor laws
He was out on $500 bond. to, appear
for triM.
The shoospg occurred, police
surmise. while Mrs. Burt was sweep
ing the kitchen floor. A broom laying
against the kitchen table and half
swept floor indicated that Mrs. Burt
must have been at work when shot.
Mrs. Burt was battling for her
life at the st. Josephs hospital at
noon today with large hole beneath
her left shoulder blade. Physicians
were making a probe for the bullet
shortly after the noon hour.
Burt Killed Self
s Burt. after shooting his wife, stag
gered through two rooms and into
bedroom. Sitting ON the bed he laid
his head against the muzzle Of the
rifle and pulled the trigger. He fell
over in a, bumped up position in
narrow space between the bed and
wall. When the police arrived he was.
bumped over. his head lying beside
a cuspidQr In a large pool of blood.
Mrs. Burt ran efor more than a
block half dragging. half carrying
and ID Margaret a four lAs years spspi old. o to
neighboring house. She was found
there when Dr. William Black was
called there to attend her. She vas 3
immediately conveyed to St. Joseph's !
hospital
Mrs. Burt, with one hand holding !
each of the twin children in her
fight from the kitchen. first stopped
to tell Mrs. David Oglesby at 327
Poplar street to call a doctor. Mrs.
Oglesby stated that when she ap
peared at her back door she gasp
ed:
Call doctor. Ny God, my man .
has shot me in the back"
Mrs. Oglesby said the wounded
woman was afraid to stop fearing
that the drunken fiend was after
her. She climbed and carried the two
children over two fences to the back
door of Oscar Eklund's home, 329
Poplar. Mrs. Eklund wanted her to
come in, but she was still afraid
her blood thirsty husband was fol-
lowing her.
Went Over Two More Fences
She staggered on. over two more
fences to the back door Of Frank
Hidde's at 401 Poplar. Here Mrs.
Hidde dragged her into the house
and placed her on bed Mrs. Hidde
took care Of the frightened children
who were crying, until the physician
arrived.
! Mrs. oglesby, who was sick abed,
stated to the police that she heard
terrifying screams Of Mrs. Burt. In
a few moments Mrs Burt appeared
at the back door. but refused to
come in.
Mrs. oglesby said that both Mrs.
Burt and her husband called on her
early in the morning. Mrs. Burt Of
fered to help her during her sick
ness. The couple appeared to be in
good humor at that time, she said.
Neighbor women to the couple stat
ed to the police that Burt always
went on periodical drunks. Mrs.
Oglesby said that Burt had pint
bottle of liquor with him when he
called earlier in the day.
Traffic Officer Kachelmeyer and
Patrolman Charles Bell answered
the call sent into police headquart-
ers by Mrs. .didde.. When they ar
rived at the Burt residence. the cur
tains were drawn and the interior
Of the house was in semi darkness.
Both officers entered the kitchen
of fhc ~ hA
expected that Burt was stfll alive
and armed. as no one in the vicinity
had heard. the shot fired by Burt in
killing himself They. both crept
through the kitchen into the dining
room. Bell went into the first bed
room on the right, aud Kachelmyer
continued on into the front room of
the house. He slipped into a corner
and then peeked through the cur
tains covering the door OF the bed
room, There he saw the bumped d.up
feet just inside of the curtains.
Rifle BY His Side
/ The ride,lay by his siie. The post
ilre of the hody indicated plainly
that he had first sat on the bed and
with the muzzle against his head,
reached down and pressed the trig-
GER His body curled up and fell to
the floor. His legs were drawn up
under him and his hands and arms
outstretched Death was instantan-
eous. according to Dr. G. A. Dahl,
county coroner who was called to !
the house,. &
The body was taken: to the John-,
son -Bowan undertaking parlots.
Burt has been prominent figure
in moonshining !. and bootlegging
circles for long time, according to
police. He has been caught either
with selling or possession Of illegal
liquor three times by the local po-
lice. He was to appear In district
court in November to answer to the
last charge Of possession and sales.
Neighbors of the Burts declared