Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1923-11-21
JACK BURNHAM
Gets 70 YEARS
IN MEXICO JAIL
Murderer Of Two American
Legion Men at Tampico
Finally Sentenced to Serve
Twenty Years in Pen

Jack Burnhatn, Canadian By birth,
deserter from the American army, con-
victcd of the murder of two Amt ricans
in the Tampieo oil fields and tn
woundiRg Of another. fugitive from
Mexican justice for two years and fin-
ally captured at MatamoroS in July az
ter being released from the Cameron
county Jail. was sent enced last week ia
Ozuluansa to serve twenty years in n
Mexican prison. For almost two years
the Aintrican Legion had sought TO have
him punished for the murder Of tw"
Icgionnaircs In the Tampico oil fields,
and after Burnham had escaped from
Mexico to the United States they en-
deavorcd through every possible aven-
ue to have him extradited and turned
over to the Mexican official. but owin.:
10 the fact that Mexico hnd not be-n
recognized. the state department could
take no action in his case. .sni Amefi-
can officials who were hoIdira aial we're
finally forced to give him has relc~ss-
The general impression nscsai'cd
among officers who had occasion ~ in
tcrlogato him. that Burnhala nad been
influenced by wild west notes - lit
crature Of the wild and woos.y west
variety. lie claimed to be a bad nan.
and admitted TO officers Of u" Game ron
county Jail that he had killed two men
in Mexico. but would not state definite
~ where and when he committed the
crime.
His army record was an inglorious
one. lie serves tor some months At
Fort Brown in 1917. under another
name. and after deserving and attempt
ing to escape into Mexico. was finally
given a dishonorablc discharge al Fort
Sam Houston. He Immediately left for
thu Tampico oil fields. and became
known among the oil men as Two Gun
Jack from his profuse display Of
weapons. lie affected the wild west
to a marked degree. and endeavored TO
pose as bad man.
On July 1. 1891. he killed Gus Cir
Guard and Ralph Maloney and 81 rious-
ly wounded NJ NJ. Winston. all members
Of the American Legion and employees Of
an oil company near Tampico. The men
were coming into Tampico in a Ford
roadster and overlook Burnham on the
road. The car was filled. but they told
him to Jump onto the running board
but n short distance when Burnham
pulled gun. ordered Winston 20 stop
th4 car. and then ordered the men 10
get out and hand over their valuables.
BuTnham could not start the car and
ordered Winston to crank Il. and Cir
Guard and Maloney started walking
down the road. Without a word of warn
ing Burnham opened fire, killing Malo.
ney and Girouard and then fired al
Winston, severely wounding him. Burn
ham deserted the car and took 10 the
brush. and nothing more was hcarf
from him until he turned up at Laredo,
end was arrested by the Sheriff 81
Webb county
Mexican officials. backed by the
American Legion. clamored for the cx-
tradition Of Burnham. and he was hello
in the Webb county jail several months.
but was finally released when II was
sscertainad that tie American govern
ment could not turn the prisoner over
70 Mexico.
A few months later he was again tax
en- into custody by an immigration Of
ficer and was turned owe. 10 Snefil
Sam Robertson OF Cameron County
who held him on q vagrancy chargs
while the American Legio~ again sough'
through every possible avenue 70 nave
Burnham extradited and turned over I"
the Mexicsn authorities. Again the 81
forts Of the Legion proved futile, ow-
ing to the fact that Mexico had not betn
recognized. and Sheriff Robertson was
compelled TO release Burnham.
The following day Burnham. who haa
evidently crossed 1hc Rio Grande sur
reptiously. was arrested in q smell can
tina on the outskirts Of Matamoros, and
was taken to Ozuluama III the northern
part Of the state Of Vera Cruz. near
Tampico. where he was placed IN Jaii
on November 4. Burnham succeeded ~
cludirg the guards al the i.il and madF
h.s escape. taking to the brush. Prae-
fically the entire force ~ ruroses ~
that section was placed On his trail. ~
after searching through the brush ana
forests Tor five days BufnhHm Wa
rgain captured.
Last week he was arrEigned Tor triAl.
end made practically ro defense, the
court sentencing him 20 twenty ears ~
the Vera Cruz penitentiary at hard Ia
IOr.