The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-08-10
II ERE'S MORE ABOUT
Death Of Burqunder
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Deaih OF burgunder
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cluded himself in a Phoenix hotel
He spent yesterday at state prison
with his son.
His mother. who was divorced
from the attorney. died thre,
months ago, less than a year after
her son had been convicted OF
murder. Mrs. Burgunder hao
been a radio drama writer. spe.
cializing in creepy" mysteries.
Both automobile sales m e n
Peterson and Koury. left their
salesroom to demonstrate an auto.
mobile and never returned. Six
days later, rancher found the
bodies in the desert near Tempe
Ariz., where Burgunder attended
college.
ASKS CONVICTION
Burgunder was arrested a week
later leaving Johnson City
Tenn, Sunday school. He had
disappeared the same day the two
men were shot and bound hand
and foot with their own belts and
neckties and their automobile
stolen.
Burgunder, a brilliant member
of the Tempe college debating
team. was calm at his trial, al
times cynical, and never enthus.
iastic about contesting the charges
He once asked the jury to convict
him and sentence him to the gas
chamber. which it did on JulyN1S
1889. 1t was for his parents
sake, he said. that he fought the
murder charges.
WROTE ON MURDER
He fancied himself brilliant
speaker and something of a
lawyer. and had asked to conduct
his own defense, with his fathers
aid. but the court denied his re.
quest. His father tried to show
that his son had been helped by ar
unnamed accomplice, but Swearin.
gen said Burgunder had told him
at dinner last night that he was
solely responsible for the killings
When Burgunder wasn't at col
lege, he divided his time between
his mothers home in Alhambra
Cal, and his fathers residence
He had been well liked by hi
professors, although students sal,
he was "standoffish" and a ION,
wolf" Shortly before he killed
the statesmen he wrote a disserta
ton on murder. which his instruc
tors said was brilliant"
WRITES To JUSTICE
His disrespect for law, ordel
and the police" had come from hi.
two-year experience in a Wash
ington prison, he said. and from
the things he had seen in hi
fathers law office.
Illustrative IF his attitude haC
been a letter he wrote a few day.
ago to Chief Justice Henry d
Ross, of the state supreme court
who had denied him a new tria
on technical appeal becaus,
substantial justice" had not beer
served.
Dear Hank" he wrote. 81 hav,
not the slightest intent of dis
cussing the decision-it is passe,
and only important in that i
might influence those in the sam,
circumstances in the future. Ais,
agree with your comment tina
criminals often take advantag,
of technical errors in endeavorin,
to escape just punishment.
ONE LAST REQUEST
In these cases of 'technica
error 1 agree with your decision
but l think that ii is CROWN,
increasingly difficult to distinguish
between honest error. due eithe
to misunderstanding or ignorance
and deliberate infraction OF pro
cedure by either judge or prose
cutor, taken with complacen
knowledge that it VIII be ruled
technical error
During the Is months that n
spent in prison he had gained 6
pounds and grown two inche
taller. At the time OF his execu
ton he weighed PSI pounds an
was six feet. four inches tall.
He made a last request shortl
before guards came TO get hin
He had taken Peterson's none
and Sheriff Lon Jordan had in
pounded the $23 that RENAME
when he was arrested in Tennessee,
] Burgunder asked that the none
be given 10 the Red Cross.