The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-03-09


 wife had obtained a divorce in a counter-suit to his divorce petition. The second Mrs. Burleson was the widow of the late Frank w. Knowl- ton, Boston attorney. She had three sons, Frank w. Knowlton of Boston, Robert A. Krlowlton, a newspaper correspondent in Wash ington, and William A. KnoWlton, cadet at the United States Military Academy at West Point.
 Although the colonel's first wife was becoming a periodical patient in mental institutions by the time of his second marriage, she re- mained a serious problem for him. Last Dec. g she sent the following telegram to the new Mrs. Burleson here from Galveston:
 Mrs. KnoWlton, with all you took because was too sick to defend my home against you; and even though you sent my mother to her grave in grief; you cannot take the many years of happiness had. You can never take them.
 "The wicked flourish like the Green Bay tree
 May God have mercy OH your soul.
 Mrs. Burleson."
 The Colonel and Mrs. Burleson moved to the Hotel Jefferson last fall when he was transferred to Camp Jackson from Fort Lewis, Washington. :.
 The first Mrs. Burleson checked into the same hotel Wednesday un- der the name Mrs. Ruth Gordon, Waterboro, s. c. At 6:30 yesterday morning she paid her bill and checked out. She loitered around the lobby all morning, much of the time on the mezzanine floor from where she had view of the lobby. Apparently she was waiting for the second Mrs. Burleson, a vivacious woman, popular in army circles as well as in New England and WaSh- ington society. Her son, Robert A. Knowlton. was married in Novem- Der, 1888 to Rebecca Trucco, daugh- ter of the Chilean ambassador. Col. Burleson also was we'll known in Washington. He is a nephew of the late Albert s. Burleson, postmaster general under President Theodore Roosevelt.
 The second Mrs. Burleson was eating her dessert when Mrs. Mazie Walker Burleson walked up behind her and shot her in the back with a rusty, old revolver which she held concealed in a handbag. As her victim slumped in her chair, the first Mrs. Burleson walked around the table and shot her again i'll the chest.
 The rest of the patrons fled but Mrs. Burleson dropped her gun and stood by the dying woman until a hotel clerk seized her. For hours Mrs. BurleSon would say nothing. Her identity was established through keys ill her handbag mark ed with the name Mrs. J. c. Walker, her dead mother, and an address at Galeston.
 Col. Burleson was on duty at the time. Brig. Gen. Clement A. Trott, commanding officer at Camp Jack son, designated Col. S. B. Buckner, chief of staff of the sixth division, to speak for Col. Burleson.
 This is a personal affair and has nothing to do with the mili- tary," Col. Buckner said. "Burle- sons career has been nearly ruined by this and what has gone on be- fore Col. Burleson was a long suffering man."
 He said the first Mrs. Burleson had been compelled to live outside ths army posts at which he had been stationed because of her per sonal peculiarities," which included demands to quartUmasters to move her furniture, bring mail to her and perform other errands which they were not obliged to do.
 The first Mrs. Burleson is 5l. Re- ports from Galveston said she had been confined in mental hospitals three times in the past year.