‘his motive for the murder of his family was in order that he might
sell their furniture for whatever money he could get. The defense
ZEUEKXED. sought to show that he was insane and not morally responsible
for his actions. He was convicted and sentenced to hang, but his bro-
thers and attorneys fought unsuccessfully for a commutation hic: of his
sentence. rior to his execution, he issued a statement in which he
claimed that he was innocent of the murders but that he knew who had
killed his family and that he had tracked and killed him. Burt met
his fate calmly and his last words, spoken as the Sheriff bound his
hands behind his back were: "Don't tie the rope so tight, pleases.
He was hanged privately in the Bustin jail on May 27, 1898.
AUSTIN DAILY STATESMAN, Austin, Texas, May 28, 1898.
Had been indicted four times in Travis county,fonce of forgery,
once for passing forged instrument, once for selling motgaged
proerty and one for theft of over $50, but brothers always
managed to get out of trouble, Had counterfeit bills in his
possession when arrested in Chicago, Convicted for wifemurder
with indictments for children's mrder never tried, DAILY NEWS,-
Galveston, Texas, 5-28-1898 (5-1)
‘his motive for the murder of his family was in order that he might _
sell their furniture for whatever money he could get. The defense
RGIEKXES sought to show that he was insane and not morzlly responsible
for his actions. He was convicted and sentenced to hang, but his bro-
thers and attorneys fought unsuccessfully for a commutation ki of his
sentence. Prior to his execution, he issued a statement in which he
claimed that he was innocent of the murders but that he knew who had
killed his family and that he had tracked and killed him. Burt met
his fate calmly and his last words, spoken as the Sheriff bound his
hands behind his back were: "Don't tie the rope so tight, please. .
He was hanged privately in the Bustin jail on May 27, 1898.
AUSTIN DAILY STATESMAN, Austin, Texas, May 28, 1898.
Had been indicted four times in Travis county,fonce of forgery,
once for passing forged instrument, once for selling motgaged
proerty and one for theft of over $50, but brothers always
managed to get out of trouble, Had counterfeit bills in his
possession when arrested in Chicago, Convicted for wifemrder
with indictments for children's murder never tried, DAILY NEWS, -
Galveston, Texas, 5-28-1898 (5-1)
his motive for the murder of his family was in order that he might
sell their furniture for whatever money he could get. The defense
r sought to show that he was insane and not morally responsible
for his actions. He was convicted and sentenced to hang, but his bro-
thers ani attorneys fought unsuccessfully for a commutation kim of his
sentence. Prior to his execution, he issued a statement in which he
claimed that he was innocent of the mrders but that he knew who had
killed his family and that he had tracked and killed him. Burt met
his fate calmly and his last words, spoken as the Sheriff bound his
hands behind his back were: "Don't tie the rope so tight, please."
He was hanged privately in the Bustin jail on May 27, 1898.
AUSTIN DAILY STATESMAN, Austin, Texas, May 28, 1898.
Had been indicted four times in Travis county,fonce of forgeryy
once for passing forged instrument, once for selling motgaged
proerty and one for theft of over $50, but brothers always
managed to get out of trouble, Had counterfeit bills in his
possession when arrested in Chicago, Convicted for wifemrder
with indictments for children's mrder never tried, DAILY NEWS,
Galveston, Texas, 5-28-1898 (5-1)
eee ee eee
Saito fens, SIE Gy
BURT, W. Eugene ST2 778
Burt, an Austin, Tex., white man lived with his wife and two small
daughters, Lucille and Eleanor, in a house on M&K Hast Ninth Street.
Burt had always been sonsidered a dutiful husband and father, .and
his neighbors, though surprised, believed him on the morning of
July 25, 1896, when he informed them that his family had left for
Dallas and that he was to follow them as quickly as he could dispose
of their household goods, That afternoon he shipped three boxes
containing bloody clothes belonging to his family and some blood-
stained sheets to a fictibious address in Dallas, sold all of the
furniture and then went to a Hetel where he played dominoes all of
the night. The next morning, he caught a train, ostensibly for
Dallas, but went all of the way to Chicago. When the three boxes
sent to the false’ address were found to contain the bloody garments,
the Burt house was sea rched and the bodies of the wife and two
daughters were found in a cistern in the basement, It was evident
that bhey had been killed and, as they were last seen on the night
of July 2h, it was surmised’ that was the night of their deaths,
‘Burt was apprehended in Chicago on August 23 and returned to Austin
where he was tried and convicted. The prosecution maintained that
BURT, W. Eugene 5/2 WiF9 iG
Burt, an Austin, Tex., white man lived with his wife and two small
daughters, Lucille and Eleanor, in a house on MXK Hast Ninth Street.
Burt had always been sonsidered a dutiful husband and father, .and
his neighbors, though surprised, believed him on the morning of
July 25, 1896, when he informed them that his family had left for
Dallas and that he was to follow them as quickly as he could dispose
of their household goods. That afternoon he shipped three boxes
containing bloody clothes belonging to his family and some blood-
stained sheets to a fictiblous address in Dallas, sold all of the
furniture and then went to a Hetel where he played dominoes all of
the night. The next morning, he caught a train, ostensibly for
Dallas, but went all of the way to Chicago. When the three boxes
sent to the false‘ address were found to contain the bloody garments,
the Burt house was sea rched and the bodies of the wife and two
daughters were found in a cistern in the basement, It was evident
that bhey had been killed and, as they were last seen on the night
of July 2h, it was surmised that was the night of their deaths.
Burt was apprehended in Chicago on August 23 and returned to Austin
where he was tried and convicted, The prosecution maintained that
a, We Bc Sf2/ta7G
Burt, an Austin, Tex., white man lived with his wife and two small
daughters, Iucille and Eleanor, in a house on MAK Zast Ninth Street.
Burt had always been eonsidered a dutiful husband and father, .and
is neighbors, though surprised, believed him on the morning of
July 25, 1896, when he informed them that his family had left for
Dallas and that he was to follow them as quickly as he could dispose
of their household goods, ‘That afternoon he shipped three boxes
containing bloody clothes belonging to his family and some blood-
stained sheets to a fictitious address in Dalles, sold all of the
furniture and then went to a Hetel where he played dominoes all of
the night, The next morning, he caught a train, ostensibly for
Dallas, but went all of the way to Chicago. When the three boxes
ent to the false’ address were found to contain the bloody garments,
the Burt house was sea rched and the bodies of the wife and two
daughters were found in a cistern in the basement, It was evident
that bhey had been killed and, as they were last seen on the night
of July 24, it was surmised’ that was the night of their deaths,
Burt was apprehended in Chicago on éugust 23 and returned to Austin
where he was tried and convicted, The prosecution maintained that
Saifeais
