Culver BANDIT CASE TO REACH JURY THURSDAY
Culver BANDIT CASE TO REACH JURY THURSDAY
DEFENSE PUTS BUT ONE MAN ON THE WITNESS STAND JOE BYERS OF KNOX DENIES FIRING SHOT
DAY GIVEN TO ARGUMENT
Many Culver Citizen Called To Testify in Case Now Famous Throughout Nation
(Special to Pharos-Tribune) WABSAW, Ind., May 18. [1921] - This afternoon the argument In the Culver
bandit murder case began. The testimony In the case ended this morning. The only witness placed
on the stand by the defense was Joe Byers of Knox, Indiana. He admitted complicity in a saloon robbery
in Chicago, a year ago. He denied firing a shot in the Culver episode. The case is expected to reach
the jury sometime tomorrow.
On Mondy afternoon Sheriff Elmer Green, Waukegan, Illinois, took the stand positively, identified each of
the four prisoners. They were arrested in Waukegan September 9, 1919, on a charge of robbery. Andro
Pusin, North Chicago clothier and aloon keeper, was also on the stand and identified the men. Later It
as learned that they held up his saloon on October 25, 1920, and secured
about $2.500.
Dr. Howard O. Shaffer, physician and surgeon of Rochester, Ind, who attended the wounded man on the
afternon of December 29, after he had b«ea taken to the Culver Military Academy hospital, was called to
the witness stand. When he examined the wounded man he found him to be paralyzed from the shoulder down.
He was suffering from two wounds, one in the cheek and the other in the neck. He stated
that the bnliet which entered the cheek had apparently been fired from above or while Mr. Saine was in a
falling position. It entered and left the cheek within a distance of an Inch or so. The b ullet which entered
the neck was the one which caused the death of the Culver merchant, the witness told the court. This
shot took a downward and backward course. After entering the neck, the ball passed through the fourth and
fifth vertebrae and shattered the sixth. The spinal chord was severed by the shot. The physician said he
cleaned the wound but did not hold an operation as "his condition was hopeless and an operation would
have killed him." The physician toM the court that after the b ullet had entered the body it took a 25 to
30 degree course backward and about a 45 degree course downward, the ball lodging about an inch and a
half from the sixth vertebrae
Dr. C- L. Stonaker of Culver , was the next witness called to the stand, His testimony was identical with
that of Dr. Shaffer. He told thecourt that Mr. Saine died on January 22nd.
Charles Pettis, Culver barber, on the stand declared Saine fired two shots at the man in the back seat of
the automobile as it was leaving thebank. At the time he had only twoshells for his shptgun. After firing
the shots he ran to get more shells and when he returned the banditshad fled from the scene. He was
emphatic in his statement that only three shots were fired from the car of the bandits as it sped away.
Adams, teller of the Culver bank, told of the entry of the robbers. It was Adams who later captured
Burns. He said after the bandits had left the bank he grabbed a revolver from one of the
drawers in tho bank and gave chase. When he caught sight of the fleeing robbers they were a block to the
north of him. He fired four shots, at distance of one block, then saw Burns throw away bis gun and hold
up his hands in surrender. Adams said he rushed up to Burns and stuck his gun in his face. Burns began
to beg off, said the witness, saying: "I didn't hurt you, 'Red'!" Adams found all of the money taken
from the bank on the person of Burns.
With the state near the completion of its evidence, a web is beingtightly drawn about the four bandits
Witness after witness has been examined. each telline amined, each telling practicaly the same story.
On Tuesday scores of Culver citizens were examined and testified concerning the shooting of
Russell Saine, the robbery of the bank and the ultimate capture of the men.
One of the most dramatic incidents of the trial came when Lieut. Arthur Hutchison, aerial engineer of
the Culver academy, related his capture of Burns. Hutchison, attired in his naval aviation engineer
uniform, related how he had armed himself with a shotgun and pursued Burns and his gang for several blocks.
"I told him to halt several times and with his arms above his head he advanced toward me. I again told
him to halt and that I would blow his head off if he did not stop. He still continued to advance closer and I
p ulled the trigger. The gun failed to explode. There was no shell in the chamber.
"For God's sake don't shoot me; I didn't kill that man," Hutchison quoted Burns as pleading.
The lieutenant talked slowly and deliberately. He then pointed out Burns as the man he cap'tured, and
related how he continued the pursuit of the other bandits until out of breath.
During the day three revolvers one of which had three loaded shells in it, and which were procured by
the Culver citizens when thrown away by the bandits, were introduced as evidence. They were .32
and .38 calibre revolvers, one a blue steel Ivers Johnson and the other two long nickel-plated barrels of a
different make.
Many Culver people, all of them bitter against the youths charged with murdering one of their leading
citizens and seriously wounding another, are in attendance at the trial. "We ought never to have captured
them; we ought to have shot them," said one Culver man who took part in the fight.
"I helped prevent the crowd from beating Burns to death after they had him down in the street and were
kicking and beating him and threatening to lynch him. I'm almost sorry I stopped them. Jacob Saine was
a fine man- He was giving them a chance without shooting."
Earl Wilt, the Culver bank bandit who escaped, was evidently an expertpistol marksman and quick as a
flash on the draw. It is believed his first b ullet struck Saine standing about 60 feet distant. He was
traced almost to Chicago, then his trail lost.
Bert Rector, Culver druggist, in an interview, told how seven Culver citizens in a powerf ul car and armed
with high-powered rifles, followed Wilt through Knox, saw that Joe Beyers was captured then took up
the trail of Wilt. Wilt drove a fast Marmon car. In the snow coveredroad they traced, him for miles and
miles, saw where he had turned corners and skidded at each turn, showing the extreme speed at which
he was traveling. Bach time they inquired whether the man had passed that point, they were told that
they were only a short distance behind. Near the outskirts of Chicago they lost the trail.
An operative of the Bankers' Protective association claims that Burns and his gang had operated in the vicinity
of Lake Maxinkuckee for a considerable time before attempting the robbery. Burns admitted to the
cashier of the Culver bank that he had been in the bank about two weeks before the robbery in order
to get a twenty dollar bill changed.
Two plain clothes men arrived in this city Tuesday from Chicago and will probably testify against the
men. It is said that some time ago Burns was arrested in Chicago for stealing merchandise from a car
He beat the case and then started replevin proceedings to recover the goods which had been confiscated.
They further stated that Burns is one of the most cold-blooded men they have ever known and could easily
shoot a man down and laugh about his crime.
Burns is an exceptional athlete and since being in jail here has turned many flip-flops while standmg
on the floor of his cell. It is said that he can walk almost as far on his bands as he can on his feet.
Since in jail and while on trial he has appeared to be of a jovial disposition.