Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 160, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 July 1915 — JOHN BURRIS AND WIFE IN LIMELIGHT [ARTICLE]

JOHN BURRIS AND WIFE IN LIMELIGHT

Cause Arrest of Illinois Farmer On Criminal Assault Charge—He Charges Blackmail. The following article is taken from The Kankakee, 111., Gazette, of last Friday. It refers to John Burris and wife, formerly of this city and county. The article reads: “Declaring that Kankakee county officials have no jurisdiction over a person arrested for crime committed in Livingston county, State’s Attorney Dyer yesterday refused to take action in the case of William Coyne, a farmer living 4% miles southwest of Reddick who was brought to Kankakee by a Livingston county constable yesterday afternoon. Coyne, who was arrested on the charge of criminal assault on a complaint made by Mrs. John Burris, his housekeeper, was given a trial in the court of Bert Johnson, a Reddick justice. He was bound' over to the Kankakee county grand jury and was placed under a $5,000 bond. The man was brought here yesterday by George Chapple, a constable living in Livingston county. When he arrived here Sheriff Bothfuhr made an investigation and found the alleged crime had taken place in Livingston county, that the parties involved lived in that county and that the constable also was from that county. “State’s Attorney Dyer was called and gave his opinion to the effect that the man could not be held here. The constable, however, held his man until he returned to Reddick last night where Coyne was released. It is thought that information will be filed against Coyne in his own county. Coyne’s arrest yesterday followed sensational charges made by Mrs. Burris. Mrs. Burris and her husband were employed by him to work on the farm and Mrs. Burris did the housework. It is said that Coyne assaulted her on two occasions. “Coyne when asked about the matter said he was innocent and that the Burrises had been discharged by him last Wednesday morning. He claims the charges of Mrs. Burris, are an attempt at blackmail. The case* of Coyne is rearrested, will probably be taken up by the Livingston county officials.