Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 260, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 October 1919 — BURRIS ON STAND TODAY [ARTICLE]

BURRIS ON STAND TODAY

DEFENSE WILL CLOSE ITS CASE THIS AFTERNOON AT KENTLAND. At 1 o’clock this Tuesday afterno on John Buffis, charged with having committed a criminal assault upon the person of Edith Smith, a sikteen-year-old feeble-minded girl, in this city September 15, took the stand in Kentland in his own beI half in an effort to shake the strong I web of evidence pointing to his guilt, woven by the state on hßrtiday, the opening day of the trial. The state closed its case early this morning after having occupied the greater part of -Monday in producing a strong chain of evidence by witnesses to show that the defendant was guilty of the crime with which he is charged. It is understood that the state made a very strong case and the indications at this time are that Burris will be convicted. Edith Smith, the plaintiff, is said to have made a very good witness, and the attorneys for the defense were unable to make her waver. Several other state witnesses followed the girl and it is understoodtold (practically the same story as she told. Following the completion of the examining of the witnesses for the defense, the state will make its closing argument and the case is expected to be in the hands of the jurors some time early this evening.