Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 261, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 October 1919 — BURRIS GOES TO PENITENTIARY [ARTICLE]

BURRIS GOES TO PENITENTIARY

FOUND GUILTY BY NEWTON CIRCUIT COURT—2 TO M YEARS IS PENALTY. Found to be a menace to society, John Burris was sentenced to from two to fourteen years in the state penitentiary at Michigan City by Judge Hanley at Kentland this Wednesday morning, following the finding of the jury which returned a verdict of guilty on the charge of having committed an assault upon Edith Smith, a 16-year-old girl of this city. Burris was convicted of assault and battery with the intent to commit rape. The trial, which had been occupying the attention of the court for two days, was brought to a close late Tuesday evening and the jury given its instructions. A decision was reached hastily, but owing .to the fact that Judge Hanley returned to Rensselaer for the night the verdict was not returned until he returned to Kentland this morning. Burris’ conviction is the result of his having attacked the Smith girl last September. Following the crime he left with his family for Danville, 111., and remained there for several weeks until arrested and brought back to this city by Sheriff True D. W oodworth.

The finding of the jury meets with the approval of the public and it is the general opinion that the prisoner was not too harshly dealt with. His escapades during the past several years have been common talk in the community and there has been considerable ill feeling against him. Several times in the past he was on the verge of being convicted of serious charges, but somehow or other always managed to evade the law, and there was considerable fear among many that his good fortune would remain with him this time. The Newton county court .is noted for its leniency in such cases and it is a source of much gratification to all to learn that men of Burris’ type are no longer safe in that court. It is said that thg evidence produced by the defense was very weak and that there was small chance of Burris’ being acquitted following the girl’s story of the lust-crazed assault. iSuch men as Burris are the worst enemies of society and the more of them that are rounded up and put where they will no longer-be a menace, the better off the country will be. ~