Jasper County Democrat, Volume 22, Number 53, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 October 1919 — BURRIS PLEADS NOT GUILTY [ARTICLE]

BURRIS PLEADS NOT GUILTY

Cause Sent to Newton County for Trial—Wife Is Loyal. johh Burris, late of Rensselaer, was brought here from, Danville, 111., Friday evening by Sheriff Woodworth and about noon Saturday was arraigned before Judge Hanley on the charge for which he was arrested, that of committing a criminal assault on Edith Smith, the alleged feeble-minded 16-year-old daughter of Theodore Smith, residing In the northeast part of town, the alleged assault having occurred on Monday afternoon, September 15, during the absence of the other members of the family. Burris entered a plea of not guilty and the court fixed his bond at $2,500. His wife went out and said that she could get some one to go oir the bond, but later returned and said that she was unable to do so. It is alleged that she also used some very vitrolic language in consigning everyone in Rensselaer and Jasper county to the place where they don’t bother to cover up the fire of nights, and said that her husband couldn’t get a fair trial In Jasper county—where he is so well known, of course. Burris’s father, R. W. Buriris, offered to go on his son’s bond, but the court refused to accept him as surety, because of the fact that his property interests consist of a joint title in residence property in Rensselaer. The case was set for trial tomorrow but it is understood that a change of venue will be,taken. Mrs. Burris said to her husband in the presence of the sheriff that while they might send him to the penitentiary, "I. have a little money and my -children have some money (presumably from the pension left by her first husband who died at Camp McClellan, Ala., Tast fall from influenza) and we’ll use it all to try, to keep you out. If they do send you there, I will wait for you until you come back.” Later-Through his attorney, A. Halleck, burns filed an affidavit for a change of venue from the county Monday and the cause was sent to Newton county.