Elizabeth Burr’s killing near Flyat (1895)

Discovery and death

William Wells encountered Burr lying beside the road and initially thought she had fallen. When he could not awaken her, he noticed a head wound and blood on the ground. He summoned help and remained with her until she was carried to a nearby house. Her half-brother, Joseph H. Platt, recognized her from the description and had her taken to his home. Dr. Braddock came from Medford but could not revive her; Burr died without regaining consciousness.

Testimony and physical evidence

Platt said his half-sister had arrived from Pointville on May 23. Five days later Samuel Burr came for her and falsely said that her daughter Becky had died. Elizabeth challenged the story but left with him despite Platt’s warning. Other witnesses described Samuel as jealous and quoted him as wanting revenge before the couple left Pointville.

A witness identified in the damaged print as Stockton saw Samuel asking directions to Pemberton at about 8:30 on the morning of the killing. He recognized him by the reported loss of three fingers from one hand. Alexander Couples found a freshly cut club near the scene, footprints of a man and woman, an impression suggesting the club had been used as a walking stick, and the submerged stump from which it appeared to have been cut.

Inquest and arrest

Coroner Hibberd convened a jury that heard the witnesses and physicians. The jury concluded that Elizabeth Burr died from blows inflicted by her husband. Samuel was captured after several days in woods near Brown’s Mills and taken to the Burlington County Jail. A surviving fragment records that he denied killing her. No indictment, trial verdict, sentence, or later disposition has yet been located, so the inquest finding should not be mistaken for a criminal conviction.