Murder scene was circus atmosphere morning after killing hhat began as a ‘quiet Sunday night turned into a chaotic Monday ‘morning. Neighbors gathered first. Then came a horde of peopie that included the police chief and his closest fides, school officials, the district attorney and others. Nany were allowed to pass {hrough the iron gate and come “inside what had been a “twostory home but was now a “murder scene, “Itwas a circus,” a veteran fier says, looking back on. the nts that followed Jim Burns’ ath. “Just like the tranglings,” he added. He was referring to the “stocking siranglings” that frightened the city two decades ago. Those murder scenes were filled with curious people who shouldn't have been there, walking ‘through what could have been evidence. Before the report of Burns’ death, a resident on Front Avenue reported a vehicle Darked in front of the house next door. She called a second lime and described-armaskeu® lescription was broadcast Minutes later, an officer on Macon Road stopped a truck that fit that description. The driver was questioned for hours. Neighbors reported a man who had done odd jobs for Burns, arguing with him when he refused (0 pay him in advance, That lead also would bbe followed up in the days that followed. Stella Burns had been in bed with her husband. She was questioned along with other school officials. Investigators scurried for leads. None of them had ever managed a murder case before, Police held a press ‘onference the next morning. ‘At this time, there are no suspects and there is no known motive,” read the statement issued Oct. 19, 1992. Five years later, a statement would say the same thing. Five years ago, the family ‘was planning his funeral. They kknew there would be music. Jim Burns loved music, especially barbershop harmony. ‘Burns had helped create two singing groups here. There were the “Sisters of Change, ‘composed of three female ‘educators, There was the barbershop quartet in which Burns himself often took the lead, Wallace Huey Sang bass in that quariet, He remembers the feelings he had that day at St. Luke's United Methodist Church, But recently, when someone asked him what they sang, he hhad to think about it, “They asked us to sing at his ‘memorial,” remembers Huey, retired principal of South Columbus Elementary School “It was Jimmy Motos, Thomas Moffitt and me. We pulled in Bob Lee to sing Dr. Burns’ part ‘We sang his favorite song — “Amazing Grace.”