The Portland daily press., 1862-12-24
GONE OF MY CLIENrs"-rHE REAL HERO


In the December number of the Atlantic
Monthly is an extraordinary story or sketch
under the above title, which has been received
with great ncredulity by the public although
1t is said to be partially vouched for by one of
the publishers of the Monthly This sketch
purports to be written by a lawyer who had
for one of his clients a "Mr. Sidney"
The Mr. Sidney of the story is no myth,
so far, at least the leading portion ol his his
tory is concerned.
He was a man who but few years ago filed
large space in the history of the time, from
his relations to one of the most remarkable
cases known in the criminal annals OF the west.
He was also well known resident of this ci-
ty, where his family now reside. In short, the
"Mr. Sidney of the story is no other than the
late Sidney G, Burton of this city, famous for
his connection with the "Martha Washington"
case. There is no mistaking the identity of
the two characters and their histories.
In the year 1851 Sidney c. Burton shipped
a quantity of skins, valued at $500, to a house
In Cincinnati. These skins were said TO be
shipped on the steamer Martha Washington
for New Orleans. Whilst on her way down
the river the steamer took fire near Island No.
65, January 14th, 1852, and was entirely con-
sumed, with all her cargo and number of the
passengers. All the officers and crew, except
the carpenter, escaped. The books and papers
> were lost. The boat and cargo We're very
heavily insured in various Offices, but circum-
stances led the insurance companies TO with
hold payment until further investigation was
made.
Mr.. Burton applied to his Cincinnati con-
signces for the value Of the SKINS They de-
clined payment until the insurance could be
recovered. Mr. Burton doubted the fact of
the shipment of his skins, and soon obtained
what he deemed sufficient evidence that nei-
ther his skins, nor the other property alleged
TO have been shipped on the steamer, had ever
been shipped. He again demanded payment,
which was again refused, and he then set to
work TO discover and expose the conspiracy
suspected to be connected with the affair.
In the summer OF 1852, l.. l.. F'illey of Gin
cinnati, QUE of the suspected parties, died. On
his deathbed il is said that he confessed that
there had been no merchandise shipped on the
Martha Washington, but that the boxes con-
tanned nothing but sticks, stones and rubbish.
Mr.. Burton gave his energies to the task of
ferreting out the crime OF the consp. raters,
and in so doing claimed that ne had discover
ed a conspiracy OF gigantic proportions, inclu-
ding among its number, men of high CONNER
cial and official rank, and embracing within
its scope the crimes of forgery, arson and mur-
der.
William Kissane, one of the leading con-
spirators, was brought to trial at Lebanon,
Ohio. and afterwards at Cincinnati on the
charge of conspiring to burn the steamer,
which involved also the charge of murder. He
was convicted, but obtained new trial and
was acquitted. The other alleged conspira-
tors were also tried at Columbus and acquit-
ted. Mr.. Burton claimed that owing to the
numbers, power and influence of the conspira-
tors he could not obtain justice, but he deter
mined never to relinqush the pursuit until he
had brought the guilty to punishment, or fell
himselfi in the attempt.
In 1854 Mr.. Burton obtained requistion
from the Governor OF Arkansas on the author
tiles OF Ohio, and several of the alleged con-
soirators were arrested at the Walnut street
house in Cincinnati, ironed, hurried off in an
omnibus TO steamer, and taken to Jefferson
vile, Indiana, and thence to Helena, Arkan-
sas. Here they were kept in Jail for three
months, tried and acquitted.
But the chase was not yet over. Mr.. Bur-
ton had spent nearly all his own means in the
pursuit, and now the insurance companies
came to his aid. The United States govern
ment also employed him TO track out some ex-
tensive countereiiing operations alleged TO
have been committed by the conspirators whom
he was pursuing.
Tn 1854 William Kissane committed heavy
forgeries on the Chemical Bank OF New York
He was caught, but whilst in custody of an Of
ficer-and, it is claimed, through his conniv-
ance-he made his escape through an aperture
in the water closet OF a railroad car. He was
subsequently retaken, tried aud sentenced to
Sing Sing prison Tor two aud half years. but
was pardoned ont by Governor Clark of New
York, in December. 1855.
Still Burton kept on the track of the con-
spirators like a bloodhound Numerous at
tempts were made ON his life. At hotel in
Columbus, aud at other places, poison was
found in his food. In the winter of 1855 he
came home broken down in health and as
serting that he WAS dying from the effects OF
slow poison. On the llth of December, 1855
he died at his home on the west side, the un-
doubted victim of the posoncr.
As an instance of the many attempts made
on his life, we may mention the fact that whilst
sick at New York, before coming home tc
die, glass of wine was sent TO him. with the
regards OF the landlady, but as Burton never
drank wine or spirits, it was left untouched
II turned Ont that the landlady did not send
1t, and on anayzation it was found 10 contain
poison enough to kill three men.
Itshould also be mentioned that Kissan,
was partOned out on the request of Burton
and that had the latter lived, important re-
suits would have followed Kissane liberation
The reader cannot fail To see the unmistak
able identity of Mr. Sidney" with the lat
Sidney Q. Burton, and there are other smalle
circumstances that confirm the fact beyont
dispute. Mr.. Sidney alludes to IA woman il
the gang, whose strength of nerve and will
bafiied all his efforts to master her schemes
In private conversation here Mr.. Burton ha
Often alluded to this woman as the wife of on
of the conspirators, but whose name, for oh
viols reasons, we cannot now publish.
The mysterious part of the magazine sketch
namely, thespower of "Mr. Sidney to read tn
character and history of an individual by hi
handwriting. we cannot throw much light on
as he made but little mention of his skill il
this respect among his friends here. That h
was a skillfm expert in detecting Handwriting
is, however. well known fact; and on one oc
cason forgery on one of our banks. of whicl
clerk in prominent River street busines
house had been suspected, and who was unde
police surveillance in consequence, was by MI
Burton, In an instantaneous glance at tn
writing, fastened on one OF the gang q
conspirators.
He even mentioned the day on which tn
forgery was committed, and stated that O
that day the person he mentioned would b
found stopping at one of the hotels under on
or three or four assumed names. Instau
search proved that the person in question ha
stopped that day at hotel under such a nam,
How far this incidenl may 90 to support Nh
strange story Mr.. Sidneys" extraordinar
powers, our readers can judge for themselye,
-lClevelapd Herald