Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-12-17
WOteester 4ailp Syn
From the Cleveland (ohio) Herald.
some of MY Clients"
MIR SIDNEY NO MYTH.

In the december number OF the Atlantic
Monthly is an extraordinary story or sketch,
under the above title, which has been receiv-
ed with general incredulity by the public, al
though it is said to be partially vouched for
by one of the publishers of the monthly. The
sketch purports to have been written by
lawyer who had as his client ''Mr. Sidney"
The "Mr. Sidney" of the story is no myth so
far, at least, as the leading portion of his his
tory is concerned. He was man who but a
few years ago filed large space in the histo-
ry of the time, from his relations to one of the
most remarkable cases known in the criminal
annals of the west. He was also a well known
resident of this city, where his family now re-
side. In short, the 'tMr. Sidney" of the sto~
ry is no other than the late Sidney c. Burton
of this city, famous for his connection with
the 'Martha Washington, case. There is no
installing the identity of the two characters
and their histories.
In the year 1851, Sidney G. Burton ship
ped quantity of skins, valued at 81, 400, to
house in Cincinnati. These skins were said
to be shipped on the steamer Martha Wash
ington for New Orleans. While on the way
down the river the steamer took fire near Is
land No. So, January l4th, 1852, and was en-
tirely consumed with all her cargo and a num-
Der of the passengers. All the officers and
crew, except the carpenter, escaped. The
books and papers were lost. The boat and
cargo were heavily insured at various offices.
but circumstances led the insurance compan-
les TO withhold payment until further inyesti-
CATION was made. Mr.. Burton applied to his
Cincinnati consignees for the value of the
skins. They declined having until the insur-
ance could be recovered Mr.. Burton doubt-
ed the fact of the shipment of his skins, and
soon obtained what he deemed sufficient evil.
dence that neither his skins. nor the other
property alleged to have been shipped on the
steamer, had ever been shipped. He again
demanded pavment. which was again refused.
and he then set to work to discover and ex-
nose the conspiracv suspected to he connected
with the affair.
In the summer of 1852, i, L. Fillev, of
Cincinnati, one of the suspected parties, died.
On his death bed it is said he confessed that
there had been no merchandise shipped on
the Martha Washington, but that the boxes
and barrels contained nothing but sticks. stone
and rubbish. Mr.. Burton gave up his whole
energies to the task of ferreting out the crime
of the conspirators, and in so doing claimed
that he had discovered conspiracy of gigantic
proportions, including among its numbers
men of high commercial and official rank, and
embracing within its scope the crime of forge
ry, arson and murder. William Kissane, one
of the leading conspirators, was brought to
trial at Lebanon, Ohio, and afterwards at Gin
cinnati on the charge of conspring to burn
the steamer, which involved also the charge
of murder He was convicted but obtained
a new trial and was acquitted The other al
legged conspirators were also tried at Column
bus and acquitted. Mr.. Burton claimed that
owing to the numbers, power and influence of
the conspirators he could not obtain Justice,
but he determined never to relinquish the pur-
suit until he had brought the guilty to punish
ment or fell himself in the attempt.
In 1854 Mr.. Burton obtained reuuisition
from the governor of Arkansas on the au-
thorities of Ohio, and several of the alleged
conspirators were arrested at the Walnut
street house in Cincinnati. ironed. hurried off
in an omnibus tn n steamer and talxen to Jef
fersonville. Indiana. and thence to Helena
Arkansas. Here thew were kent in iail for
three months tried and acoutted Rpt the
chase was not vet over. Mr., Burton had
spent most of his own means in the nurs1it.
and now the insurance comnanies came to his
aid The limited States Government also em-
Moved him m trocl, ont some extensive coun-
terfeitinp onerations ALLEGED to have been
committed bv the consnirators whom he was
nursuinp. In 1874 William Kissane commit
ted heavy foruerias nm tho Chemical hank of
Now York He was caugbt INT whilst in
custody of an offcer-and it is claimed.
through his COMMEMORATE made his escane
throu9h an aperture in the wafer closet of a
railroad car He was subsequently, retaken
tried and sentenced to sine Sine nrison for two
and half wears Int was nsrdoned ont nv
Gov CIark of Now York in nocorohor 1s5S
Sill Rnrton tont on tbn fracl Of the consn;r.
o+nrs ill., a hIoidbnrnd Nnn,oroms ottori,lto
We ,1,ada On bic I;sa A. bnto1 IN CoI,,r,D
hns and in otbor niaces noisnn ,ros fund IN
hi tod IN ~ pG ;,,to p'1 nf ieos no. -,
home bro,cn down in health ond assortinr,
that he was dv;ng from tho atFacts of sIoT,,
roisor IN 10 len " nnoo,ahor ,ess Nv
died at his home ON tho wost s;do 1 The mn nv
donbted victim IF the noisonor INV
Az an instance Of he NAN, o+tor,,,ts ,,odo
~, his life VIC nav mention he foot hot ,rbfIo
s;cl Mt New York before COMING home 70 die
a CLASS of wine was sent to him with the 70.
cards of the landIadv Int as Burton never
drank wine or shirts II was left nntoncbed
II turned ont that fine IanJladv did not send
II and on analvzation if was fonnd to contain
nelson enonob to kill three men, II shonld
also be mentioned flat Kissane was hardened