Delaware State journal and statesman., 1863-01-27

ened al all. lie could not have written II In
his youth, and must have assumed il within
year and half (Exsct 10 every known parli-
cular)
Mr.. Conway at first thought an attorney
at law, but he is not. l reckon he administers
on estates acts as guardian, and settles up the
auairs Of the unfortunate in trade as their as
siqnee in connection vita his business Of notary
and note-shayer. He is aged ffty-six, was born
and educated 10 New England, aud is probably
native of this city. He is tall and lean aud bony.
His nerves are not steady, aud be Is easily excl
tel. He probably has the dyspepsia, but he
would not lose the writing OF deed to be rid Of
it. The remarkable feature Of his character Is
stingness. His natural abilities being good aud
his mind strong, he must therefore be a man Of
means, aud think it matters little ts his con.
science how he comes by his wealth. At the
same time he has considerable pride aud caution,
which, with his interest keep him honest as the
world goes. II he we're not an old bachelor, l
should think letter Of his heart, and be would be
less miserly.
The Jews signature is the most honest Of
the three. Timidiiy IL the marked character Of
the man. lie could not succeed in any depart-
ment Of roguery. Il is physically, as wOll as
mentally and morally, impossible for him to
have had any connection with the forgery. He
would be frightened out Of his wits at the very
suggestion of bis completely"
"And so, Mr.. Sidney" said !, "you know all
about these parties aud the particulars Of the
forgery :"
Nothing whatever" he replied, "saye by
these specimens of their handwriting. never
heard of the forgery nor these men till this
hour"
The sequel is thus described:
meeting Of the directors Of the bank was to
be holden et nine O'Clock Of the same morning
None Of them knew Mr.. Sidney, or were known
by him. II was arranged that he should meet
them, Mr., Conway included, and exhibit his
SKILL and il he should convince them Of his power
Of diyination, he should discuss the genuineness
OF the signatures OF the supposed iorger'es'
Me- Sidney is sent for and comes, and goes to
work as follows:
The first experiment was this Each director
wrote on piece Of paper the names Of the board.
Eleven lists were handed him, aud he specified
tie writer Of each by the manner in which be
wrote his own name lie then asked them to
write their own or any other name, with as much
disgsise as they pleased, aud rs many as
pleased writing on the same piece of paper
and in every instance he named the wti-
ter.
And now the supposed forged notes were
handed him. lie gave the characteristics Of the
signatures very nearly as he had before done in
the otice, but more particularly aud minutely
lie analyEed the handwriting, showed that be
writing interpreted by itself, was intended to b'
disguised. explained the difference between the
different parts Of the n0tes.-pOinted out where
the writer was firm in his pun pose, and his nerye
well braced, and where his fears overcome Bit
resolution,-Rher he had paused to recover biz
courage, and for a considerable time, where hI
had changed his pen, and how the forgery
wa continued thriugh several days,-wha
part was done by Temple, aud what by Con
way
"Iil the interim
Between the acting of the dreadful thing
And the first notion
was brought so wildly and truthfully to miud
that Mr.. Conway fell to the ioor as if dead. The
cashier, relieved from pressure that had fol
weary months been grinding his very soul, hnrs
into tears. scene of strange excitement eu-
sued, during which Mr. Conway mutterei nco
herent sentences in condemnation of Temple an
then Of himself,-no with penitence, and thel
with rage. Recovering bis composurc he sug
gested the jew as the guilty party. Mr.. Sidne
then disseeted the handwriting OF the jew an,
demonstrated that there was as great differ
enee between his chrOgraphy and a New Eng
lander's rs between the English aud Chines
characters, showed how the Jew must hav,
been exceedingly timid, and stated the probabil
ity that he had left the city not because he bal
taken any part in the forgery, but beeuso he ha
been frightened away Then turning to Conway
he gave him lecture such as no taprtal befor
ever gave or received. The agony Of Conway
mind so distorted his body as made i: painfu
iu the extreme to all beholders. Ills iu
most soul seemed stuug as by the bite of
serpent"
Mr. Conway confessed his crime in the ver
form of Mr. Sidney's description, paid til
notes before leaving the bank, and remain
director to this day. As is often the cas-,
the greater criminal goes unwhipped Of ju,
: tice.
, We publish the above, with complaint tha
& a story which bore such obvious marks of truth
4 in so many parts of it., should have been render
] cd incredible, as q whole, by what seemed to u
very needless and culpable exaggeraOn. Tha
> a man with fine natural gifts, sharpened by coli
stant and long continued cultivation should com
a to possess much of the remarkable power of I'M
) Sidney" in discerning character by chirograph
and physiognomy, seemed TO US by no means in
E possible. But when it was declared that thi
I gentleman by inspection of mans auiograp
could tell his profession, age, height aud com
/ plexon, we averred or increduhty and cale
upon the author Of the article in the Atlantic t
9 state candldly whether he intended his disolo
sures for fact or fiction. In reply to that iuquil
6 we have seen note from one Of the pub blisl
Z, ers, to friend in this city, which reat
. thus;
" Dear sir-The article you name was sent
q me for publication by one OF the most distit
! euished members of the New England bar and
is true. doubted at first and sent for the VIZ
s Ter to come to Boston, aud he came, and we tall
gu the matter over in advance, fully. l wa
convinced of the entire truth Of the statemeu
+ male in the article, and 30 published it,"
e An article has also appeared in the Clevelar
Herdld, confirming the truth Of the main three
$ of the Ahantc story, and giving the real name
G the hero rs Sidney G. Burton We republit
the editorial in the Cleveland paper, which wi
be read with interest. The reader will observe
: however. that the article does not vouch for Il
truth Of the more incredible revelations in Il
AtlaRtie;
: From the Cleveland Ileraldl
= ln the December number of the Anani
q Monthiy is an extraordinary story or sketch und,
8 q the above title, which has been received vii
# general incredullty by the public, although it
/ said to bc partially vouched for by one of Il
a publishers of the Monthly. The sketch purpor
- to have been written by lawyer who had as h
! client " Mr.. Sidney"
n The Z" Mr.. Sidney" of the story is no myth, 1
far, o! least as the leading portion of his hstoi
is concerned.
a lie was a man who but a few year5 ago file
a large space in the history of the time, fro
his relations to one Of the most remarkable cas-
known in the criminal annals of the west
was also a well known resident of this city, Whel
his family now reside. In short the " Mr.. Si
ney" of the story is no other than the late Sidn,
ID c. Burton of this city, famous for his connect,
l. with the " Martha Washington" case. There
g no mistakiDg the identity Of the two characte
J. and their histories
a In the year 1851, Sidney c. Burton, shipp,
ia n uaafat H-1-s. =. aHF Hatat