Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1863-02-13
From the Cleveland (0hio) Herald.
I" "One of my Clients

In the December number of the Atlan
tic Monthly is an extraordinary story Or
sketch, under the above title, which has
been received with general increlulity by
the public, although it is said to be par.
TALLY vouched for by one of the pubish-
ers 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 on
myth. So far, at least, as the leading por-
tion of his history is concerned.
He was man who but few years ago
filled a large space in the history of the
time from his relations to ono of the
most remarkable cases known 10 the Grim
inal annals of the West He was also a
well-hnown resident Of this city, where
his family now reside. In short, the
"Mr. Sidney" Of the story is no other
than the late Sidney c. Burton, of this
city, famous for his connection with the
Martha Washington" case. There is no
mistaking the identity Of the two charac-
tcrs and their histories,
In the year 1851, Sidney Z. Barton
shipped quantity Of skins, value! at
$500, to house in Cincinnati. These
skins were said TO be shipped on the
steamer Martha Washington for New Or
leans. Whilst on her way down the riy
cr the steamer took fire near Island No.
10, Jan. l4th, 1852, and was entirely
consumed, with all her cargo and num-
Der of her passengers. All the officers
and crew. eXceot the carpenter escaped.
The boat aud cargo were very heavily in-
sured in various Offices, bat circumstances
led the insurance companies to withhold
payment until further investigation was
made.
Nr. Barton an,Iial to his Cincinnati
eonsignces for the ya!ue of the skins.-
They declined payment until the insur-
aneo could be recovered. Mr.. Barton
doubted the fact of the shipment Of the
skins. and soon obtained what he deemed
sufficient evidence that neither his skins,
nor the other property alleged to have
been shipped on the steamer, had ever
been shiopei He ag9in demanded pay.
meat, 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 1872, l.. L. Filley,
of Cincinnati. one OF the suspected par
ties died. GA his deIth bel it is said he
confessed that there had been no mer-
eAandise sAippel on the Martha Wash
inston. but that the boxes aud barrels
contained nothing bat sticks, stone anl
rubbish. Mr. Barton gave up his whole
energies to the task of fcgrctiag out the
crime Of the conspirators, and in so do
ing claimed that he had discovered con-
spiracy Of gigantic proportions, ineuling
among its Numbers men OF high CONNER
eial anl official rank, ana embracing
within its scope tae crimes Of forgery ar
son ana murder,
Vim. kissane, one of the leading con-
spirators, was broagat to 4 trial at Leba
non, and Afterwards at Cincinnati, Oh the
charge Of conspiring to burn the steamer,
which Involved also the charge OF murIcr.
He was convicted, but obtlined new
trial and was acquitted, Ta2 other al
legged consPirators were a 80 trlei at Co.
lumbus and aclp'tiol Mr.. Barton
claimed that owing - the numbers, pow
er AMI influence of the c5ns1irataes h
eoull not obtain i=i..;... l,,t. II, d.ternin-
ed neysr to reliu,lf~, tn, nlrsa;t uatil h
had brou,ht tbs rai.t,. to panis sA.acnt, or
f.l binsel, in the attcmat.
In 1874 Mr. Barton o'y.ainel reaa;-
sit;en from the Goy. Of Arkansas on the
authorities Of ONO, aul several of the
ALLEGED constructors were arrested at the
Walnut Street Housa in Cincinnati, ironcl,
burri.l eff in an omaibus to a steamer
AMI taken to Jstf,rs,nvi!lo,-Iadirur.-rnd
thence to II elena. Arkansas. Here they
w,re kent in iail for three months, tried
and acouittei
Rnt the chase v,s mai vet oyar. Mc.
R,rt,n had s,,nt n,ariv all b;s oyn
,,saos n tho nnrs5it and now the insur-
ann, .-n,o,n;ts c,,Ic IA his aid The
Tnit,l St3t,s government also emgloycl
h;,, :, 49, a.. coma cvton.ive c,lotcr.
r,;,;,, asY,,.,,;ons oIIa,al to have been
1',,,,7 a,.,3,,t,t..i Lr thn c,msair,tors whom he
..a. -, -
I ISL Win;,n Kiss,,, committel
-. c,.aa.;as ON tLe C,en,;c,l Rink Of
- Ifs WAS caur,it, nut wnltc'1n
custody Of an off .cr-anl, it is claimed,
thronGh his communicate made his e,-
eane through an aperture in the water
1 I r,1..