The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-11-21
JOHN BURNSIDE'S MONEY.
indianapolis Relatives Surprise the Lawyers
and Claim Share Of the Vast Estate.

NEW ORLEANS, La, Nov. 20-A few days ago
the clerk of the Civil District Court received
letter from Messrs. Julien & julien, lawyers, of
indianapolis, Ind. in which they say: son be-
half of number of relatives of the late Gen.
Ambrose E. Burnside, residing here, we write
for information as to the condition of the estate
OF the late John Burnside, of your city, who is
said to have died some five years since seized of
large amount of property. The decendent was
first cousin of the late General Burnside, and
if ne left no wife, children, brothers, sisters or
other immediate kin. we thought it might be
possible the collateral relatives 1.-THE brothers and
sisters and their descendants of his cousin) might
be entitled to participate in the distribution Of
his property" The letter was handed to the
lawyers in the case 1t has excited some sur
prise, as General Burnside's family can be traced
through hundreds of years of clean record.
While John Burnside never admitted having any
family or relatives, it was known that he was
born in Ireland, and that while boy he came to
Virginia, where at Fincastle, in Botetourt
county, he was employed by Oliver Beirne. who
became his benefactor and friend and started
him in the pathway to the great fortune which
he subsequently acquired. He was for many
years merchant in this city, and became an ex-
tenslVe planter owning at the time of his death
more than dozen large plantations, and being
possessed of fortune estimated at almost 3d.
600, 600 He wss illiterate quite eccentric, and
lived like hermit. The banks that held MILL
ons OF his money never knew his autograph. a
confidential clerk always signing his check. He
died IN June, 1881, and having no heirs the pub
lie administrator was prompt to open the success
sion. Opposition was made, and a will dated
April 28 1857, was found after long search and
admitted to probate In this will Burnside ap-
pointed Oliver Beirne as stanentary executor
on the 10Th of July. 1881 Letters as executor
were issued to Oliver Beirne, who qualified and
gave bond in the of 100000
The public administrator sought to have the
court remove Berne, who was resident of
Virginia, but by judgment rendered by Judge F.
A. Monroe the public administrator failed in
his undertaking. The State of louisiana inter
vened and claimed the estate on the ground that
subsequently to the date of the will, but the
court held otherwise Among the legacies
named in the will were Protestant Orphans
Home $4,000 st. Mary's Catholic Boys Asylum
$4,000, New Orleans Female Orphan Asylum
$1,000, ST. AIMS Asylum S., 600, St. Elizabeths
Female Asylum S., eco, Charity Hospital $4,000
S. K. Fowler So OOO j. B. McStea, OF New York
Boys $4,000, James Ratchford So, coo, Mary
Ratchford $4,000, John B. Value of New York
So, 900, Nelson McStea $50, 900, John Henry So
900, Jessie r. Value Of New York Sic, 900, and j.
b. Ferguson $4,000. After these were paid the
remainder of the estate was to 20 to his old
friend, Oliver Beirne Mr. Beirne, a we'll pre-
served old gentleman, came here and took charge
of the immense estate, appointing as his agent
his sonin-law, Gen. w. Porcher Miles, of South
Carolina, ante-bellum congressman and con-
federate brigadier, who now holds and works the
immense estates.