Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1889-01-31

Mr.. Randall, the commanding individuality on
appropriations. But his laoors were fatal to
his physical system. He broke himself down.
Large OF bone and well supplied with flesh, he
considered himself physically iuyiucible He
neglected to take exercises, and became VIC
tim to those two terrors, neuralgia and rheu-
matlsm.
There IS no man in Washington of whom more
good stories were told than James " Burnes
He was the subject of good stories and he told
good stories himself and enjoyed them He
was in many respects peculiar man: IN fact is
of peculiar family. There were four brothers
in the Burnes family, James N. being the baby.
The older brothers pooled their resources and
sent jim to Harvard to s.learn to be a law.
yer" When he got his parchment from the
great University and returned to Platt
County, Mo. full-fedged lawyer. the broth
were very proud of him He opened an
office and announced in the local paper that
his legal knowledge was at the service of cli-
ents. His first client was a very tough Gus
toner accused of horse stealing When tho
court convened the three brothers were in at
tendance to see how Jim acquitted himself.
His client was n thief and there was dead
case against him. Jim hated to be beaten
squarely in the first case He asked after the
jury had been impaneled, for the privilege
of comforting with his client. It was
granted, and the lawyer and horse-thicf
retired to back of the court. 1t was
n low, wooden building. Mr.. Burnes told
his client that there was no hope OF saving HIM,
and advised him to jump out of the window and
take to the woods. The advice was promptly
accepted, and Jim also jumped through the
window and made a pretence OF capturing the
fleeing thief. The means were somewhat ir-
regular, but he 'got off, his client and won
fame.
Before the war Colonel Burnes a candI.
date for the nomination for Congress in OPPOSE
ton to Elijah Hise Norton, late Chef-Justice
of the Missouri Supreme Court. Both candi-
dates made a vigorous canvass The district
then spread over a good deal of territory. It
was nearing the day which the primaries
were to be held in the different counties and
there were portions of the district that were
not visited. Itwas agreed not to go 20 Daviess
County. They pledged each other mutually on
honor, and if either violated it would be sufh-
cient cause for boiling the nomination Four
days before the convention at Gallatin for the
election of delegates to the Congressional con-
ventions Colonel Burnes retired to his room
and instructed the servants to permit no one to
enter and say that he was not at home. His alb
Sence was gradually noticed and Norton be-
came suspicious that Burnes had vio-
lated his pledge and gone to Daviess
County. This suspicion grew on Norton, and
finally he saddled his horse and started for Gal
latin. 1t was long ride, but he got there in
due time the very day the county convention
was being held. He asked the first acquant-
ance he met if Jim Burnes was in town. Being
answered positively in the negative. Norton
wheeled his horse. said good day to his friend
and started back hastily to Plattsburg. When
he returned Burnes accused him of violating
his pledge and threatened to bolt the conven-
ton in consequence il Norton was nominated.
But he did not bolt and Norton was elected.
The Burnes family are remarkable for the
affection they entertain for each other. Calvin
and Fielding, two brothers older than James
N, are still living. Fielding is here and Calvin
is at ST Joseph. D. D., another brother. died
of broken heart on his wife's grave about ten
years ago James n. leaves two sons. c. G.
and D. d. The former is manager of the bank
in ST. Joseph and D. D. is a lawyer of ability
The latter is now here, having been summoned
by his father about two weeks ago. The whole
family property in common. 1t is said
that the estate is worth s4.0oo,0oo, and
the surviving members of the older
and younger generations equally
interested in it. James n. adopted the children
of his brother D. D. The whole family, old and
young, are like brothers. They have a touching
and really peculiar affection for each other.
James \. and his son D. D. were more like
chums than father and son, for years. They
had similar tastes, and were inseparable when
within range of each other. The older men be-
lieved IN training the younger men how to hold
their own in the world.
Colonel Burnes was totally devoid of fads.
He was always a broad-gauged man, a sticlSler
for individuality and personal liberty, and had
no sympathy for people who were eternally at
tempting to regulate the private affairs, habits
and morals of their neighbors.
A few days ago, during the delivery of the
eulogies on the late Mr., Robertson, of Lou
lsiana, Colonel Burnes was called to the chair
and presided for about an hour and q half.
While the speeches were IN progress he wrote
a note and sent it to Mr.. Randall, saying that
the chances were good that the next eulogles
would be over himself. Other incidents of this
nature are related, showing that Colonel Burnes
had strong premonition of his approaching
end.