The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-01-27
AARON BURR AND
THOMAS JEFFERSON
Their Connection With the Perlitentiary; the
One Its Inmate the Other Its Designer.
Cornerstone Inscription.
SAD STORY OF DAUGHTER OF AARON BURR,
THE CELEBRATED EX-VICE-PRESIDENT

of his Council; Brother Benjamin IT. Lat
robe Boneval, architect"
Rest to the ashes of Brother Boneval!
If he could return ne would find that
prison architecture has advanced many
long stages beyond the ideas of Mr.. JEFF
ferson, as he faithfully cNried them out.
BURR AND HIS DAUGHTER.
The otlIsr prominent figure in the early
history of the country peculiarly connect
ed with the Virginia penitentiary, was Aa-
ron Burr. After his Western iasco this
ex-Vice-Presfdent of the United States
was brought to Richmond to be tried fer
treason. For a time he was confined in
ttle city jail. But that establishment is
said to have been in such Il desperately
dirty and dilapidated condition at that
time QS0O-How history does repeat it
self!-tlat Burr'S friends secured his re-
movdl to the State prison. where he re-
manned for several months uLtil and dur
ing his trial. He occupied with his daugl-
ter, the three rows in tile third story OF
the central or administration building, inn
msdiateIy over the gate.
There is no more beautiful expression
of tilial love and devotion to be found in
fiction or history than the story of Theo-
dosia Burr Aston. This beautiful! and &C
complshed woman, by her fafthfulness to
the bitter end, brought to the history of
Burr's trial AMI imprisonment the halo
l
his hour of disgrace, as size was fastening
to his side, but not so rapidly as the posts
would travel, because of q severe illness,
have been published, and they tell with
what faith and trustfulness the chilfS
heart remained true to the parent
though all the world turned against him.
Mrs. Aston occupied d cell in the peni-
tertiary adjoining tflat Of her father, by
special permission Of the Governor, and
1ninistered TO the wants of her father.
who was somewhat broken in health be-
cause of exposure in the West during his
entire stay in the prison.
BEGGED FOR FOOD
After Burr's release he Travelled abroad.
1t is said that he was in such reduced cir
clnnstdnccs that he was compelled TO
ask an apple woman on the streets of
Paris for two sous. Later he returned to
New York. Mrs Aston, VINO was living
in Charleston, S. c.. made all haste IN
her preparations to join him. The vessel
on which she sailed, was never Eeard from
afterwards. Burr waited day after day for
the only person in the world who still
loved and cared for him. but weeks pass
ed into months and months into years and
no word came. After thirty years OF lone
illness, this old man died il the most alb
ject poverty
A summer or two ago q Tennessee ply
siciau. VITO married a distant relative OF
BllrT$, with his daughter, was SEfSiiuiliS d
few weeks on the coast Of North Caro-
lima One morning they stopped at the hut
Of q poor fisherman to get Il drink Of va
ter The man was away from home and
there was no one at home but his wife,
who was sick in bed. While the kind ply
s:cian was ministering to her wants, tie
quick eye of the girl caught sight OF a
splendidlv-eXecuted oil portrait OF a beau
tiful woman over the mantle OF the rude
hut The doctor and his daughter returned
every day TO visit the sick woman, untai
her recovery, and as tler only means OF
expressing her gratitude, she gave the girl
the picture and told her its story. Long
wears, before, when her mother was
child, one fair day a small ship stood
into the harbor of the little fishing vii
lage on the Hatteras reef with all sails
spread To the surprise and establishment
of the fishermen, the vessel ran straight
ashore There was not a human soul on
board. This beautiful picture was found
among other things, in the wreck OF the
ship. When the girl took her painting
home it was recognized at once as pic
t,tre Of Theodosia Burr Aston.