The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-06-21
POSTAL scandal or 1884.
Tho Case az @. q. p. Burnside. VINO Esn'
bezxica Q Large Sum and Pleaded INSANITY

| The Case az q. q. p. burnside. VINO Ena'
bezxsea Large Sum and Pleaded Insanity
WARRINGTON, June 2O.--It 10 somewhat
| remarkable fact that, in view OF all tnat
has been published about the existing
scandals In the Post Ofa,e Department tine
| famous scandal of 1884, more sensational
| in It's way than the arrest and indictVent
| of A. W. Machen, chief of the Free Deiiv-
cry Division, has been entirely lost sight OF.
Writers on the subject OF the scandals oil
to-day are fond of comparing to the
famous star route cases OF 1881. These in
volved alleged stealing Of millions OF dol
lars on fraudulent contracts for carving
! the mails on star routes In the Far West
and after protracted trial that attracted
the attention Of the country the accused
men with Thomas ]. Brady, Second Assist :
ant Postnaster-G General, at their head'
were all acquitted.
The guilty man in the scandal Of 1881 was
not convicted, neither was he acquitted
and he Is alive and walking about the streets
to-day. He is Col. G. o. p. Burnside, one
of the most popular men who have ever
lived in Washington, and he escaped pun
ishment by the plea of insanity.
II was in the summer Of 1884, when Walter
@. Gresham Of Indiana was Postmaster
General, that the city was startled one after
noon by the report that Col. Burnside
who was superintendent and disbursing
officer of the Post Office Department, was
short in his accounts many thousands OF
dollars Some of the estimates placed
his defalcations as high as $50 900 .,
Col Burnside was the custodian OF all
the money received from the sale OF worn
furniture. waste paper and other property
nf ba M M RI ms nj
that he had taken in for several years on
high living in Washington. He was not
man of bad habits, but he had an expensive
house, kept fine road horses and entertained
his friends like the royal good fellow NE ne
means. He was at that time the head OF
tho crack local military organization and
had az many friends as any man IN tine
city. He was In every way representa-
tive citizen. honored and res pee ed
When brought to trial his guilt and con-
viction were so certain that, acting on the
advice of his friends, he made plea OF
insanity, which was known and openly
admitted to be a subterfuge. But 1t was a
choice Of the penitentiary or the insane
asylum, and Col. Burnside chose the latter
He was committed to st. Elizabeth's, the
Government institution across the Eastern
Branch Of the Potomac, within ful! sight
of the Capitol and other public buildings Of
the city, and there he is to-day He is as
sane as any OF the doctors inside OF the mad
house walls, or any person outside OF them'
and this Is generally recognized.
Col. Burnside is such tractable and
companionable person that he Is allowed
to leave the asylum and visit his family
and friends about the city at frequent
intervals. He is often seen In the evenings
riding on the street cars, visiting the the
atres or strolllng about the streets in the
vicinity Of his old home Only few nights
ago he attended reunion of the survivors
Of the military organization which he once
SO proudly commanded.