The San Francisco call., 1909-05-26
BRILLIANT CAREER
ENDED BY DEATH
Oldest Son of William j. Burns
SuccumbS to Long Illness
at Sanitarium

George Z. Burns. oldest son of VIII
liam J. Burns. died yesterday at the
Pottinger sanitarium. near Monrovia
in southern California after an fIness
Of several months duration. Young
Burns, who had actively assisted his
father in the local graft Investigations,
was first taken i'll while in Columbus,
Ohio, the family home, last December.
lie suffered from an attack of acute
appendicitis and an operation was per-
formed. He never regained his health.
Although he rallied from the effects
of the operation. Burns was left in
such a weakened condition that he
developed tuberculosis of the bronchial
tubes. He was taken TO St. Helena in
the hope that he would recuperate. He
failed TO show any marked signs of
Improvement and last Saturday, upon
the advice of his physician, he was
taken TO the southern part of the state.
lie appeared stronger on Sunday and
Monday, but began TO sink yesterday
morning. The first telegram received
by his father in this city yesterday
stated that he was weakening rapidly.
Shortly after a second telegram ar
rived announcing his death.
Nj = DullS n d. Will tlCE sun dI the
time William J. Burns left for Mon
rOvia last night The body viii be
placed in a receiving vault until ar
rangements arc made TO have. it taken
east for burial
NOTABLE SERVICE
George Burns was p years of age.
He was reared in Columbus Ohio. and
after graduation from the public
schools there, attended the Newport
!.
the federal secret service and served
with distinction in Chicago and New
York His most notable piece of work
was the solution of the battling barrel
mystery An unidentified body was
found in q garbage barrel in the New
York slums with innumerable knife
wounds in the abdomen. Before night
George Burns had established the iden-
tity of the victim and had prepared for
the numerous arrests and convictions
that followed. He had been working
on counterfeiting case at the time
and soon discovered that the murdered
man was one of the plotters who had
been killed by his associates.
Shortly after William ]. Burns was
engaged TO conduct the Investigations
IN San Francisco. he brought his son
George 10 the coast to assist him. The
young mans first assignment was to
trail Schmitz through Europe. This he
ui1 81 SUCCESSFULLY lildL at
torneys Office was never without full
information as to the travelling mayor.
Young Burns also assisted in the ar
rest Of Theodore V Halsey after the
latter had been indicted for bribery in
connection with the telephone fran
chise scandal
TRAPPED CLAUDIANES
The most important work accom-
plished by young Burns was the arrest
OF Peter Claudianes, who was wanted
for the dynamiting of the Gallagher
home in Oakland Burns trapped
Claudianes In Chicago and assisted in
obtaining a confession from him on
the trip to San Francisco.
Not only did George Burns render
valuable service in exposing corruption
in San Francisco, but he was equally
successful in Minneapolis where he was
specially employed for a task similar
TO the one undertaken here by his
father.
George Burns faced the end with rare
fortitude and courage In-the moments
Of his greatest distress no complaint
passed his lips