New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-05-12

alive in 1899 he wrote out in his own
handwriting an assignment of bonds to
the value of 100000, to be given to their
mother, Mary Newopmb, who was his
niece
Frederick B. woodruff and Edwin A.
Watson of the firm of Truax & Watson.
20. 141 Broadway, attorneys for the
Plaintiffs, have the original document 10
present 10 the court. but Caleb A. Bur
hank. 2 nephew of the millionaire and
executor Of his estate. won in the lower
court on the proposition that the docu-
ment WAS not in Ambrose I,urhanks
handwriting.
Odd Plans for Cemetery Plot.
Writing with either hand was not the
rnillionaire's only popularity, according
L the story of his Kentucky relatives.
He made upward of a million dollars
they say. in tobacco culture in Kentucky,
after which he came to New York and
went 10 live in very modest boarding
house. where his weekly bill did not run
over IS
His best loved amusement was TO plan
Out his cemetery plot and its surround
ings and he worked st that so enthusi-
sstioally that long before he died he had
completed and set in place his own mon
-unlent in the form of lifesize statue of
himself which now stands in Green
WOOD Cemetery. where he is buried
Before settling on this design the old
man design and gave preliminary or
GERS for . memorial. which he was
never allowed 10 place in the cemetery
This was in the form Of a marble arm
chair Of comfortable proportions. on the
base of which he planned to inscribe.
'Sit down and have a quiet smoke
Had No Use for Banks.
In his earlier days in Kentucky Bur
hank had lost q few hundred dollars in
bank failure. and thereafter he ahso-
iUtely refused 10 deposit his money in
banks Instead Of the ordinary deposit
he rented Two safe deposit vault boxes
II the New York Safe Deposit COMPANY.
which was then located at No 14a
broadway II was said that he kent
gold coin IN one box and gilt edged
bonds in the other. He allowed No (,,.
l. clip coupons for him. but attended :,
'iiat nst'er himself In cashing the in
terest coupons he always insisted ~,
gold occasionally but very seldom ac-
ceptine currency, and checks he-snurned
When the interest accumulated sniff
Gent gold TO purchase another bona he
spent il in that way, and transferred tn.
new form Of wealth TO the bond hoy
and in February, 1905, when he died AZ
the age Of ninety-one years. it was
found that he had laid by 100000
worth Of securities, consisting solely Of
bonds
Fo" several years before his death
t3lroank used to make two and three
sips q week from his boarding house
GA Flfth avenue. near 18th street, to the
saie deposit compsny's vaults. and al
Nays ty foot The car ride. he said,
Fas for those who were wealthy.
IN the boarding house he was known
T.: his keen wit and his ready adapta-
bilty TO the little features Of the life of
TIE pl3ce. on one occasion, when the
lndladys pet dog died, Mr. Burbank
.eenlr0sod a little sonnet, which was
= ~ 10 the woman by a committee of
fne boarders headed b. the poet-nill-
ieaairc- the sonnet opened with this
Cfuplef:
,,,@te iie the bones Of our lovely Dot,
htS -@fns n life are rot forgot
j. sailed along to this inspired ending
lot seemed conscious ne would die.
. : q aired rs Il 10 say ''goodl,y"
: I" 'l'@ farewell effort seemed o fail
49, 90 snni'acd Of life by switch Of his
she oiisinsl manuscript Of this sonnet
toHiinurd % fifth page