In éagmais ionadaithe rialtais eile, tháinig Burnett chun bheith ina dheirctóir de facto ar Charleston go dtí gur thréig an baile timpeall 1889.
Ar ndóigh, is é leagan níos casta den abairt "In the absence of other governmental representatives, Burnett became the '' de facto '' dictator of Charleston until the town was abandoned around 1889, ag an am a d'fhág sé Charleston agus a tháinig chun bheith ina Bhreitheamh na Síochána i Pearce in aice láimhe. "