The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1872-08-31 00:00:00

A NEW YORK MILLIONAIRE.

The death was announced on the let inst. of Ilitchell
Hart, the millionaire pawnbroker, of Chatham-street, New
York. The Ned York World gives the following sketch of
him :

---
" Many yeare ago the father of Mitchell and Henry
Hart hung out the significant money-broker's sign of
the golden balls on the Sixth Ward side of Chatham-
street, nearly opposite the station, afterwards occupied
by his sons, who, at their father's death, inherited his
immense fortune. In their hands, and by a prosecution
of an even brisker trade than the senior Hart, the
father's fortune increased and multiplied until their
combined assets were estimated at the almost
fabulous sum of 12,000,000 dols. In the little two-
story house, No. 31, Chatham street, for nearly half
a century the brothers, nearly 18 hours in the 24, re-
ceived pledges and filled out duplicates, and the re-
maining six hours sought their sleep in the garret over-
head. The deceased was the younger of the two, the
style of the firm being 'H. and M. Hart,' and perhaps
for that reason he was always the one to take down the
shutters every morning and hang the most tempting of
the unredeemed pledges to attract the wearers of second-
hand clothing, while Henry sat behind the dingy
counter and kept the books. They both remained
bachelors. The Harts were always adepts at real
estate speculations, and everything they bought seemed
to acquiie an immense value. Ten years ago they
resolved to give up the business which slowly but surely
had made them possessors of millions, and they in-
vested their supet fluoue moneys in the Third Avenue
Railroad, which was then being started, and the shares
of which had fallen in value and were going for a
song. But from the moment the Hart brother. be-
came (as they did) the principal stockholders, all New
York took to patronizing the neilv road, and notwith-
standing the original stock was repeatedly "watered,"
the shares ever after commanded a premium. Not-
withstanding their vast interest, the Harts never
aspired to the control of the rood in a conspicuous
capacity. Although they took down the sign of the
three balls a decade ago, the old shop which they still
continued to use as a homestead, and in which
they transacted a brokerage and real estate bush.
Less, even now has the aspect of their former calling.
The old wooden railing. built high and strong, peculiar
to pawnbrokers' establishments, still protects portions
of the greasy counter, while behind, on the shelves,
are ranged bundles of the east-off clothing of a former
generation. In this room and in the one behind are
several massive safes, suggestive only in appearance,
for they contain nothing but papers, valuable only to
their owner, for the Hart brothers did not nide their
hoard where, at the dead of night, they could rouse
from their sleep to count the glittering gold and
shining silver, but, like business men, kept a bank
account, and several well-known banks were proud
to have them as depositors. Mr. Mitchell Hart
had done but little business for the past year, and
about twelve months ago gave up his lodgings at
the old shop, and, although he owned houses in all
parts bf the city, rented No. 227, East Nineteenth-
street, where he had goers resided. During that time
he had hardly been near the place where for nearly
50 years he had spent his days and nights. Mr. Hart
died early in the morning of the 30th from softening of
the brain. For the 48 hours previous to his death his
brother was with him, and No. 31, Chatham street,
missed his presence for the first time in many a year.
Mr. Hart at the time of his death was 59 years old,
and his funeral was largely attended by the members
of the various Hebrew societies to which he belongei."