Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1853-11-19

DEATH OF A CONSCIENTIOUS MIsER-An old
Dutchman, named Shumm, who lived in one of
the wretched novels that stand in the rear of
Sheriff street, and whose apparent poverty and
manifest suffering from dreadful case ofhernia,
had long excited the sympathy Of his humane
neighbors, died Of asthma and a complication
of other diseases. He was well known to be of
q very obstinate and eccentric disposition, and
although he had been confined to his bed some
weeks, he not only rejected all medical aid, but
persisted to the last in his singular habit Of
sleeping in the whole of his wardrobe, which
consisted chiefly Of a pair of breaches, that at
some remote era had been constructed of blue
velvet, and sailors jacket and a frieze over
coat; all of which exhibited accumulated proofs
of the old mans attachment He sent for Mr..
Van Duerson, respectable countryman of his,
residing in the neighborhood, who had given
him charitable relief, and privately requested
him to make his will. To this gentleman's
great surprise, he bequeathed various sums Of
money, amounting altogether to $1,000, to chill
dren and grandchildren residing at Newark and
Albany; and coniidentially informed him where
his property was deposited. He then narrated
to Mr.. Van Duersen the following remarkable
facts in his history:
He stated, that about twenty-five years ago he
was porter to a mercantile house in Hamburg,
and having been long in its employ, was FIRE.
quently entrusted with considerable sums of
money for conveyance to other establishments
In an hour Of evil influence he was induced to
violate his trust and abscond to this country
with large sum. Having arrived, he invested
the greater part of it in the purchase Of two
houses, which adjoned each other and which,
before he had effected an insurance on them,
were burnt to the ground. Considering this
judgment of heaven upon his dishonesty, he de-
termined to devote the remainder Of his life to
a severe course of industry and parsimony,
with the single object in view of making full
restitution to the persons whom he had injured,
or to their descendants.
He adopted another name, and with the
means he had left, commenced business in this
city rs tobacconist; and although his trade
was retail one, and he had suffered heavy
loss from fire, he had succeeded five years
since in acquiring sufficient property to accom-
plish his just and elevated purpose. He then,
accordingly, sold his stock in trade, and was
preparing to transmit the necessary amount to
Hamburg, where the mercantile firm he had
defrauded still continues, when he ascertained
that it had branch establishment or agency
counting house, at Philadelphia, whittier he
went, and paid the sum Of $4,000, being
equivalent to the original sum he had embez
zled, with certain rate Of interest. The latter,
however, was generously returned to him by
son of one of the partners, and this, together
with some surplus money, he has bequeathed
as above stated. For the last FIVE years he has
lived in utter obscurity, and in severe accord
ance with his long formed habits Of parsimony.
His executor, Mr.. Van Duersen, found the
above named sum of $4,000, principally in
doubloons, curiously concealed in a certain
private department Of the tenacious breaches
before specified; and it was ascertalned that
the old mans dreadful case of hernia was
case Of something far less Objectionable. The
remainder Of his money was found under the
patches Of his jacket with the exception Of
small sum in shillings and sixpences, discovered
in an old snuff jar, which seems to have been
the depository Of his current funds.
Albany paper.