Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1855-03-14
VOL. NO lS5
DAILY VIRGINIAN.
Death Of a Miser.

On Saturday, Hannah Hail. spnster, aped
66, distinguished by her misery habits. closed
her miserable career at Sheffield, enving TO tho
Girls Charity School of that town between f5..
OoU and 10000, amassed by life of penurv. In
1917, about which time her father died, she re-
oeived legacy of fIO0 under her gradfatber,s
will. II was Immediately after the acquisition Of
this sum of money that Miss Hall first manifes
ted those pcnmious habits for which her subse-
qnent llte was remarkable. Her penury led her
thus early IN her career to discard soap AZ an
unnecessary nppendage Of her toilet and she
hoasted ihat she had not used any for 10 vears
Her only income wns the interest on fIO6 ond
her own earnings by making farm laborers smock
irooks' but she conrived not only TO live out Of
tins, but TO save money. In connection with nm
o'h'r woman she commenced n system of lending
money out at interest. through the medium of
1unea Clubs and this proved 80 profitable tbnt
Tor nVe or SIX years she was able to commence
lending on mortgage of small lots of cottage nron-
orty.
The shutters of the lower rooms of her bouso
were bnnlcndcd, and she lived alone in the par
ret miserable and wretched life but every yeor
increasing her habits of pcnury and hoard of
wealth, Coalo she never bought and freouentlv
she ant Tor days together in the depth of winter
without hre. Miss Hall, although she would lit
orally stnrye herself Ia death, rather than mart
with her money had no objection TO n good din.
her at any persons expense, and during the Last
ten or hitoen yenrs ot her life, she followed out
system by which she secured herself good din
n"r aud tea every day in the week. except Sum
day free OF charge. This class of friends sbe
propltntodhy promises to remember them in ber
wiz. !" none ot these persons, however has
she lett more ihnn TO- Her nttire was a ..thinp
oi shreds and patches" On her feet she usnellv
wore par of cast.on mans boots, which werc
frlrd round her ankles with strings She bod
worn one bonnet for more than thirty years
Summer or winter >he wore pattcns aud carri, d
AN umbrella. Her habits were very filthy. On
search being made ut the house of the ,ecen.ed
'hree wills were discovered, all in her own hand
writing nnd nnothcr drawnup by n solicitor in
l7l9, III all of which sho left her money to the
charity school. There were also found mort
gage deeds, Midland Railway shares debentnro
bonds OF tho Manchester, Sheffield and Lincoln
shire klllway, and bankers deposite notes; in
NIL amounting 10 ii,i0O Ii il believed by those
who knew her, TINT il will ultimately be found
that she died worth from f6OOO to 1000
hrse securities were found sccreted in bundles
ot rags tied up in old shirts and some of tha
more portable ones, such as the bank deposit
notes, were packed away in pieces of rags, IN
side of old shoes &c In one box she Ind accu-
mnlnied between 50 and 60 pieces of soap of 4 F.
t"reni kinds, evidently the contributions of
friends anNl"us for sanitary improvement. The
lntormcnt took place at St Phillips Church. and
drew together some thousands of peoplo.-Lon-
dom Times.