Weekly Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1853-1861, 1855-03-22
Death of a Miser.

On Saturday, Hannah Hall, a spinster, aged
sc, distinguished by her miserly habits, closed
her miserable career at Sheffield, leaving to
the Girls Charity School, of that town, be
tween $4,000 and $1,000, amassed by a life
of penury. In 1872, about which time her
father died she received a legacy af floO
under her grandfather's viii. IL was irnme-
diately after the acquisition of this sum oi
money that Miss Hall first manifested those
penurious habits for which her ersubsequent life
was so remarkable Her penury led her thu.
early in her career 20 discard soap as am IN
necessary appendage of her toilet and she
boosted that she had not used any for thirty
years Her only income was the interest on
flo0. and her own earnings by making farm
laborers' smOck- k-frock-, bat she contriyed, not
only 10 live ont of this, but 10 save money.
In connection with another woman she COM
menced a system offending money ont at ia
terest through the medium OF Guinea Clubs
and this proved 50 profitable that in five OF
six years she was able 20 commence lending
on mortgage OF small lots of cottage property
The shutters of the lower rooms Of her
house were barricaded, and she lived alone
in the garnet miserable and wretched life.
but every year increasing her habits Of penury
and hoard of wealth. Coal she never bought,
and frequently she sat for days together, in
the depth of winter, without fire. Miss Hall
although she would literally starge herself t0
death. rather then part with her money, had
no objection 10 good dinner at any other
persons expense and during the last ten OF
fifteen wears of her life she followed oul a
system by which she secured herself good
dinner and tea every day in the week, except
Sunday, free of charge. This class Of friends
she propitiated by promises 20 remember them
in her will To none Of these persons how
ever, has she left more than flO Her attire
was thing of shreds and patches" On her
feet she usually woTe a pair Of cast-oif mans
boots, which were tied around her ancles with
strings She had worn one bonnet for more
than thirty years. Summer on winter she
wore pattens and carried an umbrella Her
habits were very filthy. On a search heinz
made at the house of the deceased three wills
were discovered, all in her own hand writin,,.
and another drawn up by a solicitor in lSis,
in all of which she left her property 10 the
Charity School. There were also found mort
gage deeds Midland Railway shares doben-
ture bonds of the Manchester Sheffield and
Lincolnshire Railway, and Bankers deposit
notes; in all amounting 10 "A, 400. Ii is be-
lieved by those who knew her, that il will
ultimately be found that she died worth ffoIn
5000 TO 1000. These securities were found
secreted in bundles of rags, tied up in Old
shirts, and some Of the more portable once,
such as the bank deposit notes, were packed
away in pieces Of rags, inside Of old shoes, Sc
In one box she had accumulated between If
ty and sixty pieces Of soap different kinds,
evidently the contributions Of friends anxious
for her sanitary improvement The intement
took place at St. Phillips Church. and drew
together some thousands Of people.-Lonfou
Times, FEB. 10.