New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-02-13
4 RURAL LAWYER, GAMBLER And
DEFAULTER.
co-,srord, rc. fThe ". Y. Tribune.

WORCESTER Feb. S, 1853.
NJ Henry ID. Stone, late of this city, has been go
much the subject of conversation in this part OF the
country since his recent fight with some fifty to eighty
thousand dollars Of otherpeopes money IN his pocket
tina, | venture to send you such particulars a. can
gather of his remarkable life and character.
lie came to Worcester about fifteen years ago from
Amherst College where he had attracted some notice
az a Jealous member Of the church. lie entered u
law-ofice and being of gentlemany exterior ana
agreeable mapners, became favorlte IN the pest So
ciety especially with its younger members: aithouBh
there were few older persons VINO, even tneh, sd"
into the real character Of the man. After couple oil
wears he commenced his career ne lawyer, rPecu-
ator ana man business. He soon had large erin
nal practice, apparently enjoying most tnose caseS
which an honorable practitioner would shrink from.
He was for years the criminal lawyer OF the county,
and it is said that he was counsel for most OF the or
ganiled gangs of men throughout the country who
made crime their prOe ssOD. lie also did consldera-
Die civil business aud though client seldom engaged
him more than once, Ii was profitable business Tor
him. as he managed his cases entirely for his oSn ad-
vantage and too often finished them only when his
client had nothing left to encourage his further ser
vices more harmless but very Illustrative instance
of his practice is afforded in the case an angry IRISH
man who came to him complaining that orother
Irisbman had delrauded him vi shilling Our law
Yer took the defendant name and u fee ot:2 When
the client called again within few days, as directed
the assurance that it all right with shilling out
of the 81 finished the matter. But too often, under
the appearance Of kindness, by becoming ball. Dy
lending little money or delaying his counsel fees he
would receive mortgages and deeds for security, and
soon cODtrve thereby 10 swallow up the whole estate
But his speculations were OF still worse character
lie began with regular gambling OF which he was 80
fond that he would spend nights in the lowest holes in
Boston INDUCING in his passion lie Is said TO nave
made $50, 900 out Of one brother lawyer, whose des-
peration in consequence drove him tosuicie. Always
cool and collected however he let this taste get
Al. of inn butkn
to 90 on He said to younger inend IN tit OF
Kindness not very usual 10 him. . fou can't gamble;
''you are too excitable cam know when to stop!
There was not trick Of proiessed gamesters, now
ever which he did not know, and practice ON DC
casions; and there is no doubt, among people who
are acquainted with the facts that he made thousands
Of dollars from his victims IN this way. Until WITHIN
two or three years Lawyer Stone was supposed to
he making fne living only, which he WA thought to
be spending pretty rapidly, but atteriy rumor began
to assert that the young man was worth fortune o
sc, COO or $4,000. And Mr. stone still hter was
heard TO say that he intended, when he had accumn-
lated little more to turn respectable. Accordingly
he gave up the practice OF the law, went INTO the Dus
ness of loaning money, and soon after pet up ~ q
manufacturer. He bought a factory-ordered ma
chinery and materials, borrowed money, and was evil
IDENTIFY becoming solid and respectable" man very
fact He ndorsed notes for other people-ior u coh-
notwithstanding beyond the legal rate OF per
cent He undertook 10 carry" other people through
these hard times, and was supposed 70 De ga'nerpg IN
gold by the handful from the necessities Iof those
around him. He had in the meantime ana as stIl
more distinct means of asserting hs re,pectabnty,
become a member of the Common Council OF the cty'
But 10 spite ofthe hard times and his resPec'aoh-
ity was suddenly announced the let OF January
that II. ID. Stone, esq, had failed mere nc v"ea
largely for neutrality-suspicious. he had pougnl lafsey y.
mortgages giving his note therefor VI one honess
man. with whom he owned mortgage ior sone
- 600 he bought his half in this way. Ills liabilities
were estimated at something Ike $ltO, wv TO $ioVo.
But Mr.. Stone assured his creditors that, win
little time given him, he would pay in ail. ne I'M
mediatey went to work to rare money, ss GO.
together from $4,000 to $780, 600 in cash: ne sP-
pointed a meeting with his creditors on nahy eteh-
Ing, and on Friday noon, at II O'Clock was on o'oce
which time he has not been heard o. II e,,o;,o
II seems creditor of his, with the view Oh forcing
some securitv from him. showed bun wrt which he
threatened to have served if he dd no get ms seeur
~. Stone refused him. and, while the creditor was
gone to put bis writ into the nan orser.S Sor.
osr;aos and drove off, leaving directions for another
carr;sse With couple of the fastest horses in town.
To follow him as soon possible Soon afterward the
creditor not finding ns,sy spT hs s liz
ordared horses IN turn, but on learning what team
Stone had taken, contaminated his orders. There
are y,mors that Mr.. Stone has gone TO Havana, to
Enrope that he is in Providence, in Sew-York some
heeye him to be still in Worcester It is said that
nersops have lately been trying TO buy claims against
him for twenty five cents on the dollar. Wherever
he is it is TO be hoped ths. he will never appear in
Worcester again.
Stone is man Of remarkable cles,ness, sharpness
and promptitude. IL be had chosen TO follow al bon
orable path, he might have been distinguished man.
OF perfect coolDess he carried by erontery and auds
city what he could not by trickery. He apparently
cared little fo- peoples respect, admitting, a. matter
Of courss that be wa. rascal gambler and villain,
sometimes joke, always il he could gain anything
BY it. lie could Dot Calm mpnise or ps.son, nor ig-
D0rsnce and brutality, excuse. His was oenp,
AL lof~ Ne ~ n
ever lead Of oAD rae b. 4 ndness ohs Dg.be:, we