The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-07-21
Private History Of the New York
Defaulter Eastman.

u
Defaulter Eastman.
His Passion for Letter Writing
and Love-Making.
MS PROFESSIONS OF PlRTY.
Escape with One Of His Fragile
Few York Correspondence tJune 3e) of the Cincin.
natl Commercial.
The dullness of the metropolis was re-
lieved somewhat last week by the discov-
cry Of the defalcation OF Smith J. Last
man, the Broad street merchant and Wall
street operator, of which you have heard,
to the extent, as has been stated, of
100000. More recent discoveries seem
to increase the amount to $500, 900, or
even 81, 900, 900, albeit the sum will never
be accurately sscertsined, as parties who
advanced money are afraid of injuring
their credit by stating their losses. Sew
eral firms in Broad and Wall streets, who
declare they had not had any transactions
with the defaulter for months previous to
bis hegira, are known to have suffered very
largely at his hands.
PRIVATE HISTORY OF rHR DRRAULTRR.
Eastmans private history for the past
two years would be ext, emely sensational,
and make the fortune of a Sunday paper,
If properly and accurately written out. He
was an exemplary church member to all
appearances occupied very high eocial
position, and was regarded as most be-
nevolent and estimable gentleman in all
the walks Of commercial and domestic life.
He lived elegantly, entertained literally,
and dispensed freely to public and private
charities; and the news Of bis disappear
anoe and dishonorable practices fell upon
bis numerous friends like voice of thun-
der from the lips of q statue.
That Eastman was naturally high
minded and honorable and kind-hearted,
there is little room to doubt. His good
intentions and aspirations were swept
away by the fever of speculation; bis
principles crushed by the gathering weight
of his decentralization through Wall street
influences.
He had made several successful opera
tions in Cumberland and other stocks, and
they frenzied him with the desire for i'm
mense riches. Fortune deserted him he
was bull when the bears broke down the
market, and be lost heavily. But he did
not surrender when he had exhausted
most Of bis own means; he obtained ad-
vanoes on barrels of lard that were merely
lard barrels; he played the role Of grand
dnancier to the last moment.
When he saw, however, immediate ex-
posture before him, he decamped for Bos-
ton, and thence, as is supposed, sailed for
Bremen with one of the many women to
whom, it is now declared, he occupied q
very tender, if not altogether Platonic,
relation.
HIS PECULIAR PASSIONS.
Eastman, it appears, had two passions
independent of bis mania for speculation
one for letter-writing and the other for
love-msking, to all other women than his
wife. He was member of the board Of
education, and while in that position
woed every young aud pretty school mis-
tress that would listen to him, and to those
who woald not he wrote volumes of
the most tender and passionate epistles,
with all the usual concomitants of dar-
lings and angels, kisses and blisses, throbs
and thrills, laying in arms and reposing
on bosoms, rapturous hours and ecstacies
divine, and the remainder of that deli
cious nonsense which only those who feel
or feign an absorbing attachment can rem
der congruous or comprehensive.
He was very lavish of presents too to
his charmers, giving them diamond brace
let's, pearl necklaces and superb pianos
whenever they would accept them. Su
perlative fattery and splendid presents
seem to have been his chef stock in trade
AS they were those of the famous Oouns
do Grammont-and the Wall street oper-
stor appears to have met with marked sue
cess. He must have believed with Byron
and, l fear, on indubtiable evidence
that
Maidens like moths are ever caught by glare,
And Mammon wins his way where serapbs
might despair.
1t is somewhat strange that the Broad
street merchant could have found time TO
make money and love simultaneously to
such an extent as he did; and, still stran-
ger that shrewd, practical man should
have preserved so much gallantry and SEN
timent.
Wall street does not usually deyelop
amat;veness, or give rain and sunshine to
tie tender blossoms of the heart
Mr.. Eastman, like the great Napoleon,
found leisure in the midst Of exciting events
to turn to his score of Josephines, and
pour ont his loving song 10 manner that
would not have done discredit to the most
susceptible student who, while translatinp
Ovid, had become enamored of q pair OF
dark eyes aud snowy shoulders that flashed
upon hlm-at the annual commencement.
Eastman's fondness tor the pposite sex
was such that he vas unable to distinguish