The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-07-21

Private History Of the New York
Dofaulter Eastman.

Private History of the New York
Dofaulter Eastman.
His Passion for Letter Writing
and Love-Making.
HIS PROFESSIONS OF PlRTY.
Hscape with One Of His Fragile
Rev York Correspondents lJune 3o) of the Cincin-
nad Commercial.
The dullness Of the metropolis was re-
ieved 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 ,000, 900, albeit the sum will never
be accurately ascertained, as parties who
advanced money are afraid Of injuring
their credit by stating their losses. Sew
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. a -
PRIVATE HISTORY OF TIE DRTAULTKR.
Eastmans private history for the past
two years would be extremely sensational,
and make the fortune of q Sunday paper,
If properly and accurately written out. BE
was an exemplary church member to all
appearances; occupied very high eociai
position, and was regarded as most be-
nev0lent 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 his disappear
anoe and dishonorable practices fell upon
bis numerous friends like voice of thun-
der from the bps of q statue
That Eastman was naturally high
minded and honorable and kind-heafted,
there is little room to doubt. His good
intentions and aspirations were swept
away by the fever of speculation his
principles crushed by the gathering weight
Of his decentralization through Wall street
influences. e
He had made several successful opera
lions in Cumberland and other stocks, and
they frenzied him with the desire for i'm
mense riches. Fortune deserted him he
was q bull when the bears broke down the
market, and he lost heavily. But he did
not surrender when he had exhausted
most Of bis own means; he obtained adj
vanoes on barrels of lard that were merely
lard barrels; he played the role Of grand
hnancier to the last moment.
When he saw, however, immediate ex-
posture before him, he decamped for Dos-
ton, and thence, as is supposed, sailed for
Bremen with one of the many women to
whom, it is now declared, he occupied
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-making, to all other women than his
wife. He was member of the board of
education, and while in that position
woed every young and pretty school mis-
tress that would listen to him, and to those
who would not he wrote volumes of
the most tender and passionate epistles,
with all the usual concomitants Of dar-
lings and angels, kisses and blissee, 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
lets, pearl necklaces and superb pianos
whenever they would accept them. Su
perlative fattery and splendid presents
seem to have been his chief stock in trade
AS they were those of the famous Oouns
do Grammont-and the Wall street oper-
ator appears to have met with marked sue
cess. He must have believed with Byron
and, 1 fear, on indubtiable evidence
that
Maidens like moths are ever caught by glare,
And Mammon wins his way where serapbs
might despair.
It 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 q shrewd, practical man should
have preserved so much gallantry and SEN
timent.
Wall street does not usually develop
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 out his loving song in manner that
would not have done discredit to the most
susceptible student who, while translating
Ovid, had become enamOred of pair OF
dark eyes and snowy shoulders that flashed
upon HIM, at the annual commencement
Eastman's fondness for the pposite sex
! was such that he was unable to distinguish