Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1869-04-23

EXTRAORDINARY CAREER OF A SwINDLER.
BENJAMIN lligps abSeonded on the 9TH Ot March
from the employment OF the treat Central Gas
Company in London, in whose service he had
been for several years Ills salary at the time
os his disappearance was $1,000 year. His
establishment at Teddlngton, however, was
almost prucely. The house, which contained
thirty rooms was fitted and furnished in the
most sumptuous style. n large pleasure ground
ran down TO the river Thames, where he had
built a massive river wall. lie had also large
kitchen garden and model farm. lie was
building extensive stables, fitted with all mod
ern appliances, kept two pairs OF carriages, nine
horses aud several ponies, and his family car
rage aud brougham were the most substantial
and elegant in the neighborhOod.
The domestic arrangements were in keeping
with the general character Of the establishment.
There we're eight female servants, five garden
ers, one groom, q coachman and under coach
man, the household expenses requiring not less
than $l0,U year. The furniture was of re-
markable stylc and quality, as may be Judged
from the fact that 4 planoforte sold for one
hundred and fifty.6ve guineas, which originally
cost three hundred guineas but this was re-
garded as the greatest bargain OF the sale.
lIiggs personal tastes and habits were not less
extravagant, bis gold watch and diamond
rings were the envy of the conn0isseurs He
was musical, too, and his weekly musical par
ties were graced BY the presence OF celebrated
artistes, who were sumptuously entertained aud
sent to London by special train.
Higgs' benevolent instincts were as large as
his expenditure was liberal, not to say extrava-
gant. On three occasions he gave concerts at
the Clarence Hotel, Teddiugton; the most
celebrated professional Singers were engaged,
~ yprp nj fiStf
beauty, the expenses were paid by HiggS, aud
the entire proceeds were devoted to the
building of new schools. On one occasion an
ipsolyeut received a check for flS0, with WHICH
he effected composition with his credi
tors On another occasion an unfortunate man
who was seriously injured by an explosion OF
the Kitchen boiler while at his house was es-
tablished in business with 1900, The free
Church of England, at Teddington, which, how
ever. Iliggs never attended, received q new or
gan at a cost of E300 and the same congrega-
tion, now meeting in an iron church, recently
rcioiced in the promise of C., 900 towards new
and more substantial structure, which promise
however, like the basclcSS fabric OF vision,
has vanished with Mr.. iiiGgS,
On the morning of his flight there were
eighty men employed upon new mansion
which was in the course Ot erection upon lane
he was to have purchased at cost OF 1000 pei
acre The purchase however, was never con-
pleted although the buildings were in progress
The mansion was estimated to cost $50, ,000,-
The contract for the brick and stone work wa
clo50O, anu the contractors sheds and out
buildings actually erected upon the groupC
costs $500. 1t should be observed, says ;
London paper, that he accounted to hls vii,
and friends for this extraordinary expenditure
by saving that be hal reeeiveda legacy OF goo,
600 from relative. Ii is certain that iOr sew
eral days before leaving he was making prepa
rations for his departure. On Friday, the jtl
of March he entered the Waterloo tram as usu
al, but instead of alighting at Twickenharn
proceeded on TO Reading, thence to Liverpool
and that night went on board steamer 10
America. lie has left behind him wife an'
eight children, who, until now, were ignorau
of the source whence all the comforts and lux
uries of their home were derived, and are reu
dered absolutely destitute and dependent upo
otbprs