The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1873-10-28

admission was thus brought about At
the time there was agitated in Phladel-
phia and at Harrisburg the question of an
increase of compensation of the Judges of
the Supreme Court Mr. Hanbest, seizing
upon the agitation, had printed number
of yellow placards with flaming headlines,
and his own name, solitary and alone, in
huge type at the bottom; and these pla-
cards called a meeting of the town people
to urge the increased pay, (which every
consideration of Justice dictated These
were plentifully posted upon the fence sur
rounding Judge Gibson's residence, and
when his Honor went into the street The
following morning, his eyes were arrested
by these dazzling posters. He sent, it is
said, for the gentleman who was so greatly
concerned in the prosperity of the jurists
who adorned the Supreme Bench, and Mr..
Hanbest presented himself in court. After
the question Of the town meeting was dis
cused, the shrewed lawyer edged in his
grievance against the examiners, and the
judge swore him memb er of the Bar.
Meeting one of the examiners on his way
from the scene of his victory he exclaimed
"You have done your best to keep me out,
but your efforts are useless. You, and the
rest Of your blue-blooded companions, will
yet live to see the farmer-boy, the boy who
sold you oysters, gracing the judicial
ermine." To this height of dignity, it
should be added, Mr. Hanbest never
arose His nracfica ,uaa oonGnod to tho
poorer classes of clients and these he
handled not for their good, but for his.
own. He would never undertake case,
no matter how trivial, unless his fees were
first paid, and there are said to be numerous
instances where he compelled poor people
to give him a judgment bond as guaran-
tee that his expenses and compensation for
services would be settled, and then, without
having rendered services, has had the bond
entered against their properties. He made
a great deal of money in mysterious ways,
and invested every dollar above what was
actually necessary to keep life in his body
and clothes on his back, in real estate.
Some ten or fifteen years ago he pur-
chased the building No. 144 South Sixth
street from the Taggart estate, and rented
the entire place out to enants, mainly law
yers, save small dining-room and dimin-
utive kitchen in the rear. In this dining
room, which, until three or four months
ago, he inhabited, he received his clients,
ate his meals, and slept. In one case, where
a number of lawyers of high standing at
the Bar were compelled to have confer
ence with Mr.. Hanbest they had to endure
the nausea Of the room and the disgusting
sight Of that person sitting at his desk
with mass of papers before him, achiclxen
pot-pie in a bason on his lap, from which
he picked out the tit-bits with his fingers,
and then deposited the bones on the floor
at his side, where remained the debris of
the preceding meal Thus lived in the
utmost squalor and misery man who had
amassed $500, 1000. About three years ago
he was stricken with paralysis. and lost the
use of his limbs. Still he continued to do
business, rarely going out of his dingy
office but the terrible disease grew upon
him, and at last he was compelled, though
it cost him many pang, to be removed to
the house where he expired. There was
not an article of furniture in the place, save
in an upper room, and there barely enough
for the necessities for a sick room. Here no
fingered for three months, with few friends
to see him, and none of the comforts which
declining years should bring with them,
and there he died. His aim had been ac-
complished Before he died he said 81
started out when commenced the practice
of the law, with the idea of dying the richest
man at the Bar who had made his own
money. believe have, and that idea is
realized" 1t is stated that his estate will
not fall short of 81, 900, 600, of which about
$250, 900 is invested in real estate. His
will was drawn up. By this will he created
three life estates, one for his brother,
Philip, who is connected with the Philadel-
phia Navy Yard, and two for his sisters.
The great bulk of bis property, after these
life estates, he divided among numerous
charitable institutions but by the provis-
ions of law Of Pennsylvania, which rem
ders null and void the public bequests of
a will executed within one calandar month
of the decease Of the testator, these char
liable gifts which he intended became iu-
operative, and the cntire estate will be di-
vided among the children Of two deceased
brothers, the living brother, and the two
sisters. His wealth at last win 60 to some
OF the very persons whom he Hoped to cut