The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1873-05-16
from the Omaha Pee
POVERTY AND RICH ES.


During the past winter an old man
named G. w. Thomas, a resident of
Florence for long time past. has been
earning an honest livelihood by haul
ing wood into this city and selling it
here. This seedy, ragged stumbler
in the ditch of fortnnc-who is known
TO many of our citizens-has quite
unexpectedly come into the possession
of ss0.00o, left by the death OF an
aunt in Montreal.
THE HISTORY or THIS MAN,
as told us this morning, forms a very
interesting chapter. lie belongs 10 Il
wealthy Catholic family OF Montreal
In the year 1852 his mother turned
him out of her house in consequence
of his having gone back on the Ro-
man Catholic religion. At that time
he was blessed with family, and,
concluding TO come west, he took
with him his oldest son, arriving here
in company with Mormon emigrant
train. For while he and bis son re-
mained AT Florence, which was then
the Mormon stronghold in this vicin-
ity, aud was considered quite city.
Alter time, however, the father and
son went TO Salt Lake, where the son
soon parted from his father and went
back to Montreal. The father. after
numerous aimless wanderipgs, finally
found his way back TO Florence, where
he has lived till yesterday, in poor
circumstances and obsciTity, he hav-
ing held no communication with any
one since he left Canada.
In order to show how the $4,000
was left, and how his whereabouts
were discovered, We will 60 ba,k q
little in our history.
SEVERAL YEARS AGO
an aunt of his died, leaving some $780,
600 among her neices and nephews,
and codicil in sealed envelope,
which was not to be opened until his
mothers death. This event occurred
about two years ago, and upon the
sealed envelope being opened it was
found that the aunt had left $4,000
to bip.
IHE sun,
who, it will be remembered, had left
his father in the lurch at Salt Lake,
had, after his return to Montreal, by
reassuming communication with the
Catholic Church, after general re-
pentance and abuse of the old man,
succeeded in working himself into the
good graces of his grandmother, on
the fathers side. She rewarded him
for his conduct by leaving him con-
siderable property. When the codi-
ell was produced after her death,
young Thomas instantly claimed $780,
900 on the ground of being his fathers
heir, representing that his father was
dead.
HIS TWO SISTERS
did not believe anything of the kind
and at once began to search for him
they met with little success, until by
accidental communication with man
named Piper, living at Salt Lake City
they discovered the whereabouts Of
their long-lost father, whom theis
brother tried to make them believe
was dead. One of the daughters
started for Omaha, and, arriving here
yesterday, she went to Florence
found her father, and had the exceed.
ing great pleasure of being the frs,
to inform him of his good fortune
The old man seemed delighted at The
result, the only embarrassment to hi.
future happiness being the trivial iact
that he bad managed to become The
head of a second family during hi.
travels since his departure from Cana
d. Father and daughter will return
next Wednesday to take possession
of the property.
/ THE OLD MAN
has made up his mind to make it ho
for that plotting son of his, who, i
appears has thrown every possible oh
stacle in the way of the search tor hi
father, because large part of tn,
d property left to young Thomas by hi
| fathers mother was entailed unde
the English law, and net subject t,
disposal by will, being the right o
the eldest surviving member of tn,
family. The temperance of th,
father, therefore, will not only cut OF
the sons hopes of obtaining the $50,
COO, but also the property left him b.
bis grandmother.