Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1873-11-01
A Co,ored Millionaire and Mtser.

ing numerous instance of wealtbydelnr-
quent taxpayers in that city, who make
money by not paving, gives the follow
ing interesting sketch of colored mil
lionaire and miser:
We have in the Second District a no
table exemplifcation of what we have
been saying in the person of colored
millionaire, who has fought of the pay
ment of city taxes until his indebtedness
on that account now amounts TO about
fiftv thousand dollars, and is probably
about the same sum TO the State. He
is Az historical character. His abNc-
mious-not to say miserly-liie makes
him a man with whom TO accumulate
filthy lucre is the song that burdens the
tongue by day and disturbs the mind
with fitful dreams 10y night. Disdaining
rest, his activity is wonderful, emulatmg
poverty, he lives and transacts his enor-
nous business in 4 little old, and obscure
one story house, far removed from any
of the business centres. The reader
might pass his house thousand times
and never for moment imagine that
within are to be found the evidences OF
a princely fortune The house begins
to take on worn and dilapidated ap-
pearance. The paint hangs in scales on
the doors and window shutters But
look within. The first room, which
constitutes ''the Office, appears to have
been a kind of lobby, six or eight feet
wide, part:tioned off from the main
room. This is the rich maa'S Office.
First in view is desk with pigeon
holes full of old musty papers, looking
as if they had been tanned by the dust
and noisture of a hundred years. An
iron safe and chair or two complete
the picture. Beyond The office, are
the rooms which constitute the resi-
dence of this remarkable man and his
AGED mother. now in her ninety ninth
year, and yet looking scarcely day
older than her son.
Such is the residence of the man who
has from seventy To one hundred ten
auts occupying houses scattered from
the vicinity of the st. Charles Hotel Ia
the EXTREMIST suburbs OF the city, and
bringing him in rents ranging from
twenty dollars 10 two and three hun
drcd dollars month Ii is hard 10
place an estimate on his wealth. Alto
yethcr he owns over two hundred and
fifty different properties, certainly
worth S7OO,0)9. besides bonds and
cash funds To an amount of which prob
ably hc alone is aware Yet this man
never pays any taxes except when he
sells n particular property, and then no
PAYS the amount due on that particular
property. Year after year he has man.
aged by means Of exceptions, appeais,
or other methods, to "stay" proceedings
until the aggregate OF his taxes due to
the city approximates the enormous
sum of fifty thousand dollars We no
ticed in the shcriil-S Office tax writs
against him dating back to 1861. To
one of these writs-and there was q
huge pile OF them--and to the notice of
seizure accompanying il was attached
more than six varls of foolscap paper,
filed to the last line with closely writ
ten descriptions of his properties.
Does the reader ask why he does not
pay his taxes ? There is but one an
swer which bears the scnblance of rea-
sou: The city charges him ten per
cent interest, and he can readily make
from eighteen to twcntyfonr per cent
on his money. lie never loans his
money except Oh mortgage, and every
wear he adds more o: less 10 the number
of his city lots by purchases at sherifis
sales. OF course as long rs he can do
this the little balance Of fifty thousand
dollars due to the city for taxes will
never be paid. Every tenth year pre-
scription wipes out the taxes for one
year without payment, aud that is an
other reason for deferred payments.