The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-10-20
A ColOred Millionaire and Miser-Why
He Does Not Pay His Taxes.

The New Orleans Times. in recountng
numerous instances Of wealthy delinquent
tay-payers in that city who make money by
not paying, gives the following interesting
sketch of colored millionaire and miser:
We have in the Second District notable
eXemplitication of what we have been saying
in the person of a colored millionaire, who
has fought off the payment OF his city taxes
until his Indebtedness on that account now
amounts to about fifty thousand dollars, and
probably about the same sum to the State.
He is an historical character. Ills absteml-
ous-not TO say miserly-liie makes him
man with whom to accumulate filthy lucre Is
the song that burdens the tongue by day
and disturbs the mind with tittul dreams
by night. DSdaining rest, his activity
is wonderful; emulatiug poverty, he
lives and tnnsacts Ills enormous
business in little, old, and obscure one
story house, far removed from any Of the
business centres. The reader might pass
his house u thousand times and never for n
moment imagine that within it are to be
found the evidences Of princely fortune.
The house begins to take on worn aud
slilapidated appearance. 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 kind Of lobby, six or eight feet wide,
partitiOned OF from the main room. This is
the rich mans office. First in view is a
desk with pigeon.holes full of old musty pa
pers, looking as if they had been tanned by
the dust aud moisture of hundred years.
An iron safe and chair or two complete the
picture. Beyond "the office" are the rooms
which constitute the residence Of this re-
markable man and his aged mother, now in
her ninety-ninlh year, and yet looking
scarcely day older than her sou.
Such is the residence of the man
who has from seventy to one hundred
tenants occupying houses scattered from
the vicinity OF the st. Charles Hotel
to the EXTREMIST suburbs Of the city,
and bringing him in rents ranging from
twenty dollars TO two and three hundred
dollars month. 1t is hard to place an esti
mate on his wealth. Altogether he owns
over two hundred and fifty different proper
ties, certainly worth 500, 000, besides bonds
and cash funds TO an amount OF which pro-
baby he alone is aware. Yet this man never
pays any taxes except when lie sells par
ticular property, and then he pays the
amount due on that particular properly.
Year after year he has managed, by means OF
exceptions, appeals, or other methods, 10
"'stay" proceedings until the. aggregate OF
his taxes due to the city appro&imates the
enormous sum of fifty thousand dollars. we
noticed in the sheriff Office eix-writs against
him dating back to 1851. TO one OF these
withstand there was huge pile OF them
and to the notice of seizure accompanying 1t
was attached more than six yards OF fools
cap paper, filled to the last line with closely.
written descriptions of bis properties.
Does the reader ask why he does not pay
his taxesf There Is but one answer which
bears the semblance OF reason: The city
charges him ten per cent. Interest, and he
can readily make from eighteen to twenty.
four per cent. on his money. He never loans
his money except on mortgage, and every
year be adds more or less to the number OF
bis city lots by purchases at sherif's sales.
OF course as long as he can do this the little
balance Of fifty thousand dollars due to the
city for taxes will never be paid. Every
tenth year prescription wipes out the taxes
for one year without payment, and that Is
another reason for deferred payments.