The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1874-03-26
A Beggar HOarding Bank Checks.

ON last Saturday. there died in this city,
SAYS the Chicago Tmies, a German woman
named Mary NaYet, Her sarcophaguS
was simply a pine box, aiid hef f1tneral
possession was made up of four pefsOuS, -
| friend, the undertaken, the hearSe-drlver,
and the grave-digger. In the death and
| funeral there was nothing exceptional to
the history OF d metropolitan city. 1t is q
thing of daily occurrence, aid only calls
for passing notice at the hands of the
sanitary superintendent, who simply en-
] ters the fact of the death in his weekly
mortality report. Often the life of such
persons who die In poverty is full of
strange incidents, which, if known and
written out, would make stOryas strange
as fiction.
The life of Mrs. Waiver was a peculiar
one, in fact erratic, and yet but for a tri-
fling circumstance would have passed into
oblivion with her mortal remains.
She was no ordinary woman, and her
latter days furnished another Illustration
of a miser's life.
Some fifteen years ago she came to this
city, and rejOiced in the fostering care of n
husband. After a few yeafs her husband
died, and she shortly thereafter assttmed
at the altar the name of Mrs. Frank. With
her second husband she lived a few years
in peace and fair prosperity, when he died.
A third husband was wed, and her name
was changed to Mrs. Wavef.
About seven years ago Mr.: Watef sought
the golden coast, and began delvinS for
gold. He had not been there long before
he died, leaving her in destitute condition.
Through the assistance of friends she kept
the wolf from her door, and did what
little labor she could find to supplement
this aid. Presently she grew unable to per-
form any manual labor, and was advised
to seek assistance at the hands of the cOun-
ty. Her petition was not without good
resttlts, and she began drawing money
from the public purse. A small monthly
sum was allowed her, part of which she
always managed, by strict economy of liv-
ing and self-denial, to hoard up. The
more her sum increased, the more she
gloated over it, and the more she denied
herself the least necessarieS of life. The
accumulation Of money speedily became a
passion, and her treasures became as pre-
ciOus to her soul as the jewels were dear to
the heart of old Fagin. All the character
istics of a miser became developed, with an
eXception-instead of cOncealing her amaZ-
inc wealth in some retired nook of her
shanty, or hiding it beneath the floor, she
took her money to the banks and received
checks of deposit, which scented to please
her as much as the substance.
In addition to her aid from the county,
she received contributions from neighbOrs
and liberal people. who credited her pitiful
tales of poverty. But tdespite all the money
she received, Mrs. Waver cOntented herself
to live in miserable hOyel on Darrabee
street, near Division, and denied herself
even a single companion. There she lived
in squalOr, and in the most abject cOndi-
ton, to all outward appearances. Neigh
bors were wont to pity her, and gave her
hOspitable treatment on all occasions of
appeal. During all her county support
and outside aid she was always complain
ing. and often spoke to acquaintances of
her poor lot in life and her extreme power
tv. Sometimes she threatened to commit
suicide rather than allow herself to starve,
and often made her pleas for aid effective
in this way.
1t was only on last Monday that the real
condition of affairs in her life was discOv-
cred. She died, after a short illness, at the
house of neighbor, and, on examination
of her clothes, there were found several
bank checks. One lot of these checks We're
for money to the amount of $1,000. depOs-
tied in one of our national banks, and an
other lot for money to the amount of S400
at Knauer's bank, No. 30 North Clark
street. AS she has a sister residing at De-
troit, Mich, the money will probably be
forwarded to her,