The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1875-09-08
The Great Collie Collapse.

ALEXANDER CoLLIEs FLIGHT
LOSSES OF THE LONDON AND WEST
MINISTER AND OTHER BANKS
SOME CURIOUS FACTs-CoLLIE S
TowN-HoUsE vIsITED--1LL-GoTTEN
SFLENDOR.
LONDON, August Al have just
returned from the magnificent man
sion, II Keasington Palace Gardens,
. lately the abode of the notorious Al
exander Collie. You have heard the
particulars of his remarkable career,
no doubt. Failing last June with
liabilities amounting to three millions
sterling, the London aud Westminster
Bank (and other joint stock banks to
less extent) found themselves the
unlucky holders of his worthless pa
per. The directors Of the London and
Westminster acknowledging loss OF
half million sterling. brought an ac,
ton against Messrs. Collie & Co., for
obtaining money from them by fraud.
need not repeat the statements which
YOU have already had by telegraph.
It will be sufficient to say that when
the case came on for Investigation at
the Guildhall, before Alderman Sir
Thomas White, last Monday, only one
Of the defendants, who had been at
large on very moderate bail, appeared.
Mr.. Alexander Collie was missing,
and although $1,000 have been offer
ed for his capture he has been missing
ever since. Thus he has practically
acknowledged his guilt by running
away, and there are quiet hints In the
city that the bank directors are rather
glad sof it, and do not court a very
Searching Investigation Of their own
conduct in the affair. [ do not be
lieve that s500,000 will cover the
loss of the London and Westminster
Bank
But to return to the house in Ken
sinston Palace Gardens. Every one
who knows London we'll has seen the
magnificent houses in this quarter. On
the west side of Kensington Gardens,
a long broad private avenue extends
for e mile, aud for much of this dis.
tance on either side there are some Of
the finest residences to be found in the
metropolis. They are very large and
stand in their own grounds, and are in
every respect most desirable and mag
nificent residences. Sir Morton Peto,
who had little notoriety in America
some years ago, lived in one Of them,
and Thackeray resided in one of the
Smallest of them farther down the hill.
The towering trees of Kensington
Gardens have very majestic appear
ance as seen from the back of these
residences on the east side of the ave-
nue., and give delightful rustic look
to the landscape. Mr.. ColIie's late
residence is nothing remarkable IN re-
spect of elaborate external finish.
When I called the sale of the furniture
and effects was over, and large wagons
were cartiug them away. 1 said to
the man in charge, "Well, he has
made a nice affair of it." His only
reply was, "But what an ass p There
was one sideboard beautifully carved
and valued at the triAing sum Of $500
The carpets throughout the house
were of the most expensive kind. The
long drawing-room was fitted with
Parian marble mantels Of great value,
and with pillars of the rarest marble,
while the walls and lofty ceilings were
painted in style of art reminding
one of the finest palaces on the Con
tipeut. Much of the decoration IN
several of the rooms was in the Pom
peiian style. New York is known to
be somewhat extravagant in such
things; but it would be difficult to
find in your citya house so gorgeously
decorated, and at the same time in
good taste. The billiard room was
adorned with mirrors on every side
and lighted by clear-story. In the
picture room I noticed the walls were
hung with crimson satin brocade, and
in all the apartments there was evi,
dence of lavish profusion, not at all
Scotch. The yearly rental Of this fine
house was $4,000 sterling, $4,000.
Many poor widows, and people Of +
moderate incomes who cannot afford
to lose even s5, as usual bear the
brunt of this astounding and shameful
swindle. We can only hope that affairs
will improve-Correspondence Of the
". Y. Journal Of Commerce.