Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-02-13
THE CRESCENT CETT's QUADEO0E
MILLERNAERE.
New Orleans Correspondence Ofths New Yol

New Orleans Correspondence Of the New York
Times.
Living in one Of those quaint hooks for
which the French quarter Of New Orleans
has become celebrated is an old quadrCOn,
who IS possessed OF property valued az up
ward of a milliOa dollars, and who at one
time owed the city and STATE upward of
$4,000 for taxes. Unlike the political
properly owners mentioned above, old
Francois LacrOiX prOfessed no opposition
70 the kellogg Government, nor was he
ready 20 bribe kellOEg's Collectors and
Assessors. The result OF this neglect was
that some 500 900 worth Cf his property
was recently sold for unpaid taxes. Some
Of this be has siuce redeemed Even with
out il, he would still be a very r.ch man.
The history Of the old quadrOOu, aside
from his remarkble resistance to his tax
gathe7er is not without interest. From
an old resident Of New Orleans | have
gained the following account Of his life:
He was born in New Orleans, his parents
belonged to that class Of free French col
ored people now almost extinct in Louis
lana. Forty years ago he was tlR fashion
able tailor of New Orleans, and made
money with surprising rapidity. The
N0LLLLL EIElN-A 4AlaNAA~H "a eAIH Ny AA@HNA
Thought OF showing themselves on the
street unless their legs were incased in
pair Of I,acroiX's trousers, and at the opera
and in the fashionable saloons OF ''the
best society," none but LaUOiX coats af-
peared. By their patronage the quadrOOn
tailor became wealthy, and investing his
money in real estate, which doubled Ia
value as the city grew, he was soon mill
iOnaire. He owned large tracts Of land IN
every suburb, and as the population Of
New Orleans increased he built houses
and rented them 70 extravagant and care
less planters. soon there were some in
his debt. and he obtained mortgages on
their estates, and SD continued to increase
his property until, at the outbreak Of the
war, he was regarded as the richest man
in Louisiana. One popularity Of the
old man was his aversion 10 paying faxes.
With a princely revenue he lived like
pauper, and always declaring that he bad
no money, by one device or another sue
eeeded in escaping the tax gatherer. -Four
years ago his bill for unpaid city taxes
amounted to upward Of $4,000. As usual,
be tried to evade payment, but Gov. War
moth wanted money, his followers were
poor and hungry, and they told the old
man with an air OF determination which
was not 10 be mistaken, that he must pay
his taxes or lose his property. Being as
sured OF this, LacroIx collected the required
amount and intrusted il to his son with
orders to bay the tax bills. The young
man took the money. That night he came
back to his old father, telling him that the
$4,000 was gone His story was that he
had been induced to enter a gambling
house. and that he had lost every penny Of
the money. LacrOiX, with all the passion Of
his race, cursed bis son, and drove him
from his house. Then he sank into a state
Of inaction and apparent Indifference, from
which he has never since been completely
aroused. Year by year the taxes on his
immense estate accumulated, until last
spring. when they amounted TO some SSO,- /
600. Then a part Of his property was
sold. He made no effort 20 redeem It. !
Within the last month however, he has !
displayed some little energy, and is max |
ING feeble effort to arrange his affairs.