Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1877-03-30
From Affluenoe to Penury.

A cluster of fifty or sixty men gathered
in Sheriff Conner's room, yesterday morn
ing, in response to the official announce
ment that the wardrobe of Mrs. Laura S.
Taylor, widow of the late James B. Tay-
lor, would be sold by auction to satisfy a
claim of Charles Devlin, a contractor.
The history Of Mrs. Taylor's difficult
ties, by which she was brought from af-
fluence to penurY, is briefly told. AS
executrix of her husbands great estate,
she at once found herself embarrassed by
a multitude of unsettled claims against
the property, and by contest with her
daughter, who disputed the validity of
the will. Among the creditors of the es-
tate was O. B. Mattison, of Utica, who
held notes amounting to $75, 900, and by
a suit begun by him and other creditors
in the Supreme Court, Oneida County,
Mrs. Taylor was pronounced mentally in
capable of managing the estate, and are
ceiver was appointed. A referee was
also appointed to take proof and report
concerning the validity of the claims
against the property. 1t was soon found
that the estate, reduced by mismanage-
ment and legal claims, would amount to
not more than $500, 600, and that this sum
would be swallowed up in settling the
charges of the receiver, the fees of the
daughters lawyer, her guardian, and
guardians lawyer, and the cost of her
suit in the courts. Creditors swarmed
from every side and the estate was de-
clared insolvent. Mrs. Taylor was left
penniess. She was compelled in Octo-
Der last to go forth from her Madison
avenue mansion and seek the charity of
her friends in the country.
To complete her burden of misfortunes,
her costly and magnificent wardrobe,
which filled nine large trunks, was at
tached at the moment when she was
leaving her home. She was left with
only the clothing that was upon her per-
son. The attachment was made by Mr..
Devlin, who held claim of $1,410
against Mrs. Taylor for money that he
had loaned her. Mr.. Devlin retained the
goods, and they were offered for public
sale yesterday. They are supposed to be
worth at least SO, 600 or $4,000. The
price that they brought under the ham,
mer did not exceed $500 or $400.
AS Sheriff Conner mounted an armless
chair, to begin the sale, he was sur
rounded by rampant of trunks. The
goods, comprising silks, velvcts, laces,
linen wear, jewelry, furs, lap-robes,
china, ETC., were spread over long pile
of spades and shovels that lined one
side of the dusky room. The sale was
opened with the disposition of several
lots of table cloths, napkins and hand
kerchiefs, and went on to the most elab-
crate silk and velvet dresses, whose
beautiful texture and luster not even the
half-lighted apartment could conceal.
| The bidding was Drisk, and the bidders
quarreled and swore as they stamped the
mud from their feet and roughly pulled
at the fine fabrics. Among the goods
were over twenty dresses, nearly all of
which were of the finest silk, in black,
green, maroon and lavender cOlors. One
magnificent black velvet dress, that cost
not less than $400, was knocked down,
after sharp bidding, for $50, and two
dresses of green silk, elabOrately EN-
broidered, brought only $40. A splendid
rep silk, which the auctioneeT called a
Irregular Dolly Warden, and no mistake,
was sold for $21. Several gauzy light
lace dresses were sold in lot for $40
and sealskin muff brought only seventy
five cents. A silk velvet cloak went of
for SIS .25, lace curtains for $40 pair, d
fine sealskin sack for $2l, crimson plush
and dark and maroon colored lap'robcs
for a song, and bits of lace, engravings
shawls, ribbons, ivory fans, opera
glasses, horse blankets, bottles of French
brandy, and several sets of jewelry were
disposed of at the smallest figures. Th'
trunks were sold last, and the prices
ranged from seyenty-tive cents to $l2.-
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