Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-02-14

Rapid Descent from AfHuence to Want
Death In n Lunatic Asylum

James II. Elmore died recently in tn
lunatic asylum at Poughkeepsie, havin
been driven insane by series of mis-
fortunes which are seldom crowded in
to the life Of one man. Fifteen year.
ago MIR. ElmOre WAS a Widely-know
New York business man. He had beel
an extensive flour merchant for years
but left the business to engage in thu
manufacture of gas fixtures At tn,
time Of the excitement over the Penn
sylvania oil wells he became interested
in the celebrated Noble we'll. It yielded
vast quantities of oil and enriched
several people. Ten years ago Mr.. Ell
more retired from business worth $3.50,
600. He purchased q country seat a
Jamaica, Long Island. A large man
sion was built and broad acres sur
rounded it. His family consisted of his
wife and three children. They KEEP
6verled servants, and their society was
sought by all the aristocratic people Of
the town. Aaron A. Degrauw was one
of the aristocratic residents. Between
him and Elmore there grew up a strong
intimacy. They engaged in oil and
coal speculations, and built horse rail
road from Jamaica to east New York.
Elmore lost thousands of dollars in it.
Elmore and Degrauw quarreled.
Claims of fraud were claimed by both
sides, and they went to law. Brooklyn
court house was always the battle
ground, and lawyers will readily recall
the bitter contests. Elmore became
known as the "Man up the river" The
cases went from one court to another,
first one of them and then the other
having the best of it, and the Court of
Appeals was invariably reached. The
majority of the suits terminated in
favor of Degrauw. Elmore was unfor-
tunate in being stricken by disease dur
Ing the height of the battle, and for
nearly year his life wavered in the
balance. Judgment after judgment
rolled up against him, and in the midst
of trouble, which preyed heavily upon
his wife and daughter. The latter died.
It was severe blow.
Elmore finally rallied, but was Grip
pie for life. His finances had been
gradually wasting away. He renewed
the struggle, however, but his health
and the advantages gained during his
illness had great weight against him.
Over exertion and excitement brought
him again to q lex bed. An impor-
tant case was before the Court of Ap-
peals. Trouble, care and bereavement
had reduced Mrs. Elmore to a skele-
ton. At length the decision came. It
was adverse to Elmore, and at the men
ton of the fact Mrs. Elmore dropped
dead on the parlor floor. The mansion
and lands were hers in fee simple. She
had made no will. The judgments that
had been obtained against Elmore were
waiting satisfaction. He was we'll nigh
penniless, and now soon to be made
homeless. He had two sons, the eldest
an assistant clerk IN the Court of APP
peals. ElmOre's hfe-interest in his
wife's estate were sold by the sheriff.
The personal chattels were sacrificed
The mansion and grounds were bid off
to man named Scott. Elmore and
his children were driven into the streets,
virtually paupers. An interest he had
in some hotel property in Jamaica was
sold under another execution, and a
gentleman who had Endorsed his ap-
peal bonds was compelled to purchase
at price of $4,000 to save himself.
Elmore travelled from one place to an
other, a cripple, subsisting on the be-
nevolence of old-time sympathetic
friends. On Christmas nig ht, q year
ago, his eldest son, Charles, was
killed on the Pennsylvania railroad.
The tottering intellect of the infrm old
man gave way entirely under this
dreadful blow, and his emaciated body
was borne to the Poughkeepsie Asylum,
from whence he never walked forth
again.
His death directly affects case now
pending before the Supreme Court.
He had one son living, minor, named
James. Scott brought suit it partition
TO sell the mansion, but Judge Pratt
decided in the child's favor. The ruin
pending was not thus to be averted.
Scott transferred haIfinterest IN the
property to George Durland, and an
other partition suit was instituted.
This was carried through successfully,
and the premises were advertised to be
sold by the Sheriff. They are worth
in the deprecated condition of the
market of to-day, regardless of the in
Jury that has been done them, $40, 900.
At that time Elmore had been con-
signed to the asylum. Out of the
$25O,OOO with which he retired from
business, but the prem !ses remained as
legacy to his emily child. TIE sale of
them would have made him penniless.
Friends who sympathized with the
father in his troubles turned their at.
tention to aiding his child. The law
firm of Brown, Hall & Vanderpool, who
had done business for the boys father
took his interests under their charge
and the sale Of the premises was en-.
joined, pending the decision of law
points on appeal. The death of Mr.
Elmore ends the interest of Scott and
Durland in the premises, which viii
now revert to the heir.
A Costly Experiment.
From Vanity Fair.
During the last winter OF the Grim cal
war two yachts belonging to Mr.. Scot
Russell suddenly appeared in the tran
quill waters of Poole Harbor. They
brought with them two naval officer
deputed by the War Office, and sing