The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1877-06-21
RICHES HAVE WINGS.
The Story of Ben HaIliday's Millions
How He Lost Them.
New York Letter Detroit Free Press

New York Letter Detroit Free Press.
Another curious will contest has just
been commenced. 1t is a case of daugh
ter against fatherand the father is man
once known all over the continent, name
ly, Ben, Halliday, who made fortune by
running stage coaches across the plains
to California before the Pacific Railroad
came along and knocked the reputation
of at least half dozen eminent Christian
statesmen all to pieces. The railroad
knocked Halhday's business all to pieces
too, but, in one way or another, he had
accumulated an immense deal Of money
eight to ten millions his friends said
so he came to New York with his family
and spread out in style Of royal magni-
fcenCe-that is, his family did, for Ben.
himself had no special desire for anything
in that line. His wife and two daughters
embraced the Roman Catholic faith, and
Mrs. Halliday soon became conspicuous
parsonage in the most fashionable of orr
Roman Catholic Churches, st. Stephens,
She was at the head of pretty much every
fair, festival concert or other project to
supply the church with funds, and her
own purse was always one of the first to
be opened. Her daughters, both bloom
ing with young womanhood, were also
conspicuous in these affairs, and being
handsome, talented and prospectively
very rich; of course they had plenty OF
admirers Halliday purchased a magni-
fCent country seat in Westchester county
and laid out fortune in improving it, 1t
was estimated to be worth half @ million.
To crafty his wife he had hand
some chapel built near the house, and
religious services for the family we're fire.
quently held there Mrs. Halliday and
her daughters made a tour of Europe,
travelling in the style of princesses, and
on reaching Rome they hired one of the
finest old mansions in the city, and en-
tertained visitors in way that suggested
wealth without limit.
This was kept up for several months,
and the travellers then returned. | be-
lieve it was while they were abroad that
one of the daughters became a Countess
by marrying a Frenchman who had a IT,
tie, and hardly anything else. The second
daughter also married Frenchman, but
whether here or abroad l do not remem.
ber. Both with their mother, reappeared
in New York society, and became more
conspicuous than ever. The Countess
Pourtales Gorgier and Madame de Buis'
sier were names of some note on Murray
Hill. Their owners had previously beer
known only as the daughters of Ben
Halliday, So much for the bright side
The dark one soon followed. Trouble
came into the family circle. The mar
riages did not turn out quite so happy az
had been expected. One of the daughtert
the one who had married Count
died, leaving one child. Mrs. Halliday
(. herself died soon after. She must have
had strong prejudice against French
!. men, though being the mother-in-law o
two, for in her last will she declared tina
is if her surviving daughter should ever be
come widow, and marry another French
q man, or descendant of a FrenChman with
in two generations, she should forfeit al
claim to any part of the mothers proper
ty. This will, however, was not admittet
70 to probate, but another one, made tw
~ years previously, whereby Mrs. Hallida
N gave all her property to her husband wa
" admitted. The daughter now wants tn
u. probate of the first will set aside, with
!, view of establishing her rights under tn
~ second, and the father is necessarily tn
~ ~ party against whom the suit is brough
IL But Ben. Halliday is no longer ric
man. All his great wealth has melte
~ away. The magnificent country seat wa
sold some time ago to pay taxes. Tru'
it was purchased by parties supposed
e' be acting in his interest, but the mortga
Z ges on it represented nearly every dolla
it is worth. The Mutual Life insuranC
Sc Company holds one of 100000, and Al
80 gust Belmont another of the same amour
Although the property was once value
a. az at $500,000, it would now bring very littl
10 if anything over the mortgages of $500
600.
es Soon after the death of his wife an
e' daughter and the breaking up of h
home, Mr.. Halliday, desiring some occl
IN patton to distract his thoughts, went int
Oh speculation. Luck and the circumstance
b of the times were against him, howeve
no and he lost heavily. Like hundreds {
ISL others he was caught in the ebbing It'd
and before he could get out almost h
@ ol whole fortune was gone. The last tim
es l heard of him previous to the commence
ru ment of his daughters suit, he had gon
away from New York altogether, intenC
% ing to close his days among the minel
igy of California and Nevada. They wei
=" his friends twenty-five years ago, whe
-, the accumulation Of his fortune begal
NJ ~ and when he found himself down in tn
Id world again he thought it best to retur
to them.