The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1879-07-24
A THAN ROMANCE.
A Once Wealthy Manufacturer Fails,
Becomes Insane, Disappears, and
Is Married on his Deathbed
by a Lady in the South.

hltherto q secret, OF the strange disappear
ance Of Mr.. James H. Wheatley, for many
years a rich sugar reiner in Brooklyn, living
in a fine house in Remsen street. on the
Heights. He was a millionaire at 40. al
though at II he was a poor Western lad.
A prominent member of St. Peters Episco-
pal Church in State street. BROOKLYN. be
gave literally to the church Of his means.
and contributed chiefly TO the cast of build
ing the chapel and rectory, in which DR..
Paddock. brother of Bishop Paddock, now
resides. In 1878 Mr.. Wheatlev's firm was
forced into bankruptcy. After that he
tried to regain his lost fortune by specula-
tons in Philadelphia. where he engaged in
the business of manufacturing water. proof
cloth, and in New York. whore he started
a shirt mandatory. but in both he failed.
He preserved his integrity so thoroughly
while his misfortunes crowded in upon him
that. although he was trustee for large
sums, the trust funds in his hands were not
disturbed. Mr.. Wheatley was regarded as
being in many ways a superior man and
possessed of a superior nobility of charac-
ter. He was one of the most popular
manufacturer in Brooklyn, for When any
one of his men was sick, even with a conta-
gious disease. he would visit the sick man
daily, carrying him medicine and delica-
cies: and that the workman might not lose
any of his wages, Mr.. Wheatley would put
on an old suit and 90 into the factory and
take the sick mans place. Although he
contributed over $50, 900 to st. Peters
Church and rented a pew in the church, he
disliked to walk up the aisle during service
to his seat. from fear that he would be
pointed out az a proud and rich man, and
he was usually TO he seen back at the door
In the sections seat.
On Tuesday night. August 81. 1873, Mr..
Wheatley was found dying at Charles and
Morton streets, New York. on the sidewalk,
crying for help. His clothing was disar-
ranged and his collar crushed. He told an
officer that he was walking along Sixth
avenue at dark, and three men assaulted
him. threw him down. and robbed him of
800, coo in bonds and money. In the po-
lice station SIS. coo in money. a gold watch
and chain. and a set of diamond studs were
found or him, and the police discredited
his story. He, however. insisted that he
had been robbed, and his family now be
lieve that he was. He became i'll in the
Charles street police station. and he was
sent to St. Nincent's Hospital, whence he
was taken the next day in an ambulance to
his home at 172 kemsen street, Brooklyn.
The next day he walked out of the house
without SAYING goodbye to any of his eami-
", and the next that was heard from him
was a telegram from Washington to his
wife, saving that he would not return that
night. Weeks passed by and he did not
return. The telegraph operator in Wash
iroton said that, when he asked Mr.. Wheat
ley for his address, the latter said he had
none. Private detectives conducted a pa
tient search for him in vain, and at length
he was thought to be dead. Mr.. Silas VI.
Giddings, who had been Mr.. Wheatlev's
most intimate friend, was appointed guar
dian of his only son, James Y. Wheatly, a
boy Of II. who had inherited a fortune from
his grandmother. Mildred l.. Wheatlcy. 1t
was discovered that Mr.. Wheatley had used
up all of this money; but, under the power
of attorney which he held. he had a right
to use it as his own. There was no discre-
pancy complained of in the other trust
funds.
The house in Remsen street was sold to
prevent foreclosure. its equity being almost
nothing. and the wife and son from a con
dition of great prosperity were reduced al
most to want. The son went to live with
an uncle, on a cattle ranch in Texas, ard
the wife went TO live with some friends.
In the latter part of March last Mr.. Gid
dings learned that q man answering Mr..
Wheatley's description was livingin the vii
lage of HendcrsonviIle. in the mountains of
North Carolina. eight miles from any rail
road. and that he passed under the name of
G.. III. Carter of New York. Hurrying
thithcr, MI. Giddings found his friend on
his deathbed. and by his side was a refined
woman of So years, who said that she was
Mr.. Carter's wife. A discreet inquiry in.
formed Mr.. Giddings that Mr.. Wheatley
had wandered into the town a few weeks
after his disappearance from his home. He
was weary and seemed sick, and as he APP
peared to be a gentleman, the hospltable
Southerners received him kindly, although
they could not solve the mystery OF his APP
pearance or his mission among them. lie
acted strangely, and was often seen In the
woods seated on a fallen log, with his face
buried in his hands. Miss Josephine Bond,
a maiden lady, who lived over the noun
tains hearing that a Northern man was SICK
in a boarding house in the town, carried
III, do1;cocieS and took an interest in him..