The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-01-31
SEVENTY NINE, AND FAILING
MS. JONiTHIN TREM.fTN Wells FOR-
GETFUL IND ECCENTRIC


EOT llUnN months NOscWcll ". hbltton, |
President OF tho Farmers Loan and Trust |
Company. felt concorn for an aged man who |
had for years boon accustomed to collect divi- |
drnds and cash coupons at tho counters Of the
company. lie could not learn where any Of
his relatives were until less than two weeks
ago. when he accidentally learned from an ac-
quainianco TO whom he happened to be relating
some OF the old mans pcculiaritics that he had
Il second cousin. George T. Sibley. in Elizabeth,
~ J. Mr.. Sibcy was written to. In subsc
qucnt conversation with Mr. Roston, he learned
something concerning his cousins business
affairs which alarmed him. Before this other
persons had como to him with suggestions that
his cousin was no longer mentally capable Of
taking care OF his large property
jonathan Trcmain Wells. the old man re-
ferred to. began to deal in straw goods nearly
hall u century ago ut III Maiden lane. lie is
now in his 10Th year. lie made money and
successfully invested 1t, but busin css gradually
LEFT him in it's uptown course, and he was too
| conservative TO follow II. For long time after
lie ceased to do an active business. his lofts
were occasionally sought by dealers in search
Of hats that had long gone out Of style. but
which were wanted by customers for special
| purposes. lie was always close business
| man. but in later years hc became very penuri-
Gus in his expenditures. Two years ago while
crossing Front street TO go to one Of the ferries
| two horses that had Just been unhitchcd
| darted away from the pole suddenly. aud ono of
| them knocked him down. Ono sido OF his face
| was badly scratched and ono hand was lamcd
| Those were all the physical injuries that were
| apparent. but the mental shock was very great
Those persons with whom he has been living
say that from that time evidences OF falling
| mind began to SHOW themselves. His memory
| was impaired. Hc had always been eccentric
| 81 . g..., IL 10.
| clarcd that he probably Is not insane now. He
| WIS 10th To cNpcnd money Tor wearing apparel
| and in his loft at III Maiden lane he never had
| u fire. though he spent several hours there
| every day. When he got very cold II WIS his
habit to go into the office Of one OF his neigh,
coarse skin gloves was lost. He told his friend
that It would not be worth while to buy another
| pair this for winter, and was accustomed TO an
| pear in the street with the remaining glove on
| one hand and brown worsted mitten on tho
| other. lie wore two vests TO keep him warm.
Tho rest of his apparel was sccdy but not other
| wise rrmnrkahle.
| lie has boarded FOR many years with Miss y.
| ". Ruckel. IN handsome brown brick house,
| - Woodruff street. in South brooklyn. about
| last November he did not return home to sup
per as usual. This in "A man Of his regular
habits was considered very remarkable. Al 10
much alarmed that two Of his fellow boaricrs
st oui, in search Of him., They visited the
| hulf susperttug tu learn that he had been killed
In the street or drowned. They returned home
| ~ = % tlu X without learning Nnltlluk OF MIN.
| The next morning about 10 o'clock they wtntto
| his loft ut III Maiden lane, and discovered
him at work on his accounts. They asked him
| where he had been. and he said IN Albany.
| when did you start ?" they asked.
" Last night on the boat b. replied; ,u..n,
| last night on the boat and here YOU are IN New
York at 10 o'clock the next morning.
Tho old man gave no explanation. hut insist
ed ON the truth OF his story. This il told in an
affidavit ~ evidence that his mind WAS failing.
Anothcr story told is that when he had re-
pptx NJ IA dividend a some OF his stock "A
check on the Chemical Bank. with which he had
had dealings for years. ne went t. a business
II hc thought the Chemical Bank was good;
He is, tho last Of five brothers
When Mr.. Roision nnd Mr. siSlsy con a'
about Mr. Wells. the existence Of no relatives
nearer than second cousins WIS known To- Mr.
Siblsy. Mr.. Sibley learned that he had come
into possession OF q grent many Portage Lake
| bonds. Cuban bonds. and other bonds that are
said 10 be worthless. Arrangements wer" made
~ soon ~ possible, and on thursday. Jan. -.
a PETITION, sisned ny samuel d: Clapp' a try.
| cling shlcsinnn. wen known among l"Wery
| houses in Maiden lane. ana second cousin ~
Mr Wells. WIS pr. -enlei To Judge Hhi"rt 81
mission 10 inquire into Mr. Wells IS
mental cond.ii4n The pei,,ionN was i sap-
g. L. Fish. secretary " tho Farmers l. % lud
Tru-t Company; \. y. Smith. tciirrol the Union
Hars"i' Jdscr i,ai clarke. and ID IT, Gray. judge
| Gilbert suggested that an injunction b" also
, made out against any person uuon whom IL may
monov on Mr. MsU-'@ order without tile kupwl-
edge and consent ol the court, This Injunction
| wns subsequently served ON all the persons and
banks with wnich Mr.. Wells was known 10 hay,
had frequent dealings. The judge appnnic'
: | ns members 81 the commission: Dr. Dauie
| Ayrcs. a phS stefan, frederick A. Ward. a law
yer; and Mr.. Charles \. Townsend. all OF Brook
+ | Ign. They will meet next Nedncs thy. either ~
| the Court House in Btooklyn, or III some place
near the RESIDENCE OF Mr.. Wells =, an.
o ON the next day Mr.. George i. Gilbert was
/ advised that prompier lr9eecdihss must =,
n taken 10 prevent calamity that thrcatcnyd Mr.
= Weiss property. ana on SATURDAY Jan; 20 h'
u obtained an order appointing Adrian Nansln
deren receiver during the interval 70 ClupS'
before the condition q Mr.. Weiss mind houl,
s Franklin Woodruff and I. W. Corlies belna
= his sur'tics. Mr. Nansndrrrn, ~ soon ~ his
. bonds were filed went 10 III Maiden lane an,
= pvt a paddock ON the door OF Mr.. Mellss loit
o Mr. Wells was not there ut the time. That even
house to make him acquainted with what hn'
v ncws cheerfully. and Tint aftorward bcfur,
p and said to several persons sitting there;
a. The wors! news have received tonight II
n On Tuesday morning he went 10 his loft a
n about the usual time.a when he found III
!. Ing Office Of Alden ;. Swami, demanding an
y gr!lX,. ,,,,,,n,,,i. ,l.i,,,,r ms, door p
3, Then he sat down in Mr.. swans office. In
d short time the receiver arrived. After it'll
y persuasion he gave up the Keys OF his four old
II fashioned sales, ana WAS even very Eager 20 As
II sist Mr. Nansindcren and his assistants in cN
i amning their contents Bonds Of the Ne'
York New Haven and Hartford Railroad Com
- pany were found IN the safes. an
Is aiaer valuable and ngsGtoG bic pa Lr1t
7. ont ready to report. lic has aupontc
~ as his secretary Charlcd Henry Wells Sibley
lr Ir1ther oi George 4. Siblcy who Is lawyer
v the building a Wall street, George l.. Sihle
.e is delesate from New Jersey to i9S , Gen
~ G. II. W. Sibley Is an expert accountant VII
81, lfI,,tr ions Nan