Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1879-07-24
"A Strange Story.
MILLIoNAIRE's FATE-HIs DYING
MARRIAGE AT HEN
[From the Richmond Dispatch. I

From the Richmond Dlspatch]
James II. Wheatlev left Tennes-
SEQ for Brooklyn over twenty five
years ago, when lad of sixteen
years. Being penniless be pitched
IL with will, and at the age OF
thirty-eight found himself a mil
llonaire, married an estimable lady
of Brooklyn, and turned his atten-
ton to the doing of good works.
I He was chief mover in many char
liable schemes, presented rectory
to ST. Peters Episcopal parish,
and founded much needed home
for consumptives. He lived in IA
magnificent house. He did not
drink, chew or smoke. The panic
of 1873 came, and Mr.. Wheatley
found himself crippled. He left
the sugar business and went to
Philadelphia to manufacture water
proof cloth. Later he went into
the shirt business in New York.
On the night of August 27, 1878.
Officer Cannon, of the New York
police, found Mr. Wheatley lying
on the sidewalk at the corner OF
Charles and Morton streets. He
was moaning piteously for help.
His vest was unbuttoned, and his
rnffied shirt and collar betokened
struggle. lie seemed under the
influence of a powerful drug. To
the officer the PROSTATE man said
he had been robbed and nearly
murdered by highwaymen. He
painfully told the story of the as
sault upon him. AS he was walk
ing along Sixth avenue, just at
dark, he said he was suddenly as
saulted by three men, who threw
him down and began to beat him.
They then tore open his vest and
robbed him OF $4,000 in money
and bonds. On the person Of the
victim were found securities valued
at S15, 900, together with a small
sum of money, valuable gold
watch, and set of diamond studs.
The police did not credit the story
of Mr.. Wheatley, but his friends
to this day express the opinion
that he was robbed. He was taken
to hospital aud leaving it the
next day without a goodbye to his
wife, disappeared. Then it was
discovered that he was defaulter
to a large amount. Detectives
who were put upon his track found
him at HendelsonYille, small
mountain town in North Carolina,
bnt found him on bis death bed.
lie had entered Eendersonville
last winter, ragSed, foot sore, and
sick. He worked, though, and
stayed in the town. where be made
the acquaintance of woman
named Josephine Bond. Her rel
atlves were in good circumstances.
A warm attachment quickly sprang
up between Mr.. WheatIey and
Miss Bond. Although the former
was somewhat eccentric in his be,
haVior, his acquaintances attrib'
uted it to his illness, and had no
idea that he was demented. Mr..
Wheatley's illness grew upon him.
He suffered from Blight's disease
of the kidneys. Miss Bond fre
quently visited the house where he
boarded and tenderly nursed him.
Her attentions gave rise to some
scandal, and in order 10 stop the
gossip Miss Bond proposed to Mr..
" heatley that they should be mar
ried, and that he should be taken
to her house. The insane fugitive
readily assented, and when he was
i'll a dying condition clergyman
was summoned, and the ceremony
was so,emnized. Mr.. Wheatloy
was then borne to Miss Bonds
house on a bed, from which he
never stirred until his death. The
woman he lad welded tenderiy
nursed him until his demise, and
then his remains were buried iu
the village church yard. An init
mate personal friend of the former
millionaire, hearing of his sad end,
has just brought the body to
Brooklyn, and inferred it 10 Green
wood Cemetery