The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-07-22
Tho "Peusant Millionaire


by the murder of Josef Wcycrat Szcntcs,
Hungary, the Emperor of Austria has losi
one of his wcalthicst and most noteworthy
subjccts-a peasant who was much more
curious character than nincty-nine out of u
hundred peers md princes of the realm.
Wcyer was popularly known as the 'peas
ant millionaire" Sixty years ago he began,
life as small farmer. At the time of his
death he enjoyed an income Of 500, 900 gul-
den, in spite of which he lived in a modest
farm. house, dressed like peasant, ate food
which his wife cooked, and indulgcd i'm nc
luxury except horseback riding.
The latter might be regarded as a ncccs-
sity though. Like most Hungarian farmers,
he was IN extensive cattle breeder, and his
herds were scattered over miles of vast era-
zing plains. lie counted his houses and
farms, too by the score, and up to the day
of his death kept all of his vast possessions
under his personal supervision.
Many curious stories are told Of the old
farmer prince and his eccentric ways. lie
was peasant to the core in spite of his en-
oimous wealth, and looledit. At one time
he bid at an auction sale of oxen, which,
according to Hungarian fashion, were put
up Dy yokcs There were 300 yokes, and
thc Old man bought the whole 600 beasts
! Inc auctlonccr was stranger, and when
the miserable, shabby little granger who had
bid so steadily was pointed out 70 him, lac
waXcd wroth.
'Josef Weycr," he said, edo you not
know that it is f.rbiddcn by law to hoax a
public auctionccr2"
''Surcly, sir, surely" was the reply.
"Ihe price of these oxen you have bid
for must be paid down. Cash do you un-
dcrstand7 Cash |"
! The old man divcd into the breast of his
| dingy Dolman, hauled out ragged old blue
silk handkerchief, and without word
counted out pile of 1000 guldcn notes,
that made the auctionecr's mouth water.
'lt's pity you have no more bullocks, {"
lie said, as he rolled the remaining notes IN
and stuffed them back into his breast; II
was i'll hopes to be able to buy a thousand
or So.
During the state of siege which succeed
ed the Hungarian revolution an edct was
enacted for'idding thepeasants OF the Thesis
valley to use saddle horses without spc-
cial permit from the military governor.
One day some gcnseParn,es overlook
| josef Wcycr riding along some twenty miles
from SZcntcs, on his fuvoritc horse and de-
mandcd his pass.
"lt is at home in my house in Szentes, T"
he said
"Indccd And how is it that you ven
ture to aifront the law by travelling.
| am only visiting my estates"
The gems 'dTn'es grinncd. They fan
cicd they had prize in this old bcggar who
with sweep of his hand claimed proprie-
torship of dozen leagues of land. Per-
haps lie was even one of the dreaded revo-
lutionists. At any rate, they arrested him,
| laughed at his request to send to his house
for his pass, and rs the Judge was busy Or
dcring insurgents off by patches to the fort
ross or the grave he was locked up for scv-
eral days lie did not grumblc, and true
to his busy instincts pottcred around the
Jail doing light chores till small official
who knew him found him cleaning a win
dow. .., ...
"Good Heavens, Herr Weyer |" he ex-
claimed, "what are You doing here -
Don't you see, my son Cleaning the
windows The genS-day arrested me
because had no pass"
| The man secured his release at once. A
short time aftcrward, on the day of his mar
riage, lawyer handed him the deeds of a
comfortable little farm and ten COWS and
oxen. Old Josef Wcycr had not forgotten
|
Weyer purchased his first farm from
Count Steven Karoly, who let him have it
on very easy terms, in view Of his proverty.
Marshal Haynan fined the Count half
million guldcn for bcfricnding Kossuth,
after the capture of Ofcn by the imperial
troops. The Counts resources were badly
crippled at the time, and his steward was
i'll despair at his inability to make up the
amount of the imposition, when little old
man, smelling rankly of sour milk, called
on him and stated that he had heard Count
Steven wanted to borrow some money.
"Wel, what business of yours is that 2"
81 thought might help a little, sir. The
Count was good friend to me once-God
bless him land would like to help him
if could"
| The steward laughed heartily.
'Why, my dear fellow, do you know
how much money the Count needs 2"
''EXcuse memo, SIR"
"rwo hundred thousand gulden. Do
you know how much money that isl"
'Iook look !" muttered the old man,
scratching his car. 'Why, haven't
brought that much with me, to be sure"
81 should fancy not"
'But here is a hundred and eighty thou.
sand. I'll 60 home and bring the rest in
the morning" a.
Josef Wcyer was assassinatcd most bru-
tally by drunken vagabond at public
house in SZcntes. The miscrcant who was
mad drunk, was shot dead by the police in
attempting to secure him. The colossal
fortune of the peasant millionaire will prob.
ably go to the State, as his wife Is dead,
| knnWn n "a I,nir