Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-09-07
BEN nILL DYING POOR.
Making an Immense Fortune
and Losing ID Again.
From tho Atlantic IGa.l CoD,lilution.

From the Atlantic (Ga.1 Constitution.
| once heard a lawyer Of judgment
assert that Mr.. Hill made more money
by the practice of his profession, con-
sidering the years he was engaged in
the practice, than any other lawyer in
America. He cited the case of Judge
Curtis, Of the Supreme Court, who
held to have the most lucrative prac-
tice, and who made $400.0 600 in ten
years. Mr.. hill himself told me that
he made over $4,000 a year for the
first fifteen years of his practice.
Judge Sam Harris says he has author
ity for saying that Mr.. Hill made $780,
900 at the law up to 1860. As this
allowed him fourteen years Of practice
the average was about $34, 900 a year.
During that time he made a canvass
for Congress, for Governor, twice as
Elector, and served two terms in the
Legislature. Treasurer Dan Speer
knew Mr.. Hill intimately all his life.
There was no bank in LaGrange In
the old days and Mr.. Hill used to de-
post his fees in the safe in DR.. More
lands Office, where Mr.. Speer was. He
says that his income from fees as
shown by his deposits were enormous,
and that the cash on hand was fire..
quently very large. Mr.. Hill was in
every important case in Western
Georgia, and later in nearly every big
case in the State. He named his own
fees. He bought negroes aud lands
with his surplus, and always had more
than he could possibly use. He lost
his negroes and much other property
by the war, and yet was worth about
100000 when he left LaGrange in
1869.
Since that time Mr.. Hill has never
given his whole time to practice, but
nc has made an enormous amount of
money. He made in 1863 one fee in a
case in East Tennessee of $400,O 900 in
Confederate money, equal to about
$780, 900 in gold. In 1865 he had a fee
of $4,000 in the famous Metcalf
case, but only collected about $50, 600.
The balance he failed to sue to judg.
ment. Mr.. Metcalf dying he failed to
get his balance, when other judgments
against the estate we're paid, being
barred by limitation. His fee in the
Western and Atlantic lease case was a
share in the lease and lease bonds that
paid him about $l25, 900. He received
one share Of the lease as his originally.
He bought with Mr.. NuttinQ one
other share, each taking halt. he
took one share from Mr.. Kimball as a
fee, paying off a small mortgage on it.
This gave him two and a half shares.
On these he drew 100000 of income
bonds, they being Issued at the rate of
$4,000 to each share. Shortly after
ward he sold the shares for $4,000
to Mr.. Walters. He, therefore, drew
Sl50,OO from lease shares. The ex-
penses on the Kimball shares and the
one he bought with Nutting amounted
to about $25, 600, leaving him net
$4,000. His fee in the Kimball
house case was an interest in the
hotel, which he sold, after deriving
considerable rent for $4,000, George
Adair and Mrs. Kimball buying Il.
He drew one fee of $l2.500 from the
company. and another of $4,000 that
| know Of. A case IN New York paid
him $4,000, and he had many $1,000
fees. 1t is certainly safe to say that
he has made 81 100000 by his tongue
and brain as fees by the time he was
fifty years old. This record is without
parallel, the nearest approach proba
bly, being Henry Ward Beeoher, who,
as lecturer, preacher, and writer. is
said to have made 81, 0O0,O 900 up to his
K ty-fourth year. Equal to what Mr..
Hill made in one profession up to
his tftieth year. When We consider
that Mr.. Hill spent ten of those years
at best principally in politics, while
Dir. Beecher gave all Of his to- profes
sional work, the difference is the more
striking.
1t seems incredible tL.at MIR. Hill
should have spent all this princely in.
come-and yet he dies a poor man.
The explanation is easy. He never
made a good Investment in his life,
and never cared to. His first invest
ment in LaGrange was $3.50 in a pat
ent washing machine, which he lost.
He never invested in property that
give him an income. He spent Law.
ishly, bought layishly. made easily,
and gave freely. He never denied his
family, or any member oft the slight
est within or caprice. His home in
LaGrange was a princely one.
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