Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1883-11-22
JOHN NEWTON, THE MISER.
A STRANGE STORY OF ITOARDER
WEALTH AND SQUALOR.
Hanging to His Cash Until Death Stared
Him i'm the Face---The Strange Story
of Man Who Went Over the
Falls of Niagara.
{ Correspondence Of the atlanta Constitution,

Correspondence Of the -4Hanta Constitution.)
The little hamlet of Ledyard Centre,
Coon, has lost its most important fac
tor in the death of John Newton
The township p eR,braced many Of his
broad acres, but from them the hamlet
itself derived little benefit, as John
was miser. The first money that he
ever earned was for chopping wood in
the pine swamp. The amount was
$50, and he Immediately put it in a
bank, where it has remained to the
present day, having increased to s3,-
900 In shaving notes and loaning
money John has accumulatel Il fortune
Of $4,000. His residence among the
rocky hills of Lcdyard Centre was
simple hovel, which is on the verge
Of tumbling down. AS careful miser
rs John was, he was outwitted at last,
Among the visitors at his fathers house
when he was a young man was spin
ster named Chaity Norman. She was
country tailorcss, and went from
house to house to replinish the mems
wardrobcs for the winter. Johns
father was unlike his son and loved
jolly company and good clothes, and
frequently Charity would be called
upon to spruce up his old garments
and make new ones according to the
latest fashion. One day Colonel New
ton,' as he was called, died very sud
denly. Charity lent helping hand
to John Newton, the son, in his bercave-
mcnt. She cooked the dinner, made
the butter and proved such valua-
bic housckecper in every respect that
John was 10th to part with her. He
finally persuaded her to become his
wifi. However, before the wedding
day had arrived John suddenly chang
ed his mind and tried to get rid of her.
Charity had big brother, and to this
brother she appealed for advice. He
became indignant, and in an interview
with John threatened many pleasant
things, among them breach of prom
ise suit if he did not carry out his for
mer intentions The damage done to
his sisters heart he claimed was $500
worth. John considered the subject
and finally concluded to save the $500
l-bs-s,aerr.i-ss ~ l,ess1, -zrlsiizsts- -ha.d:1 Ia
& few days ago, when Johns life
was drawing to Il close, he sent for a
| Philadelphia relative TO whom he in
tended to give his property. The rel
ative came and began arranging mat
tcrs with him. His wife Charity learn
| eel enough from their talk to convince
| her that certain worthless mortgages
would be given her as her share, while
! the relative received the cash. She
resolved to circumvent that little plan,
and, going up stairs, she discovered
John Newton's private savings bank
under the caves III the garret. She
found it contained 5000 in gold coin,
$500 in silver and $27 900 in bonds
and securities. She went quietly to a
lawyer in Norwich for advice. Re-
turning home she continued her house
hold duties, and later visited tire chest
in the attic taking with her a big din
ncr-pot, and, raising the lid of the chest,
she transferred the contents to the her
kettle, and then returned to the kiteli-
en-. placing the treasure under the sink.
In the morning John Newton be-
came aware that he was dying, and,
wishing to settle matters, requested
that his wife go and get his chest of
money. She refused, and in strong
terms upbraided him for striving to
take away her lawful portion. The
lawyers present became wild, as did
the relative, but to all their en-
treaties she turned a deaf car. She
would not go for the money. AS q
last resort John asked her how much
she would take to relinguish all claims
to the property, and she promptly, re,
piled $4,000 in cash. The papers
were drawn up and duly signed, where
upon Charity produced the kettle and
poured out the contents before there
;,stonishcd gaze. The $4,000 wa:
counted out and paid her and hardly
had the will been signed before Johi
Newton breathed his last.