Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-12-11
he KEPT HIS PROMISE,
4 Man Who Sufsrsd Poverty and
Death
RATHER THAN saeAk THE PLEDGE
He Had Given Yean Ago to His Aged
Mother - The Strange and 10.
mantle History Of a
$500 Bill.

M. John RICHMOND was yVunS SApea'e'
working in this city. Like q great many
many youag men in all the departments
OF life he possessed the inclination to spend
more than be earned. On his birthday,
early in 1873, his mother-at that time IN
old lady Of some wea,th-said to him, after
giving him severe lecture upon his rsth.
er careless pecuniAry habits: Now, John,
here is $500 bill, which will give you as
a present IL you will sacred!y promise n
that you will not break II or part with 1t
in any way until give!you permission"
Although at that time the young man was
heavily in debt he gave the required
promise and eagerly grasped the $500 bill.
He had never seen 50 much money in his
life before, and felt like q full.iledged mil
lionaire as
lie Safely STOW ed IL Away.
Although he was more than heavily pressed
by his tailor. bootmaker and the various
other elements which form the noisiest fea-
lures Of the aversge American young man.
yet he firmly kept the promise he gave his
mother and that $500 bill remained intact
in the bottom of his trunk. Several times
donor to use She big bill 10 paw some OF mis-
sn all debts. but she was firm IN her refusal.
NO, John" she would emphaicslly say,
stop spending money, work, earn and
save aud thus pay those debts. IL Will
iesch you habits OF economy. You have
good trade aud can do this" While the
younr man was reckless, yet he Was faith.
ful TO his promise. and that 800 bill still
remained in miserly ssclusion.. Time,aiter
its accustomed fashion, rol.ed-or rather
trsyeled-on and suddenly one day the old
lady changed tho trials OF this mundane
sphere for the Great Unknown. Aud she
died without giving her sou liberty TO
break her birthday bill present
Hy the Sideor Her Coniu.
as he gszei upon her cold, lileless form.
the young man sacredly reso we'd THAI he
would ke, p that promise made during life.
Five years ago, s,ill after the sterr.otyp-d
fashion OF the ay-rsge American young
men, he met, woOed. won and u,srried
young lady in this city. For brief period
the goddess Of love, peace and sweet con-
tent rested upon him then one day he dis
covered that his wife was false 10 her mar
rirge VOWS. end when she was confronted
With the evidence Of her social sin she
ncd In her highi she carried with her all
the family valuables she could seize In her
haste. Among other articles OF less value
was that $500 bill. She was aware of its
place OF concealuent in their house, and
fully c0nverssnt with its peculiar history.
Mr.. Richmond, upon learning all, pursued
her with relentless fury. Tracing her from
city TO city, he at last found her.
"fRithIcss womnp," De cried.
when they met, go, you are worthless:
hut first return 20 me the five hundred dol
lar bill given to me by my mother. and
which you have. | have sacredly resolved
never TO part with II" For a time, woman
like, she refused, but ultimately terrified
by his threats that he would Kill her unless
she complied. backed by revolver which
he pointed At her. she handed him the
money. Then they separated forever. The
destruction Of hi- household idol and fam.
lily altar so upset The Young man mentally
that he plunged into the s,ethng, boiling
raldron Of dissipation. Soon the inevita.
tie result Of such course Of lie mani
tested itself, and few weeks ago he walked
the streets OF this city y tramp. Ragged,
dirty, hungry, frIcndess. forsAken by all
men. With bis heart void OF hope and his
brain overwhelming with despair, he
skuIkcG along. but pinned on the inside OF
his ial,cr'd. dirty shirt was that 500 bill.
lie had kept his promise. In the hour OF
hunger IN the day Of utter despair
In the Moment OF supreme De~pera-
he never fa!tsrcd or wavercd, hut main.
tanned the pledge he had given years ago.
Yesterday, ina low, cheap lodging house
IN this city, where n miserable pallet and
shelter can he obtained for ten cents, upon
lie iiIhy straw this poor fellow was found
lead. Ire few papers upon his person
seTe siowa IA aOrrespondent Among
hem Was d diary, iirty and greasy from
uOyrIly and exposure. Although the writ.
ing. wngCh was neraly all in pencil, was In
.uABt Irp,,s almost Iliegible, yet the cor
resp .'"ilt was rDabled 10 CLEAN from ~
he above nrrrst.d facts Of this poor unfor.
,unato, f.. There was also an envelope
With 80 fragments OF q greenblck, which
Rad Lr'n torn into many small pieces. Ia
addition was paper written in clear.
neat hand by q prominent bank official of
Ills city. which rad - follows:
,'. rroHF, November ~. lss3-ThI, AZ.
moo. - Irgged dirty fellow called upon
20 81 o. sroEfd me what appeared to me
% LraI,aUine 500 l'nited States green.
mk. W.. r,ktG me 10 give him this stat.
.,r' ~ "rrt."g that he had II In bis pos
session refused at first, but as he begged
40 hard have
and do So How he came by II or who he
~ can not BY. ne certainty Uust uc
crazy 10 wsnder around with DO much
money looking as he does.
In q different handwriting there was
found the following. evidently written by
the poor soul himself:
~ know | am about N die. ] have Q
diary which tells the true story OF my lie.
Many PEOPLE will say I .wss crazy 70 remain
rs was and di. NJ LIDO II ] really had
500 bill. Others wiii say that had not
the money. leaves paper signed BY .
kind hearted man, wsl!.knovn, which says
] showed Ito him. | snys kept the promise
the soul VOW made my mother. ] re-
solved that bill should never be broken,
and have Just torn.h mp into . thousand
little pieces. Now 70 70 meet her"
II 10 highly probable that the poor fellow
had becsrs inssos through his many
troubles. and that the peculiar msnia with
which be was s5ectei was that he must
keep tkst promise. That he thue died In
poverty and degradation in the posse.sioo
OF $40 bill Is almost proven beyond ths
shadow OF o do2bt.