The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1884-02-27
A MISERLY PHYSICIAN.
DOCTORS LIFE AND DEATH.
Curious Eccentricities In the Life OF DIR.
kimball-Nearly $4,000 Found In His
Den After Hls Decease-PbenonenaI
owl and Hornet Nest.

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subject OF gossip to the good people of
Blackstone, Mass, where he lived. The
other day he died in almost inconceivable
misery and squalor, but when his rooms
were searched afterward nearly eighty
thousand dollars was found concealed in
them. His career was, according ~ all
accounts, queer one. He came to the
place forty.three years ago, and then be
was a dandy in his dress. Indeed, the
children of quarter of century ago re-
member him as being particularly neat,
not only in his person and dress, but in ali
his surroundings.
The fitting up of his office, which he
built after time, and the furnishing of it
was something of marvel in those days,
everything that could possibly be of use to
MN III his practice in the way Of books,
surgical tools, skeletons and the like bel e
procured, aud those only of the best. The
impressions formed by the children who
were now and then permitted glance
within were something akin to visit now
adays to Il flrst.class anatomical museum,
while by many of their seniors he was
looked upon rs veritable Escuapius,
such remarkable knowledge of medicine
ana surgery did he seem to possess. Com
ing to the town at an unusually auspicious
tme for the practice of his profession, the
broad road to ailluence seemed opened TO
him at the outset.
AS time wore on he began to develop
hobby for erysipelas treatment, calling
everything In the shape Of humors, blood.
poisoning, ETC., erysipelas, which, indeed,
ne had good success in treating, whether
by its true name or otherwise In sur.
gerry he came TO be considered II sci
enlist, and, while enjoying large and
lucrative practice, he was troubled but lit.
tie with bad bills. Always OF an economi.
cal turn OF mind, he continued to lay by
his surplus, though not for many years at
the expense of reasonably good living.
Latterly, with the declining years and
the almost daily occurrence of defaultipg
cashiers, and variable declining OF stocks,
be began to lose all confidence in banks,
and was known to have withdrawn his
funds in considerable quantity from them,
though the secret of the change he would
have kept TO himself as securely as he did
the place or manner of deposit afterward.
By the collap,e of the Cranston Savings
Bank, in Providence, he lost consider
able sum, and this wrought marked
change in him, causing him almost to dis
trust his bost friend. Further than that he
was boarding his present resources some
where, no one had his confidence sufficient.
ly to form the least conjecture where.
Years ago he appeared to form strong
attachment for young lady who was be-
iieved to reciprocate the feeling toward
him. Things went on smoothly for time,
when she suddenly sickenei and died, un.
der circumstances rather adverse to her
physician lover. A few years later he
appeared to concentrate his affections on
another, and for awhile this courtship, a
matter Of common knowledge, was un.
RULED, apparently. After the lapse of
some time, during which the couple were
very often seen out together, a blight
seemed to have fallen in some way on
them, aud very rarely has the lady been
seen outside her house sinco-a matter of
twenty-five years-and never in the com.
pany of the dOc,Or. All the while, al.
though he made his nominal boarding.
plac, at her house he has lodged at his Office
In II back room, taking his meals with
this lady until within II few years, when
he has breakfasted aud supped of cracx.
ers, cheese, etc., at his ollice, continuing Co
take his dinners at the laly's table.
The singularity of this created no little
comment Tor long time, but a people be.
came more accustomed 10 it and his grow.
ing miserliness in other ways, IL ceased to
be noticed. The doctor was always
great reader, which he did not give up,
while growing all the while more and
more recluse, depending on a seat and
newspaper back of one Of the village
stores, and the libraries OF old acquaint.
ances FOR information on daily news and
matters pertaining to his profession, which
he did not neglect either in study or prac.
ticc. His habits were very simple and his
vices nominal. He was very fond of TO.
bacco could he have obtained 1t without
cost. Yet while he scorned to beg il or
other necessities or luxuries, he contented
himself with the smallest indulgence. Not
exactly relishng pipe, In which he
smoked only the cheapest tobacco, lie final.
ly abandoned it, having found brand of
cigars wi ich seemed to suit him, made of
the vilest weel obtainable, at the rate of
two cents edcl. Five of these suiIiced him
for a week, which, with ticket TO an oc.
casional circus, for which he had singu.
lar fancy, were all the luxuries he would
allow himself. When last seen on the
streets his condition for want of clothing
would have entitled him to the charity of
the poorest tramp. On finding him almost
lifeless In his cheerless room, and remoy.
ing his threadbare clothing, which was
literally alive with vermin, as was the
old lounge on which he slept, great
was the surprise on discovering an old
dirty pouch strapped about his neck, in
which was nearly $1,000 in bank bills,
while In purse In his trousers pocket was
another $1,000. About the entire rooms
were evidences Of the most pinching want,
the remains of a bag of crackers, well
nibbled by mice, showing what had been
his fare. Overhead, on its familiar place,
stood a stuffed owl, souvenir Of other
and better days, which, ON being taken
down as matter of curiosity, was found
to be literally stuffed with silver hali.dol.
lars. In another place hung monster
hornets nest, the old DOCTORS especial
pride. Years ago this was given him by
farmer friend in town, and on account of |
its remarkable size was made the subject
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