The Lake Charles echo., 1885-03-28
Death Ofa NEiser Who Founded
"a Fortune by Stealing.

A dispatch from Hartford, Conn,
of March l6, says Pelig Kenyon,
aged go, recently died in Griswold, a
rival manufacturing village in the
eastern part of this State, leaving
property worth, it is estimated, at
$75O,000 Kenyon was bachelor,
lank, keen-cyed and bald, and a typi-
cal Yankee. He died miserable
miser The boast of his life was that
he started a machinist at II, and at
81 was worth $4,000.
PeIig Kenyofs mother was a hard
| listed Yankee woman, honest but am
bitious. When her son left the old
farm, more than two score years ago,
the widow was mad at him. She took
hold of the plow handles herself, and
told Pclig never to come back until
he made his pile. He finally got a
position as watehman Mt Henry Hen
derson's large warehouse. One Sat-
urday afternoon the house received
after banking hours a cash payment
of $l05,00o for a crop of molasses.
The meney was placed in the cash-box
in the office for safety. The safe was
both fire and burglar proof, and the
presence Of trusty watchman in the
building convinced Mr.. Henderson
that the packages of bills would be
as secure there as anywhere. That
night, as soon as Kenyon was left
alone, he opened the safe and the
cash-box, stuffed the bills into his
pockets, locked the doors behind him,
walked to the depot and took the
evening train for Putnam, Conn. At
l2 o'clock that night he drove up to
the old homestead in GriswoId At 5
the next morning he was at the Put
nam depot again, but minus the mo.
ney. Sunday night he resumed bis
duties as night watchman in the ware
house of Henry Henderson. lie was
arrested on suspicion, but nothing
could be proved against him. One
day Mr.. Henderson walked into his
cell and said: "Peiig, this thing has
gone on long enough. You stole that
money"
"WeII, what if did 7" cooIIy re-
piled PeIig.
"What if you did! you scoundreI ;
why, III send you to prison for life"
"No you won't, Mr.. Henderson,
Massachusetts law provides seven
years only for the man who steals
from his employer" Polig replied
langhingly.
"What do you meanl' said Mr..
Henderson.
II can't earn 100000 in seven
yours, Mr.. Henderson, and you know
! am bocnd to be a rich man. Now,
| have got that much, and after Fve
been punished seven years for taking
it it's mine ; don't you seel'
The merchant was batied. For
100000 Mr. Henderson finally signed
an instrument putting Kenyon ont of
harms way, with the lions share of
the money in his pockets Kenyon
was released, and went at once to
Griswold, crawIed under the horse
stable in the red barn at the old home
stead, and drew forth the bundle of
100000 in bills intact. He countcd
out S75, 1000, and, going into the house,
said to his mother: MARY, there's
my pile"
'No good will come of it, my son."
she sternly responded.
In ten years he had doubled and
trebIcd his fortune, but in the mean
time his mother had died, as had all |
his near relatives. He went back to
the old farm in Griswold, and made |
it the fairest in the land. But the |
honest country people held aloof from
him, and for the rest of his life PeIig |
Kenyon lived alone, a soured and |
rapidly aging man, with no enjoy
ment, save the Piling up and gloating |
over his ill-gotten wealth. He was
found dead, alone, in front of his
treasure-chest, sitting upright in his
chair.