The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-09-21
SANBORN'S TWO-SIDED LIFE.
A New England Man Who Acquired a
Large Fortune by the Basest Means.
And at the Same Time Appeared in His Ma
tive Town Model of Morality-A
Unique Social Sensation.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.

BOSTON, Sept. 20-There died in brothel in
this city, on Friday. the 4th inst, Edward s.
Sanborn. an old man, rich but unmarried, who
has been known to the police for many years as
the proprietor of various houses of prostitution
There was buried in Kingston, n. H, three days
later, Major Edward S. Sanborn, a prominent
and public-spirited citizen who was widely
known in his native State as liberal patron of
the cause of education and religion. The strange
story of the dual life of this man-for the con-
trasted descriptions truthfully apply to the same
Individuals exposed to public attention by aeon
60. .-st begun over the settlement of his large
estate Ths litigation which is pending will
doubtless develop the greatest F''iAi senss''ioH
New England has had in many
day. Edward Sanborn c:>rne of good New
Hampshire stock He was born sixty
years ago, in Kingston, as was his fathsf before
him. One of his sisters, the widow of Dr.
Bartlett, grandson of Governor Bartlett one of
the signers of the Declaration of independence,
still occupies of the finest residences in the
town. But Edward had in his composition a
streak of grossness that, with more aristocratic
instincts, made strange combination. About
thirty years ago he seems to have deliberately
determined to live double existence. In his
own town he has led upright life, has sup
ported various public improvements, and in turn
has been honored by his fellow townsmen, who,
few years ago. sent him to represent them in
the Legislature. But although retaining his
citizenship in Kingston. Mr.. Sanborn has spent
the greater portion of his time during these three
decades in Boston. His record in this city has
1oa s
money getter. His share of the estate of his
father, who died about twenty five years ago,
was some $4,000 In company with various
women he began keeping brothels at the West
End The places were not of the lowest sort, and
he made money quite rapidly. He increased his in
vestments in the nefarious business and continued
to grow rich, until he had accumulated fully
$780, 600 He lived a most miserly existence No
one enjoyed having business dealings with him,
for he insisted on realizing more for his money
than any one else could get. So parslmonious
was he in his life in this city that even after be
beca me feeble he would walk a mile and half
rath er than pay a horse-car fare. His last
scheme in Boston was undertaken about five
ears ago, when he proposed to build the most
gorgeous house of prostitution in The country. The
voted to the vile purpose proposed the owner
was taken seriously illand he finally was com
PEELED t. sell it.
About seventeen years ago Mr.. Sanborn met
in this city Miss Julia A. Hilton, then a very
pretty girl, from Maine, only nineteen years
old. From that time until her death, in
April last the two have lived TO-
gether. The most sincere affection seemed
always to exist between them. but
they never married. Miss Hilton was partner
in all the business schemes of her paramour. and
during the last few years has been the mistress
of the house of il-fame No. 20 Lyman street,
which Mr. Sanborn owned, and where he made
his home and finally died She as shrewd
business manager as he and accumulated
property which has just been nventoried at over
$50, coo. After making few trifiing requests,
she bequeathed the bulk OF this property to
Mr. Sanborn. Her will has rot yet been proved,
and her relatives in Wells, Me-. will contest it
the ground of undue influence on the part of
Sanborn. The trial Of this case will bring out
the same story that the contest of Sanborn's
will will expose.
Mr.. Sanborn began about FIVE years ago to
consider plans for the disposal of his wealth. A
will which he made at that time bequeathed
$40 600 to Dartmouth College, and made mis- sis
ters and their children, and son Of Ex-Governor
Noyes, of Ohio, ten in all. his residuary lega-
tees. Governor Neyes, it should be stated, was,
Wnen BOY, a ScnOOlmate OF SdnOOrn, In h1E gS-
ton. Not long after his will was made. there
breach in the relations between Mr.. San
born and his heirs -at-law, caused in part by re-
ports being brought to him to the effect that
they had denounced him for his manner of life
III Boston He declared that he would strike all
mention of them from his will. At the same
time he said to friends that he did not feel
satisfied to leave his property to Dartmouth.
because the gift would be mentioned for day
and then would be forgotten. He wanted to do
something for his own town and at the same
time to leave lasting memorial of his name.
He proposed, ALSO to immortalize the name of his
mistress-ror during the last years of his life he
made no secret of his relation with her. He
even provided in his will that she should be
buried by his side if she or her friends desired
it, and he had erected in the village cemetery
magnificent white marble monument. Upon
side cut,
MAJOR EDWARD S. SANBORN,
Born, Nov. 8, 1915
Died, -
Upon the reverse, in similar letters are the
words.
A