Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-03-09
A NrrsER's MILLION.
q Part OF PaIne's Wealth Found, But
the Major Portion sun Missing.

From The Non Y0re Journal
Some OF the money belonging to misei
James Henry Paine, who recently died IL
saualor on Blocker street, is turning up
In October. 1861, Paine took to the Metro
poIitan National Bank draft for s59,JOl
drawn bv a Chicago bank. He received
ia exchange for it Sl2,50O in cash and four
certificates OF deposit Of $4,000 each.
The Metropolitan bank is now in course
of LIQUIDATION. Yesterday one OF the adj
minstrat0rs Of Paine's estate presented
the certificates and got the $4,000. Inc
administrators never would have known
OF the existence of the money II the bahk
officials had not impaired the information
The certificates did not draw interest.
III they did the interest alone by COM
pounding would have added $zOO,uoV 10
the amount.
Paine used to come 70 the Dank once IN
awhile and ask:
sis this the Metropolitan bankP
ssYesU the dOorman would reply.
.Do Won think it is safe@' Paine would
ask.
ssYes," the doOrman would say.
Thereupon Paine would go away with
out another word.
Tbough Paine was known TO have pos
sessed vast sums of money in his lifetime
Ia million or mOre-the amount brought
to light yesterday is the first trace that
has been found of his wealth. SO sedu-
lous was be in caring for his wealth that
his burial as pauper on last Christmas
day was because 1t was supposed be was
not worth enough TO provide a decent
burial.
He wrote brilliant and biting musical
and dramatic criticisms for daily news
papers, but he was 80 unkempt that man.
Bgers Of the places of amusement would
not tolerate him in a seat alongside OF
6dy people. He would hasten out at the
DiOse of an entertainment and follow some
acquaintance to restaurant and taking
seat near beg for the pieces of bread
and meat that were lett.
1t has been said by persons knowing
him that he scarcely spent more than $25
year In food. He begged his living OF
persons who took pity on him because
they thought him wretchedly poor. He
had garrett in a house in Canal street
before taking the miserable room in
Blocker street. The man who rented II
20 him said that he slept there in the most
bitterly cold weather with no fire and no
covering. He Rugged the chimney like a
halt-fF0zen animal.
Yet all this time be was worth hun
dreds OF thousands OF dollars and his
writings were bringing him enough to
keep him in comfort.
james "a. Body, Paine's old banker,
has no doubt that the miser was worth in
the neighborhoOd of $500 600. On single
occasion he paid Paine $3.50, 900, and the
old man took the money away under his
battered coat. He WAS in constant terror
lest people should think him rich, and
was continually on his guard to keep up
the impression that he was poverty
stricken.
In business transaction one day Paine
took person to house IN Fifth avenue.
where man, in obedience to the miser's
command, delivered over lot of bonds.
This person cannot remember the loca-
ton of the house, otherwise it might be
the means, possibly, OF revealing the hid
ing place Of Pains's wealth.
Search for the house was renewed on
the discovery Of the certificates of deposit
in the Metropolitan bank, and the inquiry
will now be pushed with greater vigOr, as
1t IS hoped that clews can be found that
VIII disclose the concealed riches.
The person who went with Paine to the
Fifth avenue house said the man, who
seemed TO be Paine's business agent, had
as much as 81, 100000 in securities.