New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-02-20
A MISER'S MISSING WEALTH.
PITIFUL END OF JAMES HENRY PAINE.
DYING IN WANT IN A soUALrD GARRET, THOUGH
WORTH HALE MILLION DOLLARS.

somewhere pile of money estimated at $500,0OO hC
refused IN his last moments to employ doctor or tc
procure the slightest physical comfort alleging that lie
was IN abec poverty. Mr.. Paine born Boston In
1912 AMI received classical education
at Harvard College. His parents people
OF wealth and when he attained his majority young
Paine came into possession Of fortune. lie began bis
by writing articles finance and music for the
Boston newspapers, and because Of his criticisms
soon widely known. But even in his youth he had ac
qulred msery habits and they grew upon him with his
advancing years Too parsmonous TO buy decent gar
mens, his personal appearance sovenly and repu
He loaned MS money tho street at usury aud
resored to sharp tricks that soon made his reputation in
Boston as bad as his personal appearance He became
known Shylock among the brokers and
money LENDERS. Using tho columns of the newspapers
that empo6d HIM TO further his gains he discharged
from his position. Thomas j. Lobde broker to whom
| Paine had loaned money, died In 1854 owing Paine
$4,000. The debt secured by good stocks On the
day after LObdes death Paine had the stocks sold at
forced sale and bid them In himself at low figure.
These and similar transactions got the such
bad odor that he forced By public sentiment TO leave
Boston. Packing his wealth, estimated at nearly
100000 IN stocks and bonds. in old halr-coyered
| trunk he came to this city in 1866.
! The shulling, poorly-clad figure of Mr.. Paine
has been familiar figure uptown for over eighteen
| years. His passion for music made him known to mu-
sicans and music lovers here. For while he wrote
steal criticisms for tho daily newspapers But his
msery instincts strong that he could not
employment that line long For many years, ragged
and dirty park tramp he haunted theatre lObbies,
concerthalls and churchdoors-any place where there
was good music to be heard Though he spoke
about himself his former history generally known
Great told OF his wealth and much kind
ness shown him, in tho hope that he would remen-
Der substantially In his WILL Since his death there has
been vigorous search for that document well as for
the wealth which Is believed have hidden away,
| but neither has been found.
Paine lived in Now-YOrk with one Luer Frenchman,
who has two-story and ahalf brick dwelling at No. III
| Bleeoker-st Latterly Pane paid IS month for his
| room. His bed straw mattress, with sheet
upon it, and a straw bolster In corner old,
ronbound trunk ono day in tho early part OF December
last he shuned into Mr.. Luers room and remarked, In
| plantve voice.
81 had little money in that trunk, but that II Is
gone"
Mr. Luer tried to get tho old say how no
had lost, but he refused, simply indicating roll about
three inches thick. Finally he admitted that It
"about 10000 francs" The old mser had lost the key
TO his lie too penurous to buy another and
while he was absent one day man who boarded In the
house had red his trunk Of the $4,000 Mr. Luer told
him 80 Police Headquarters and report his loss.
This lie did but tho thicf not found On December
- Paine down tho City Hail. thinking to lay the
theft OF the money before Mayor It a slippery
day and INK his footing the ice he fell and broke
his leg The fran form o. the old man shiyerlng In hs
scanty clothes borne by two policemen into
tho CITY Hall Police Station. An ambulance
from the Chambers street Hospital bore him to tnat
Institution. lie gave his name John Henry aud SAID
that he ved 40. ll9 Bceoker-sL In his possession
was found l3 cash After the Old mans leg set
with big spnt that from his foot To his shoulder
ne surprised doctors by insisting on being taken
home They told hm he must keep quiet but he per.
sisted desire be home. u said that he had
large amount OF money IN his room and no feared that
hc would lose II. Eventually the ambulance took the
IN mi-eT BlccckCr-st,
had IN finding the right place because OF the false adj
drcs, be had gycu IL was 10 o'clock ~ night when 10
( up and lad On the nthy straw mattress IN
tile cherries attic room. 10 his old French landlord
Paine said that he would not have doctor as he could
afford IT, lie refused to have any proper nonrSh-
bOucnt. Mr. LIcr aud his wife tended him kindly,
bry OF 80 81 West FJurth-st called to SEQ Pane ana
told HIM that II he had any money be should spend 10 Tor
proper treatment. Paine shook hls neal, say ing again
that hc would not have doctor He grew thinner ard
thinner TOOK less loud every day ana refused 10 take bis
clothes on on ;he morning or December - when tho
Old Frenchmau took mp lancs breakfast OF Cruel and
beef tea he found that death had come III the night ana
ended tho OLD mlser's career
News OF Pancs death reached John :. Dngwa. who
has kept beer and blizzard place In the basement ot No.
pi % has, Gcn almost daily visitor there DingwaIl
No. IL Blecckcrst amt searched the dead mans
FOR OF the VIII or the fabulous amounts Of
noncy which ne had always heard the Old man had But
he found nothing Diugwal. then sent Tor Uudcrtaker
John Harold OF No go Eighth ave, VINO came aud put
tho body, clad sulI IN the old greasy clothes
big sphnt su! fastened to the body,
ia 4 plain white coffin. Two days Htcrward the body
buried in Mount OliycL There wero no funeral
services. ,..,.--.,
Mr. Dugwall ycsorday. " lie talented man OreX-
among artists VINO made my place resort Paine wrote
AT that time for Henry G. Watsons Art JoU1at Thco.
dore Thomas George W. Morgan, Carl Rosa. Ole Bull
aud OF others would come here. They would talk
with him and while they would not SIT at tho
table him his unclcan clothes they would
pay meal for him. He would take Whatever was
given him Neither nor anyone else that knew him
ever saw him spend money. Yet knew he was rch
or had been Ich aud many OF us were KIND 10 nm think
ing IL back In his Will lc lived for years
of IN !.
member 0t the stock Exchange then clerk Tor
H. II. BoOdy at No 10 Wall-st, who was friend OF
mine, I'm and told me that he had drawn check
$4,000 to the order OF old Paine. the old tramp
H. H. Body said to a TRIBUNE reporter last night;
"ln 500 agent for the Chicago aud Northwestern
Railroad, and as such paid TO MI PANE more tha1 |
1880 600 for bonds OF tho road that lie owned. held
the bonds for long iime and thought II sranSe tnat
coupons were not collected. hhay wrote 10 bestoh 20
nnd out where Mr. Paine was No one knew rs he had |
left city, but IN about month shabby old man with
long gray whiskcrs and an Intelligent my
office Ie said that he had learned that wanted To see
Henry Paine gave him a check through Grecnlcaf, |
Norris the Union Bank for the amount lie in
sisted having 1t In greenbacks lie wrapped the pio
of $500 and 900 bills up In an old newspaper and left
the ONCE: lie wanted me first to meet him In park
for 100000 with me to speculate with. lie withdrew
iaion He died with all that money somewhere know.
He was too shrewd ever to have lostit"
teenths said that he held power OF attorney from
Paine; that he had collected $4,000 from the Chicago
Land Company him and paid II to HIM, and that that
was the money stolen from him by the Frenchman.
Robert Treat Paine, OF Boston, who died SIX months
ago and beaueathcd S300.000 10 Harvard College, was
brother Of James Henry Paine The latter and Robert
Treat Paine's widow were contestants Of the Will %
story published yesterday that LaDan b
Beechcr Boston, executor Of tho estate or0no Whtou
or that city whom James Henry Paine had cheated had
followed the msrr this city and the latter had taken
him 10 "A brownstOno mansion In FlfthaNe., shown
him q pile OF ~ 100000 in bonds aud refunded the
amount due Whitons estate about $4,000 This story
is credited by Panes acquantahces mere III IL PC
lleved that the Public Administrator, now that no mas
heard that the old mser worth more than the $40
found In his trunk after death, VIII begin vigorous
search for the missing stocks and bonds. few news
paper clippings, secondhand clothes and
some notes showing that the dead man had leaned
money 10 Joe Seagrst the tlckot speculator and
others were all that found In the trunk Mr. DinG
wall said that Paine was accustomed carry around
with him big roll of bills thick the hub OF Broad
way truck.
pERSUIyG THE ONO BRIBE-TAKERS