The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1886-02-24
A MYSTERIOUS MISER.
Romantic Circumstances Attending the Life
and Death of 8 Strange Mortal.
Detailed Account OF the Burning of a Fam
lily of Seven Persons in Wisconsin
Horrible Death of the Wife of
Yale Professor.

BOSTON, Feb. 20.-The Traveller prints remark
able story about James Henry Paine, grandson
OF Robert Treat Paine, one OF the signers of the
Declaration of independence. There died in New
York City, some two weeks ago. in squalor and
abject wretchedness man who, up to some thirty
years ago. was well known here in Boston in jour-
nalistic circles as a musical critic of more than
average ability, and financial reporter OF I'M
common keenness. On the street he was known
as one of the most misery, INSCRIPTIONS ana
grasping Of usurious money lenders, His name
was James Henry Paine. He was born in Boston
In 1872 and was educated in the public schools
and 1S26 he began business for himself, and soon
became musical and financial reporter for the
Post and soon after was employed by the Travel
Ter asits financial reporter. He inherited quite
property IRON his fathers estate, and began his
business of loaning money on the street at high
rates of interest His habits even at this time,
were misery in the extreme and his personal ap-
pearanee was repulsive because OF his slovenly
dress and person. He gained on the street an I'M
euviable notoriety for his practice of loaning
money on stocks and then bearing the stocks
through the columns of.the paper on which
he was employed. This naturally led to his loss
OF employment financial writer and his per-
s0nal habits became more disgusting, and his
greed for money increased.
In the latter part of 1884. owing to questona-
bic financial transaction. Boston became too hot
for him and he departed for New York. His only
into which he packed all his earthly possessions.
His brother the late Robert Treat Paine, frequent
IL said that he had no doubt mis- brother James
carried away in that old trap OF a trunk not less
than $4,000 or $4,000 in gold securities, mostly
bonds. He was next accidentally met in New
York by the executor OF an estate which he had
defrauded. He was arrested and taken to the
Tombs, where after some parleying, Paine prom
ised if he might be released, to make good the
amount of the stocks and other property which
belonged to the estate.
The executor went with him to a large brown
stone front house on Fifth avenue, where they
were admitted without question, and on entering
q finely furnished room Paine asked a man they
complied and brought large quantity OF bonds,
which Paine piled on a table and counted out to
the executor hfty-siX one thousand dollar bonds
without making any perceptible diminutiOn OF
then about New York. He finally became so rag
ged and filthy that he was arrested as vagrant
and sent to the Island. Come acquaintance, who
knew of his musical ability, raised a pbrse of
some $50. secured his release and procured him
preSentable S. Z OF clothes. Subsequently il was
known that he hired room in Canal street, to
which no one was admitted. He grew so wretch
ed and sank so low that he was seen on the street
holding his hat, begging Tor pennies to purchase
food.
rags which covered his person, some two or three
hundred dollars were found secreted in them,
and this was all. And here arises the question.
what had become of his stocks. bonds and wealth.
His brother, Robert Treat Paine, believed that he
was worth from 81 100000 to s. 1000 1t is GER
tainly known tibet he owned a large amount of
property. He was large owner in the Chicago
Land Company. Checks in payment of dividends
were sent to him IN New York, and though il was
never easy to find him these checks were always
cago properly endorsed by him in token that he
had received the money.