Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-06-12

- mr. a y Y . eioA
those which belong
to the genuine history Of the body found at
Hampstead In the summer OF 1888, and
registered az a case Of felo-de-se by the
coroner for Mildlesex and a sworn jury OF
responsible cItzens and rate payers.
Whsn John Neelham's dead body was
found ON hampsCead heath the reasons for
his suicide were discussed and considered
sufficient to account for his death. Having,
however, regard to the feet that no com
plete explanation could be arrived at as to
the disco al Of the vas sums OF money
known to have been in his possession, it was
reported both in Ireland and America that
the body vas not his, "bu one procured to
personate him, while he, during the excite
ment OF the supposed self murder, effected
his escape"
The newspapers Of the time Il have file
of them before mel were full Of the tragic
story, and deceased journalist he's in
cluded the history of the case IN a record OF
1.-THE Comm ,rcial Crisis of 1878" 1 shall
tase the liberty OF borrowing from his
pages the facts Of Mr.. Neeiham's rise and
fall, supplying from my own note books the
solution of the mystery with which the
famous financ,ers death has hitherto been
surrounded.
Prior to the general election OF 1S47 John
Needbam had been known by bis fellow
townsmen in ireland as a respectable man.
Nobody suspect d hi OF the great ca pacity
for figures and politics which he eventually
developed. HIS constituents selected him
to oppose the spirit and influence of Lord
John Russelps famous letter to Lord Dur
ham. He was elected a member of parlia-
ment on these simple lines at the general
election Of 1S47
A tall, silent man, John Nee1ham was OF
pale complexion, closely shaver, had thin
brown hair. dark blue eyes, a hesitating
manner, and was fond of dress, even to
womanshness. His Irish friends called him
1.-THE fop" He invariably wore an orchid
in his buttonhole, diamond on the little
finger OF his left hand, frill in his shirt
front, and he drove the best horses in
town. At home in Ireland he had been I'M
osteniatious in his ostentatiousnesS, If one
may be allowed to he paradoxical; for
though h. dressed better than his neighbors
he never pre- tended that he could very we'll
afford it, and he would associate with the
humblest of them on equal terms.
But from the moment John Needham ar
rived in London he put on, with his parlia-
mentary bonors, the air of the man of
wealth Aud he was accepted at his own
professel valuation. He had the special
faculty of impressiveness, the capacity to
inspire trust, the power of influence; and
whatever natural gifts he possessed he had
the art TO exhibit them, without appearing
to do So He was essentially clever man,
vain, polite, a man with an ever-active am
bition that gave spirit to his natural au-
daeity.
Although in Ireland he affected not to be
rich it is shrewIly believed that he had
amassed fair share OF money; tor through
the Influence of his late fathers ban ing =
hou G, and his own ability as solicitor, he
obtainai the agency CT several Irish proper
ties an when the act for the establ shment
OF the e1cumbe,ei estate commission came
into operation, his knowledge enabled him
to max, very advantageous purchases. The
railway mania was also turned to some ac-
count, aud it was understood by ihe party
which uomin ated him for parliament that
he could well cgari TO MAINTAIN in town Il
position of dignity aud independence In
his aidres; at the close If the poll in his
favor. H. sail:
MY Odd friends, il nv descent is not as
pure Irish as some, believe me my heart is
true to The cause, and promise you | am
not going across the Channel to the great
Saxon citv wonder without making your
wants known, nor without big effort to
hani down TO posterlty the fame Of our
dear ol 1 boruugh; aud 1t is also nv inten-
tion to give them cause 10 remember the
name of john Ne jhamlh
And by the powers he did, But when he
entered tha mo1ern Babylon, the one in
teress the one person whom he represented
and meant to represent, was his own in
teiest; the one person, himself.
For such character as John Neeiham,"
says tire historian. 'the period was pecu-
liarly favorable. 1t was time when finan-
cal acumen, ana reputation for it, was of
especial value. MIR. Needham knew how to
advertise himself without appearing to do
SO. II seemed as if London had been wait
ing for him. SO quickly were his services in
request am ny the great financial corpora
tons Of tie cay The name of John Need
ham. ESQ, II. p. was name to coniure
with. Az the head of a new board, banki ing
or railway. il gave a new value to the oom-
panys scrip. He pervaded the atmosphere
of any institution which he patronized with
q sense OF security.
In all his engagements he was punctuality
itself HIS house in Portland place was a
IntuSi vi tuAuttpus iit SdNt
dinners that were the talk of epicures, no,
for the Ella, crate character of the menu bu,
for the perfection of the cooking and ser.
vice and the excelien ce of the wines Within
a year of his coming to London he was
chairman OF great foreign railway,
director of two lines running ont of London
managing director of the Civic Credit com
pany. director of the Valley Road Iron ant
Collierv company. chairman of the Steam
Shipping corporation, and the financial ad
wiser of many other equally notable under.
taSings. Not alone did his Irish friend.
consult him in tneir affairs, but English
lords and bishops aud great city financier.
invested moneys in any direction that hi.
Judgment favored.
But perhaps" SAYS the historian. 9Th,
most extraordinary circumstance in hi
metropolitan career was his appointment Il
the very responsible position of chairman o
the National English and County bank
That he had some little banking experience,
was true enough. The Needham Join
Stock Bank of ireland was a creation OF hi
own. His grandfather had established
bank at Sligo, which had carried on 70
many years very limited. and. as far a
u known, a very safe business. Whel
John Needham first put up for a financier
be CHANGED the character of this little bank
in which he had now acquired sufficient in
fuence for the purpose, into JOINT stoc
company, placing his brother Henry at it
head as manager and sole director. Still
the infatuation which led the National Eng
lish and County board to appoint him q
their chairman, when he had not bee
known in London hardly year, and tn
Endorsement Of it by the shareholders is a