Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1886-01-02

those which belong
to the genuine history of the body found at
Hampstead in the summer OF 1855, and
registered as a case Of felo-de-se by tho
coroner for Middlesex and a sworn jury of
responsible citizens and rate payers.
Wh,n John Neelham's dead body was
found on Hamps lead heath the reasons for
his suicide were discussed and considered
sufficient to account for his death. Having,
however, regard to the fact that no COM
plete explanation could he arrived at US to
the disro al of the vast sums of money
known to have been in his possession, it was
reported both in ireland and America that
the body vas not his, ''bulo ns procured to
personate him, whils he, during the excite
ment Of the supposed self-murder, effected
his escape"
The newspapers Of the time q have a file
Of them before mel we're full of the tragic
story, and a deceased journalist has in.
cluded the history of the cess IN q record Of
1.-THE Comm ,rcial Crisis of 1878" shall
ta.e the lberty Of borrowing from his
pages the facts CT MI. Neeiham's rise and
fal supplying from my own note hooks the
solution of the mystery with which the
famous financ:er's death has hitherto been
surrounded.
Prior to tbs general election of 1917 John
Needham had been known Ly Lis fellow
townsmen in Ireland as a respectable man.
Nobody suspected him of the great capacity
for fsure3 and politics which he eventually
deve.opsd. His constituents selected him
to oppose the spirit and influence of Lord
John Russe.rs amous letter to Lord Dur-
ham. He was elected a member of parlia-
ment on these simple lines ut the general
ele ,.ion Of 1Mz.
A tall, silen; man, John Neeiham was Of
pale complexion, Glossy shaven, had thin
brown hair, dark-b.ue eves. Il hesitating
manner, and was fond Of dres, even to
womanishness. His llish friends called hlm
'the fCp" he invariably wore an orcLi!
in his ~buttonhole, a diamond on the little
6ngor ct his left hand, a frlll in bis shirt
'front.' AMI le drove thu best horses in
town. Al home in Irelanl be had been uu.
ostentatiou5 in his oj.entatiousn.ss, if one
may be allowel to be paradcxical; for
thou~h b, dressed better ,hln his neighbors
be never pretsnled that he could very well
afford it, and he would associate vita the
hImblest of them on equal terms
Blu; from the m John Needham ar
rivei IN London he put on. with hls parlia-
mentary honors, the ar of the man of
wealth. And he was accepted at his own
pro1essel valuation. He had the special
AOSuAVJ VI 4h1HA SooAN SACNH ~ NopQSlpy "
inspire trust, the rover Of influences; AID
whatever natural gifts be possessed be had
the art to exhibit item, without appearing
to do so. He was essentially a Clever. man,
vain, rolitic, a man with an ever-activs m
bition that gave spirit to his natural au-
dacity.
Although In Ireland he affected not to be
rich, it Is shrewily believed that he had
amassei a fair share OF money; tor through
the influence of his late fathers ban zinp.
hou 9, and his VI ability as a solicitor, he
obtained the agency CT several Irish proper
ties, AMI when the act for thu establishment
OF the encountered estate commission came
into operation, his knowledge enabled him
to make very advantageous purchases Tho
railway mania was also turned to some nc.
count, and it was understood by the party
which nominate him for parliament that
he could well afford to MAINTAIN in town a
position of dignity and independents. In
bis address at the close If the poll in his
favor. he said:
'.Mv old friends, il my descent Is not as
pure Irish as some, believe me my heart ia
true to the cause, aud l promise you 1 am
not going across tho Channel to the great
Saxon city yonder without making your
wants known, nor without a big effort to
a down to posterlty the fame Of our
dear oil borough; and it Is also nv inten.
ton to give them cause to remember tue
name of john Needham!'
And by the powers he didl But when be
entered the modern Babylon, the one in.
terest, the one person whom he represented
and meant to represent, was his own in
telest; the one person, himself.
For such a character as John Neelham."
says the historian, 1.-THE period was pecu.
Garly favorable 1t was a time when inan-
eaal acumen, and a reputation for it, was of
especial valua. Mr.. Needham knew how 10
advertise himself without appearing to do
20. 1t seemed as if London had been wait
ing for him, SO quickly were his services in
request aiming the great financial corpora
lions ct the day. The name of John Need
ham, Esq, Nj. p, was a name to coniure
with. At the head OF a new board. bansin4
Or railway, it gave a new value to the to,n.
peny's scrip. he pervaded the atmosphere
4 any instit ution which he patronizcd with
sense of security.
In all his engagements he was punctuality
ttself. His HOUSE in Portland place was a
model OF luxurious simplicity. He gave
dinners that were the talk of epicures, not
Tor the elaborate character of the menu, but
Tor the perfection Of the cooking AMI scr.
vice and the excellenc CO Of the wines. Within
Z year Of his coming to London he was
chairman OF a great foreign railway,
director Of two lines running out Of London
managing director Of the Civic Credit com.
psuy. director Of the Valley Road Iron and
Coliierv company, chairman OF the Steam
shipping corporation, aud the financial ad,
User Of many other equally notable under.
sakinyA' Not alone did his Irish friend;
ocnsult him in taeir affairs, but English
ords and bishops and great city inancicr:
invested none va in any direction that hi,
Judgment favored
But perhaps" say the historian, '.the
most extraordinary circumstance In hi
metropolitan career was his appointment Il
the very responsible position OF chairman O.
me National English and County bank
That be hal some little la kin, experienc.
was true enough. The Needham join
Sock Bank of Ireland was q creation OF hi
own. His grandfather had establi hei f,
bank at Sligo, which bad carried on foI
many years q very limited, and, as far a
y known. a very safs L,Iin,s. Whe,
John Nsedham first put up for a tinaude,
D clan -el The Character of this little ban!
IN WI ca he bal now acquired suflci snt !,
uuenee for the purpose, ito a Joint stoc
company. Elecin. his brother Henry at i
bead a. manager AMI sole director. s5i
tho taEa nation which LEI thu National En-,
lsh AMI County board to appoint him
THAR chairman, when. he had not bee
known In Lonioa hsrd.y q year. AMI tt
tndo:sem mt of Il b. the shareholders is q
most uasc ce untsbla." BE was faithful {
tbs great trust, nevertheless; and 1t
W rub tbs while Of some close student .
human nature to aualyss the character {
John Ns3dham with Q Wow ia discover no
tar his career. waS infuenced bv \ natural