The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1886-02-03
A FAKIR'S FORTUNE.
Remarkable Career OF j. 5. LighthaIl, the
Diamond King.

ELNIRA, y. Y, Jan. 29-The death OF J.
s. Lighthall, the diamond king and medi-
cine fakir, at San Antonio, Tex, and who
left 50, 900, closes a very remarkable career.
Six years ago, then only twenty-four years
old, be took the role of ''cure all, and sold
what he called Indian oil, on the street cor
ners. He made money, and soon employed
brass band of eight picked up pieces TO
attract a crowd. He added to his stock
cure for consumption, tooth powder and
blood purifier. He had slight knowledge
of dentistry. and pulled teeth free, the work
being done very rapidly. The band played
during the operation, to drown the yelling of
patients. Two years ago the party worked
Nashville, Tenn, there being eight men and
TWO women in the band among whom was
George Roberts, of Elmira a great favorite
of the Doctor From Nashville the party
drifted Southwark, when Lighthau discoy-
cred that other parties were selling Indian
oil.
He then changed the name to Spanish Oil,
and increased his company 10 sixty-One per-
sons by taking in several Spaniards Indians
and Mexicans, and thereafter showed IN a
100-fOOt round tent. Concerts were given.
while iighthaQ was kept busy passing out
medicine, and his assistant fakirs sold IL
among the audience. Big crowds were at
tracted everywhere, and money rolled in
very fast. The company occupied tents and
''liyed on the fat of the land" as Roberts
expressed II. The medicine, except the con-
sumption cure, was manufactured at PEORIA
H., by Lighthalls mother and her third
husband, Isaac Wright, a resident of Mill
port this county. From Peoria the stuff
was shipped in barrels 70 the camp
where it was put in bottles and la
.beled- Lighthalls father was Chief
of the Tonawanda Indians, quarter
blood, and several years ago he left his
wife. She afterward married man named
johnson. The latter also left home sudden
ly, but subsequently turned up, when he
found Wright in his place as husband. John
son Travelled as a detective for IighthaIl and
kept order in the camp.
''DT. Charles Lockwood, a member of the
Iigbthau party, became enamored of Light
halls wife, and his love having been recipro-
Gated, the pair fled from camp, taking with
them a splendid pair of horses and the med
icine WAGON, and made good their escape,
finally taking up their abode in BinghamtOn.
johnson worked up the case, and two years
ago Iighthall, Wright, Roberts and Johnson
came 10 ElElira, and after maturing plans
BlnghamtOD wa reached in disguise, and
by clever ruse Lockwood was taken out of
town, and Liehthall went to the Lightwood
SUI liIAStu Ills WIZ dliu dSCtFldlU-
ing where the horses and wagon were, took
possession OF them and speedily drove across
{he Pennsylvania line continuing I'M
I'll he Joined the camp at Richmond, Ind.
When Lockwood elOped he left a wife
and one child in Illinois, and Lighthall,
taking compassion on the woman, made her
superintendent of cOOkingin the camp at a
good salary. When the whereabouts of
Lockwood and his illegal wife became
known they left suddenly for Canada. and
their whereabouts are unknown.
Dr. I.ighthall was known as the Diamond
King on account of his great love for dia-
monds. He wore ring in which were 173
stones and pin that was simply enormous
He had a watch made for him similar TO the
one worn by calvin JOslyn, twenty-five
stones encircling the case.
Lighthal was a great favorite with his as
siStants. and nothing was wanted by any of
them that was not supplied by him. He
was charitable, and on many occasions when
poor people applied for medicine the bottle
was handed TO them wrapped in $40 or a
80 bill Mr. Roberts believes that Light
hall took in over 100000 year while he
was with ann. and must have been worth
great deal more than reported At the time of
his death.