St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1886-06-05
A ROMANTIC HISTORY.


! The New Orleans Daily Stale
publishes the following sketch oil
the life Of James w. Rotchford,
who was recently murdered and
robbed at his home. near Madison
vile:
James W. Rotchford was OF Irisl,
pareutage, his family living in the
city Of Wexford, Ireland. From
boyhood to the age of forty years
he lived in New Orleans. Edu-
Gated at Cape Girardeau, Missouri,
the home of one of the most cele-
brnted Catholic schools of this
country, lie returned 20 New Or
leans and entered upon a CONNER
cial life; but by disposition being
untitled for commerce. he turned
his attention to bookkeeping, and
in this branch of the business lie
stood high.
| For some time he was cashier for
Rotchford, Brown 4 Co, financial
firm in its dry we'll known for its
strength aud stability. The senior
member of this firm was Philip
Rotchford. an elder brother of
James Rotchford. the murdered
man.
Philip and James married two
sisters. Misses Doyle, the daughters
of u well-known coast planter.
Philip KotcLford, at the beginning
OF the war. retired from business,
with handsome fortune, and re-
turned to Ireland, where he now
lives. at the advanced age of eighty
years.
james Rotchfort. in his younger
days was known to possess peculiar
ways. but rs a man ho was liked
by all who knew him, as his crotch
cts were not marked enough to he
Objectionable to his friends, and
his disposition was of mild and
inotfonsive character. At an early
age he became possessed of firm
desire to go to the country and
live the quiet life of a planter. and
no protests of his friends, who saw
that lie was untitled for such a life,
could change him from lis within.
He had been for some time with
the late John Burnside, when he
entered the house of Mr.. f. Conery
AS book-keeper. At this time his
desire to go to the country became
SO fixed that he bought q place on
the coast, but had finally to give
it nj. He returned to his busine
as book-keeper. ut which he remain
Cd in the city till about twenty
Years ago. when he purchased
place OH the Tcheflncta river, be-
tween Madisonville and Covington.
Here he has lived the life of a re-
cluse, with no communication with
his former friends. except through
short business letters to his old
house. L. Conery Il Sons. to whom
he made shipments OF pecans aud
such other surplus products of his
place.
A few years since another brother
OF the recluse. the Rev. Father
Richard Rotchfort. a Jesuit priest,
came to this country and visited
his brother James, whom he was
surprised to find with hair and
beard long with the growth of
years, and bearing himself with the
unkempt appearance Of the solitary
life of Lermit. The priest IN vain
pleaded with his brother to sell his
home and return to Ireland, where
he would be with the other men,
oers Of his family. Hs came away
disheartened and nystitied with
the Immortality of this "recluse
from human converse"
The last heard of James Rotch-
ford by his friends in this city, was
through a letter written in January
last to Messrs. +. Conery l. Sons.
In this letter he Informs the firm
that he had checked on them for
IS l6. which lie would use to pay
his taxes. He returns his thanks
for the kind privilege extended by
the house.
The fact that he needed so small
all amount to pay his taxes is sufii.
cieDt basis for the belief entertain
eel by Mr. e. Conery, that ut The
time Of bis death james RotcIiford
had scarcely IL dollar that lie could |
call his own. But there is every |
reason to believe that his former
life aid associations in this city,
coupled with his solitary life in the
country, aroused a belief among
the ignorant of his neia hborhood
that hs was miser. who lived in
secret with his boarded wealth. A
suspicion born of ignorance aud
superstition grew with its nursing
until the mania developed iuto a
tiendish desire to pussess the i'm
aginnry riches which the miser
nightly counted as he gloated over
its glitter and jingle. From this
it was but n step to steal upon the
old man in his unprotected solitude.
take him unawares rs he Hospitality
responded to some call from with
out. and cowardly aud most bru-
tally asssssinate him, as was done
some. nights since by the brutes
who. after the crime. searched his