The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1889-05-22
NO 81
ECCENTRIC MIR. BANKS.
A Supposed Pauper Dies and
Leaves S15O,OOO-Prepared
His Own Grave.

NY. STR.
Henry O'D. Banks, 60 years Of
age, who was thought to be pauper,
died few days ago IN the quite lit.
tie village of Mount Holly, N. j.,
when it was discovered that he had
left a fortune of Sl50,000.
He made his appearance in Mount
Holly about five months ago, de-
iected, seedy-looking individual,
evidently in the last stages of con-
sumption, and took a room with
Mrs Heard on Brainerd street.
His habits were exceedingly &C.
centric and he had not been long a
resident of Mount Holly when he
Was pronounced.a "a crank" of the
most advanced type by those who
came in contact with him. But few
persons ever saw him, however, as he
kept elise to his room, only leaving
1t to visit the cemetery on the out
skirts of the village, where he pur-
chased small plot of ground.
In the cemetery he spent a por-
ton of each day personally superin-
tending the digging of his grave and
the building of vault, to the con-
structlon of which he paid close at
tention, instructing the workmen in
every minute detail. The village
undertaken was visited, coffin selec-
led and paid for. and every arrange
ment made for the funeral.
With his death came the reveal
ing of his history, and from the few
people who came to attend his sim
pie funeral it was learned that the
dead man was as he had said, Henry
OD. Banks, that he was once a
prosperous Philadelphia druggist,
and that he had left an estate valued
at sl50,000. The statement was
made that shortly after the late war
Banks had retired from business
with a fortune of nearly half a milo
lion dollars. He had a wife aud
several children, with whom he lived
happily until a women crossed his
path aud destroyed bis domestic
peace.
The woman was a Miss Belle Kin.
sey. She obtained great influence
over him and shortly aaerward Mr..
aud Mrs. Banks were legally seper-
ated, Ms Banks rellpquishing all
claims upon. her husbands estate in
consideration Of the sum Of 100000.
Mr.. Banks and Mrs. Kinsey then
went to Europe where they remained
several wears. Upon their return to
this country, Banks bought q 6ne
farm At Saratoga. The couple shortly
afterward quarreled and Banks dis
appeared, leaving the widow in full
possession of the farm.
Then it was that he assumed the
guise of pluper and migrated 10
Mount Holly, where he spent the re
mnaut of his life. His eceentricIty
showed itself in his will, which was
executed few days before his death
and probated last Thursday.
That instrument names A. Lewis
Smith, Of Media, Pa, as executor,
aud gives him about $4,000. The
woman who assisted 10 bis fall from
social standing is gwen a legacy Of
$4,000, and the balance of the estate
is /, be divided among his relatives,
who are known to Mr. Smith, but
whose names are not made public.
Mrs. kinsey is to deliver to :he ex.
ccutOr the Saratoga farm and the ties.
tator's watch and diamond stud. In
case she refuse. the cost Of legally
jecting her from the farm IL to be
deducted from her legacy, as also is
the value of the jewelry.
llarry-llad a great time last
night. old man! Took a girl out to
ride with the new mare. Won know.
and NV arms are lame to-day from
irving to hold her in.
Will-The girlP
Harry-No: the mare.
Ed Ito Ada in her ball costulne)
What a lovely girl YOU are.
Ada simply You ought IN see
me when anu dressed!