The Washington critic., 1890-02-24
RICH, BUT NOT HAPPY.
Woes of a Man to Whom a Dollar
Was AppalIingly Big

Was apphllinSly DIG.
Maltby G.. Lane was largely inter-
ested in Washington real estate, owning
considerable property here, the Maltby
Flats being the largest. The CRITIC
of last Sunday related the facts in the
case of the tying-up of this property in
the courts. The New York Tribune
says:
The Maltby G. Lane will contest, now
going on in the Court of Common
Pleas before Judge Daily and a jury.
is furnishing strong proof to those who
hear the testimony that the possession
of a big fortune Is not guarantee of
happy life. Old Maltby G. Lane, with
all his gold, must have been as miser-
able man as ever cut O coupon.
Mrs. Marietta Lane, widow of Malt.
by's son Richard H., yesterday re.
sumed her testimony for the contest
ants. Mrs. Lane, the second wife, to
whom the big fortune was left, sat and
scowled at the witness.
The witness said that when her son
was born old Maltby sent her what he
called "luXuries." These were pine
apple cheese, two pounds of head
cheese, six lemons and bottle of milk.
He sent with these delicacies a caustic
note telling her to use them sparingly.
She said that after she had been in
duced by misrepresentation to transfer
her house and home to Maltby G. Lane.
she found it necessary to ask help of
him for her children, but he harshly
told her she could go to work. The
old mans character is we'll shown by
the following letter put in as evidence:
NEw-YoRK, 81. March, 1887.
MAY:
| am completely Disheartened and Dis
cOured-1 am doing nothing in my business
Don't Earn shilling Day. am at Loss
to know how to get along. l have Large
only as l Borrow. while ] feel to Sympa-
thize with Flossy as She is to young to get
her Living yet for years to Come and the
Boy has got to be cared for by Someone,
and as things are it Looks Dark and Gloomy
to me. poor Henry's Debtors are howning
me all the while for his Due Bills and other
Bills but | Can't pay them and you want
| Can Earn. | have thought you could get
Some place in the Country, Somewhere
where you could Live for or dollars a
week. You certingly Cannot
Afford to Live Lady nor to Bring up the
Children in High Life at Somebody's Ex-
pense. AS TO your having more money. |
have no money but of course l do not want
the children to suffer for want of Some
thing to Eat. | can only hope their May
Something be provided to put us Along un-
til our End Comes. / hope you will not
Blame me for not wanting to take any more
responsibilities on me at my Age as Feel
what Little l have Left if any, want to
use ii. NJ. G.. l..
In conclusion, the witness said that
she was not invited to Lanes wedding
to the Widow Graham. She did go to
Lanes funeral, but was ordered out Of
the house by the second wife.
William b. Reed said that for twenty
years he. was in the same real estate
Office with Lane, at 100 Fourth avenue
Lane, he said, was sour and penurious
in disposition. William p. Maynard.
a photographer, said he called on old
Lane just after his son died, and wish
ing TO show sympathy, said:
"Well. see your boy is dead"
"Yes." sighed the old man, "and
the worst of it is that have got $500
funeral expenses to pay and one of his
tailors bills for $50"