The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-12-03
SAD ANNIVERSARY.
Closing Scenes Of an EVentful
and Honorable Career.
Cyrus ". Field Left Penniless by The
SpeCulatiOnS Of His Son.
Pitiab'e Condition Of Family but Re-
Gently EnVied for Its Wealth, Happi-
ness and Social Eminelce.
Special to THE MoRSISe CALL.

NEW YORK. Dec 2-Fifty-ore years ago
to-day New England youth, known as
Cyrus West Field, stood at the marriage
altar full of vigor, hope and sturdy am
bition. His strength made its impress upon
the century. His hope bore him up in his
work, and his ambition has been rewarded
with medals, with knghthood, and with the
thanks of the United States Congress.
Hand in hand the New England youth and
his helpful wife came honorably down
through halt century of time, almost to
the present day. A little more than one
week ago, however. the woman he welded
on the day of his majority died. Tonight,
bereft of his wife and wrecked in for
tune and pennilesS by the hand Of an in
crate and disgraeed son, Cyrus W. Field lies
dying at " years OF age in the handsome
home that no longer shall be his. Edward
NJ. Field, the son, who wrecked the firm of
Field, Lindley, Weichers & Co.. is an in
mate of the Vernon House. private in
sane asylum near the village of Mount
Vernon. Mrs. Edward NJ Field lies danger
ously i'll at the home Of her brother, DIR.
Lindley. Mrs. D. A. Lindley, daughter
of Cyrus ". Field, is believed to be on her
death-bed
This expresses in few words the ptiful
condition of family which few weeks ago
was envied for its wealth, happiness and
social eminence, and the fact that to-day is
the fifty first anniversary of Cyrus W.
Fields marriage adds new sadness to the
story of the day.
member of the family tonight came
from the bedside of Cyrus Field and said |:
He is completely broken in health and
spirit, bereft Of his wife and fortune, and
crushed by the fact that bis favorite son has
financially ruined the family and made
mental wreck of himself, the unfortunate
old man feels that death would be a well
come solace TO him. He feels that his name
has been tarnished, notwithstanding the
fact that he has sacrificed his all to keep his
son from bankruptcy"
DR.. Fuller the family physician, said:
He may linger for several days and lie may
die in few hours"
At the beginning Of the recent troubles in
L. N. Fields firm Cyrus ". Fields property
was estimated to be s., 100000. AS soon as
he knew that his son was in difficulties he
sold his house and also authorized his son to
take from his strong box any securities that
he might need to raise the money on. Ed
ward Field simply took everything he could
lay his hands on, and the consequence is
that the money has all gone after that pre-
YOUSly spent in reckless speculation,
How much Edward succeeded in getting
from his father is not known, but it is said
to have been S300,000. The balance was be-
lleved to have Deen in unincumbered real
estate, of which his house, which he sold
this week, formed part. That Cyrus w.
Field is now penniless recalls the fact he
was supposed to have been special part
ner in the firm of Field, Lindley & Co. for
S5O0000 until March 1st last. On that date
the firm reorganized, and the senior Field was
supposed to have withdrawn this S5000
Ii Is now believed that the $500, 600, il 1t
existed at all in that way, was never with
drawn, but was lost, and that its loss
brought about reorganization and the iu-
PRODUCTION Of new members, and that Ed
ward NJ. Fields speculative course con-
tlnued, with the result that the money of
all the partners was lost as well as half
million belonging to his father.
The statement frequently made by the
assignee that the two partners Lindley
and Weichers, were innocent of all knowl-
edge of the firms condition, and that it had
been going on until the failure, is laughed
at by bankers and brokers. A remark made
by Assignee Gould has been the subject of
much comment to-day. Mr.. Gould said:
1T seems to ME the greater part of the
money lost bv the operations OF E. NJ. Field
was lost right here by the partners in the
uTm Otlll 1OQlQ cOuIu not DeRln TO give
any estimate of the assets and liabilities of
the defunct firm. To show the diff
culties he labored under he said ::
Suppose parties should come here and
pay large sums of money to one Of the part
ners; and suppose this money was paid
right ont again by that partner TO other par
ties. Then these transactions might not ap-
pear in the books. Now, have suspicion
that this very thing has taken place."
Edward NJ. Field, after au alleged desper-
ate attempt upon his life. has been removed
TO private insane asylum at Mount Yer
non by order of Judge McAdam. In their
affidavts the physicians declare that Ed
ward NJ. Field is a lunatic and dangerous to
himself and to Others. The members of the
family deny that he attempted to commit
suicide.
A friend of the Field family this afternoon
said The family has decided to take
Edward NJ. Fields case before Judge and
| jury at once. They want to have Fields
sanity passed on publicly, so that it cannot
b. said his insanity is being USED as pre-
tense for saving him from the results of his
financial wrongdoing."
Police Captain McCullags said this morn
ing that to his knowledge Edward NJ. Field
had been insane for year.
The loss of the Union Pacific by the hy-
pothecati0n of securities by Field, Lindley
& Co. was estimated this mornin 10 be
100000, of which it is said the road h as re-
covered the greater part