The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1891-05-07
A MYSTERIOUS LIFE.
A VERY RICH MAN DIES ANO LEAVES
AN ENIGMA.

What Caused Phillip Louis pIoen to Civ,
Doc Levi Wilson Three Hundred Thou.
sand Dollars is n Mystery That VIII
Meyer DO Solved.
AUGUSTA, Ca, April 3O.-The
announcement comes from Wor
ceSter of the death of Philip Louis
| Hloen, president of the Washburn and
| Moen Manufacturing company, which
| controls valuable barbed wire pat.
ents, and is the biggest wiremaking es-
adjustments in this country, in tina,
city on the 23d inst.
The readers of The Chronicle will
probably remember that this wealth
gentleman. in company with his wife
and daughter, spent a short while out
at the Bon-Air about two months ago
In conversation he related to a Chron-
lcle reporter curious coincidence
which had just occurred,
While his son was studying in Stock
holm, about ten years ago, he was met
by an American gentleman one day
who was In considerable embarrass-
ment from his Inability to speak the
language of the country.
Goung Moen spoke Swedish very
well and was able to render the gentle
man some valuable assistance.
When Mr.. Moen and family arrived
at the Bon-Alr this same gentleman
who was also stopping theIe, recoy-
nized the name, and upon inquiry
found Mr.. Moen to be the father OF his
Stockholm friend indeed, and the
daughter who accOmpanieI him was
the same who was with her brother in
Sweden.
1t was pleasant and peculiar meet
ing.
Mr.. u. l.. Moons life was an interest,
ing one, and the mill which he owned
employs $500 men.
over Mr.. Moen'S private life there
was the shadow Of a great mystery
because OF his relations with the notO
rlouS doc" Levi Wilson, which nine
years ago was the topic of discussion in
the newspapers Of the country. The
two men differed widely in their per
sonal habits and tastes.
MIR. Moen was ariStocratic in taste,
kindly In manner, noted for phil an
thropy, apparently Il consistent Chris
tlan and business man eff great wealth
Wilson was illiterate, profane and vul.
gar. \ ct for no known cause Mr. Moen
paid over to this man between $3OOWC
and 100000, in the space Of five or six
years, without consideration.
Even MIR. NIOen's most intimate
friends never knew the secret of his re.
| lations with Wilson. Wilson used to
make frequent trips to Worcester, anC
Mr.. Moen always obeyed his summons
At times he showed bank books will
| sums to his credit ranging from $40,
| 600 to 100000. lie spent money like ;
prince. lie kept a fine stable, bought
such horses as pleased him, and If They
did not suit gave them away.
Wilson's private life was 4 succession
OF scandals. -Four young women are
known to have sued him for breach OF
promise.
Speculation exhausted itself many
years ago as to the secret of the rela-
tlons between MOen and this spend.
thrift, and it was hinttd that the case
was one Of blackmail, but Mr.. Moen
denied this as empha'lcally rs Wilson.
"A favorite theory was that the pay
ments had something to do with the
way in which the Washburn and Moen
company obtained the barbed wire
patents, but this was emphatically de-
MED by Mr.. Moen and his associates in
the corporation. The latter denies that
any money had ever had been paid to
Wilson from the funds OF the company.
The advances were Mr.. Moen's own.
In 1885 Wilson entered suit against
Mr.. Moen for $15O,OOO in an action of
OF contract. The result was a disagree.
ment, ten jurymen favoring Mr.. Moen
and two holding out for Wilson. In
this trial Wilson claimed that Mr..
Nloen promised to settle all his scrapes,
bnt that he received no money after
1882
After the trial Wilson declared that
he was MIR. Moen's illegitimate son,
and that the latter had paid him to
keep the secret. This story was accep-
ted by many as the explanation Of the
mysterious hold he exercised over Mr..
Moen, but others, who pretended to
know the story of Wilson's birth, said
there was no truth in the statement
Augusta Chronicle.