Los Angeles herald., 1891-12-03
Cyrus w. Field Penniless in
His Old Age.
The Great Mans Life Drawing
to a Tragic Close.
Misfortunes Falling on the Field
Family Thick and Fast.
Edward M. Field, the Migrate Son, Con-
fined In q Madhouse His Wife,
Sister and Father Lying at
the Point of Death.
Associated Press Dispatches.

AzBOcfated Press Dlspatcness
New YORK, Dec. 2.-Fifty-one years
ago today New England youth known
as Cyrus West Field stood at the mar
riage altar, full OF vigor, hope and sturdy
ambition. His strength made its inn
press upon the century, his hope bore
him up in his work, and his ambition
has been rewarded with medals, with
knighthood, and with the thanks of the
United States congress. Hand in hand
the New England youth and his helpful
wife came honorably down through
half a 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 wife and wrecked in
fortune and penniless by the hand OF an
migrate and disgraced son, Cyrus w.
Field lies dying at " years Of age, in
the handsome home that no longer shall
be his.
Edward M. Field, the son who wrecked
the firm of Field, Lindley, Weichert Il
Co., is an inmate of Vernon house, a
private insane asylum near the village
of Mt. Vernon.
Mrs. Edward NJ. Field lies danger
ously iii at the home OF her brother, DIR.
Lindley. Mrs. ID. A. Lindley, daughter
of Cyrus W. Field, Is believed to be on
her death bed.
This expresses in q few words the
pitiful condition OF family which few
weeks ago was envied for it's wealth,
happiness and social eminence. The
fact that today ia the fifty-first ami
yersary of Cyrus w. Fields marriage
adds new sadness to the story of the
day.
A member of the family tonight came
from the bedside OF Cyrus w. Field and
said: "He is completely broken in
health and spirit. Bereft of his wife,
his fortune, and crushed by the fact that
his favorite son financially ruined the
family and made mental wreck OF
himself, the unfortunate old man feels
that death would be welcome solace
to him. He feels that his name has
been tarnished, notwithstanding the
fact that he has sacrificed his all to
keep bis son from bankruptcy"
DIR. Fuller, the family physician, said:
"He may linger for several days, and
he may die in few hours"
Edward Field appealed to his father
recently for assistance to prevent the
failure of the firm, all his resources
having been used up. His father con-
sented to assist him, and authorized
him to take certain securities from his
strong box for the purpose. The son,
however, took every negotiable security
there was in the box. But even that
did not prevent the firms downfall.
It ia believed that all that remained
of Mr.. Fields once great fortune before
this fresh trouble, did not exceed
81, 100000, and of that not dollar is
left. How much Edward succeeded in
getting from his father is not known,
but it is said to have been $500, 900.
The balance was believed to have been
in unincumbered real estate, of which
his house, which he sold this week,
formed part. That Cyrus w. Field is
now penniless is recalled by the fact
that be was supposed to have been a
partner in the firm OF Field, Lindley &
Co. for $500, ,000 until March 1st last. On
that date the firm was reorganized, and
the senior Field was supposed to have
withdrawn this $500,00 1t is now be-
lieved that the $500, 900, if it existed at
all in that way, was never withdrawn,
but was lost, and that its loss brought
about the reorganization and introduce
ton OF new members, and that Edward
NJ. Fields speculative course continued,
with the result that the money OF all
the partners was lost, as we'll as the half
million belonging to his father.
The statement frequently made by
the assignee that two part
ners, Lindley and Weichers, were
innocent of all knowledge of the firms
condition, and that it had been
going on until the failure, is laughed at
by bankers and brokers. The remark
made by Assignee Gould has been the
subject of much comment today. Mr..
Gould said: s'It seems to me that the
greater part of the money lost by the
operations of E. M. Field was lost right
here by the partners in the firm." Still
Gould could not begin to give any esti-
mate of the assets and liabilities OF the
defunct firm. To show the difficulties
he labored under he said: Suppose
parties should come here and pay large
sums of money to one OF the partners,
and suppose this money was paid right
out again by that partner to other par
ties; then these transactions might ap'
pear in the books. Now have sus.
picion that this very thing has taken
place." &,
Edward M. Field, after an alleged
desperate attempt upon his life, has
been removed to a private insane asy
lem at Mount Vernon, by order of Judge
McAdam. In their affidavits the ply
sicians declare that Edward M. Field il
lunatic, dangerous to himself and te
others. rhe members of the family de
ny that he attempted suicide. ~
The loss OF the Union Pacific by thu
hypothecating OF securities by Field
Lindley C Co., Is estimated 10 be 5000,
600, OF which it is said the road has re-
covered the greater part.
The Honduras InsurrectfOn.
CRY OF Mexico, Dec. "A Telegram
from Honduras received here toda.