The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-06-12
LAWYER S7R4H4N DIED POOR.
Lent and Spent Money so Freely Tint No'h-
Ink Hcmnins of an Income OF $50. 900.

INK hcmNtnS OH Nn fnCoHo W. F"V'~V"'
Those who knew vaguely oftho immense in
como Of Lawyer John II. Strahan will be sur
prised to learn that he not Gully left no prop
crty. but was considerably in debt when he
died about two months ago ut the Barrett
House. Ho left no will. His widow. who Is
now living with her daughter. Mrs David
Dows, Jr.. at the latter's country seat at 1rv-
inaton. has employed Lawyer Thomas j. Nc
Keo OF 1873 Broome street. an old friend OF Mr..
Strahans. to settle up his affairs. Mr.. Mckee
says that a 4 that romans Of Lawyer Strahans
estate is lot of claims. some against the city
and othors against individuals. all for services
rendered. and these he finds to have been
signed by Mr.. Strahan for tho benefit OF his
creditors.
Mr.. st.ahan was especially successful as n
corporation lawyer. and had an income from
S50.d0O to sl5d.W0u year. Il. 4. Walsh, who
was as.oSi%ted with him 70; moro than fifteen
ten yours Of his life i rarely fell below $50 0oO
a wss ~ or sHs r.
s;eyering Lawyers suits often involving vast
hav sfsn do sffS the n nns!i
side OF the courts. lie is said t" have received
fees s5% MT once 1T twee ost dozen n
uncommon. He, also, handled some large
estates. among them that g !, Alo % G Yates
md in the eleven years and little more from
1851. SO the books in the corporation Counsel, s
Office show, his tees from the city amounted to
Mr., strahnn was one of those liberal men
wh2 know him we'll says: 600
It,, III Mr. Strahan had S3o.Co9 nn No went to
m n ns M %sEGd yc ana ssg W word
about security. If wanted $4,000 and he did
hsw it he would 1 SG%s %ana G
he would go and borrow it from II friend in or
that he has has borrow ed money from, me to land
I ersons to whom he was indebted. and TO
ths Wuh hsvs tos y s pn1
For him money seemed to have very little
value. Ii no had a-plenty he would freely lend:
freud came to him in tears. He had recently
payments on tho. furniture. MIR; Strahnn made
out a check for the amount. aud the next day
hs yosnE m nd e and his waoM r to
MI Strahan to cancel the Indebtedness. He
On one ..easGn; i is said, when Mr. Str stranan
liz laid sl5.o3O that he owed. and went away
with the remainder. In i month he returned
As an indication of the freedom with which
Bostonian who was Matching some big cleo
| trical scheme came TO him for assistance.
| This man had \ invention. ST. he represented.
that would make, Edison's enterprises
| look small. The Bostonian got Sl25.OO0
| without giving any security subsequently. a
| friend Of Stinhans. also a lawyer. went 20 Los
| ton to look the electrician up. lie found where
| tn" mans place o; business had boon and
where he had lived; but the man himself was
thoug!: the lender confidently expected to get
| MIR. Strnhan kept no books. and SO it was
| difficult even to approxi mate his income. 1t
| j. also difficult to estimate his Indebtedness.
| Mrs Ella s. Webster. who holds lion upon
! some papers in the suit OF James H. Sull van
against the city for Sl67. 600 which Strahan.
| who was originally Sullivan's counsel. gave
! her to secure loan OF $500. says that Strn.
han. at the time o, his death. owed her ABOUT
| Strahnn were friends in Scotland. and each
lad heI ped the other.
house at is Fast Fifty; third street whose d. CO.
rations cost 100000 Except in this instance
his tastes were very simple. . HO neither
smoked. drank. nor gamhled. He had n fine
physique. and bore his 'E} years very lightly
w To the time Of m accident two years age
he was as nctive as boy. One night return
ing from Albany. where he had heen attend
ing session of tho Court Of Appeals with Law
yer Mckee; he Jumped of the moving train
and walk several miles to his destination. hui,
he had received internal injuries. which has
tened his death. His only daughter marrict
David Bows. Jr.. the only son Of the late Davit
Dows. who left n toLtune estimated at from
SlJ.OOU.UO0 to S20.OOO.UOO.