Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-09-12
TOWNLEY'S HEIR.

There are few Philadelphians liv- ing who still remember the "Fourteen Chimneys, " noted city landmark dat ing back to the Revolution. They were recognized in tho old directories thus: sam. May, oystcrman, No. Fourteen Chimneys '' They stood on the west side of Fifth street, above Race, and ex. tended from the southwest corner of Mulberry alley south to the present No 222, now an ink factory. In fact, the back part of this establishment is the only portion of the building left, and this was part of the Ettris mansion, belonging to a curious family who owned much of the land whereabouts and noted for eccentricities in dress and opinions. There were ill all eight houses, and they had been built to fit the chimneys, as these were much higher than the two story dwellings. These stood back from the street and had gardens in front from which the neighbors were supplied with vegetables.
 The principal industry here in early times must have been butchering, as layers of bones, cattle horns and heads are turned up when the street has been opened In ISIS one of the most re- spectcd residents of the Fourteen Chimncys" was Miss Rachel Barron, bright mulatto who had been left small fortune by n member of the Bid dle family, whose servant she had been for 20 years.
 Miss Barron was very charitable and did much good in aiding the poor, who were plenty enough i'll the numerous courts and alleys of that vicinity, and it is in this connection that our story begins.
 In 1906 q man named Richard Vane Townley was living in Philadelphia. He was an Englishman, handsome in appearance, with polished manners and pleasing address. He had many friends, as it was reputed that he came from an excellent family at home, but there was a mystery about his means of living. He always had plenty of money, dressed and lived eXpcnsivcly, so it was sup posed that he had an income from prop erty ill England, but all this was dissi- pated by the report that he had been principal ill a duel at Saratoga Springs; that the alleged cause was n quarrel at the card table, and that the courteous stately Englishman was in effect a pro- fessiOnal gambler.
 When this was known, it affected MT. Townley's position in society ad- versely, but card playing was a recog- nized industry in those times and carried no popular odium with it, and that gen tleman still seemed to prosper.
 When he came to Philadelphia, his .Ia was his only child, the mother being dead. James was n delicate lad, hut gentle and he was put in a private school and much liked by his associates, but his father. mindful of the viciSsi- tudcs of his profession, bound James to Benjamin Jones, at the southeast corner of Second and Chest:sIt streets, to learn engraving. and this he did. becoming Il good workman. His father, however, supplied him with too much money, and he ceased to work, became unsteady and finally dissipated. When left with out resources by the death of tho older Townlcy. he was forced to go to work at his trade
 Richard Townlcy left nothing to his son. but before dying he confided to a well known member of the old bar ccr- tain papers and told that gentleman the story of his wasted life.
 In the latter part of the eighteenth century Aplcy Park, in Shropshire, now one of the show places of England, was owned hy Sir Edmund Foster. IL had once belonged to the Lucys of Charli coto and came to tho Fosters by mar riage. Six Edmund had two sisters. One married q DCvOnshire rector named ChildS. the other Philip Malcy Town ley Df Shrewsbury. Both Mir. and Mrs. Townlcy died early. leaving m only son -Richard Nanc Townlcy.
 Richard was adopted by his bachelor uncle, Sir Edmund, and was sure to enter on an inheritance of ZIP, 900 per annum, but Inc was wild and reckless and was sent away from Oxford in dis grace, and for time forbidden to ap- pear at Aplcy Park. Sir Edmund was getting quite infirIn and much controll- ed and influenced by his housekeeper, Mrs. Darby, who had been in the fam ily from girlhood She interceded for Richard, and he was finally restored to favor and came back to the park, only to get into q fresh scrape. Mrs. Darby had a niece staying with her, a very beautiful and good girl, and with her Richard fell madly i'll love, and failing | to get her on less honorable terms per suaded her to elope and get married. The aunt had been away on a visit and returned to find her niece gone. | Suspecting the worst, she at once in formed Sir Edmund of his nephew's s new delinauency and had him send for his laxyvar A new will was made and no mention therein of Richard Townley.
 Shortly afterward Mrs. Darby learned the truth and found that she had suc- ceeded in disinheriting her son-in-law, but was too shrewd to let the master know tho real facts, as he was intense ly proud and would regard the misalli- ance as more fiagitious than the sup posed seduction.
 MT. Scropo of Shrewsbury was the family solicitor, ar upright gentleman, who had known Townley's father, and he persuaded the baronet to make his will as follows: Mrs. Childs, his niece, had the property for life; then her chil- drcn by senority inherited, and then heirs male, and failing them or issue the son of Richard TOwnley to inherit fin fee. As there were nine of the Childs children, James Townley's chance oi gaining the inheritance his father had forfeited seemed very remote.
 Sir Edmund died, leaving q large personal estate in addition to Apley
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