The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1894-08-18
TOWNLEY'S HEIR.

49,
There are q few Philadelphians liv-
ing who still remember the ssFourteen
Chimney" Q noted city landmark dat
ing back TO the Revolution. They were
recognized In the old directories thus:
Sam. May, oysterman. No 3 Fourteen
Chimney" They stood ON the west
side OF Fifth street, above Race, and ex.
tended from the southwest corner Of
Mulberry alley south 10 the present No.
332, now an ink factory. RsRacE, the
back part Of this establishment is the
only portion OF the building left and
this was q part Of the Ettris mansion,
belonging to . curious family who owned
much of the land thereabouts and noted
for eccentricities in dress and opinions.
There were I'm all eight houses, and they
had been built to ft the chimneys, "a
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 1918 one OF the most re-
spected residents of the fourteen
Chimneys" was q Miss Rachel Barron,
. bright mulatto who had bean left q
small fortune by Q member OF the Bid
die family, whose servant she had been
for 30 yeara
Miss Barron was very charitable and
did much good in aiding the poor who
were plenty enough I'm the numerons
courts and alleys OF that yicinisy, and
10 Ii In this connection that or story
begins.
In 1905 q man named Richard vane
Townley was living I'm Philadelphia
He was an E~nglishman. handsome I'm
appearance, with polished manners, and
pleasing address. He had many friends,
~ 10 wa reputed that he came frora an
excellent family at home, but there was
o mystery about his means os living.
He always had plenty Of money, dreased
and lived expensively, 90 10 was sup
posed that he had nm income from prop
erty i'm England, but all this w. dissa-
pated by the report that he had been
principal i'm q duel &c Saratoga Springs;
that the alleged cause was Q quarrel &c
the card table, and that the C-ourtenns,
stately Epglishman was in effect q prO-
fessional gambler.
! When this was known, it a1E0eted
Mr.. Townley's position In societyrad-
versely, but card playing was . recog-
nixed industry I'm thosetimes and caxxied
no popular odium with 10, and that rem
tleman still seemed TO prosper.
When he came TO Philadelphia his
companion was . boy abont 16. Who
was his only child, the mother beinR
dead. James was o delicate lad hut
gentle, and ne was put i'm . private
school and mach liked by his associates
but his father, mindful OF the vi0issi-
tudes of his profession. bound James TO
Benjamin Jones. at the southeast corner
of Second and Chestnut streets, TO learn
engraving, and this he did. becoming b
good workman. His father, however,
supplied him with too much money,
and he ceased 10 work, became unsteady
and finally dissipated. When left with
out by the death OF the elder
Townley, he was forced to go to work
at his trade.
Richard Townley left nothing 10 his
son, but before dying he confided TO d
well known member of the old bar Ger
tain papers and told that gentleman the
story of his wasted life.
In the latter part Of the eighteenth
century Apley Park, in Shropshire, nov
one of tine show places of England. was
owned by Sir Edmund Fcsterz III had
once belonged TO the Lucys Of Charli-
cote and came to the Fosters by mar
riage. Sir Edmund had two sisters.
One married q Devonshire rector nelmad
Childs. the other Philip Malsy Town
Icy Of Shrewsbury. Both Mr.. and Mrs..
Townley died early, leaving % Only son
Richard Vane TOwnley.
Richard was adopted by HIS bachelor
uncle. Sir Edmund, and was sure 10
enter ON N inheritance Of GI2, 900 per
annum. but he was Wild and reckless
and was sent away from Oxford In dia-
grace, and for o time forbidden ID ap-
pear ut Apley Park. Sir Edmund was
getting quite infirm and much contxon-
cd and Influenced by his housekeoper,
Mrs. Darby, who had been IN the fam.
lily from girlhood. She intsrCeded for
Richard, and he was finally restored 20
favor and came back to the park, only
10 get into o fresh scrape. Mrs. Darby
had o niece staying with her, d very
beautiful and good girl, and with hsr
Richard fell madly In love, and failing
10 get her on less honorable terms per-
suaded her TO elope and get married
The aunt had been away cnva visft
and returned To find her niece gone.
S~uspecting the worst, she at once In
formed Sir Edmund Of bis nephew's
new delinquency and had him send for
his lawyer. IA new will was made md
no mention therein of Richard Townley.
Shortly afterward Mrs DARBY Learned
the truth and found that she had sucs
,ceedAd in disinheriting her son-in-law,
but was too shrewd 10 let che maatex
knQw Tbs real facts, - he was intense
= Ns&& 8EEA &EA 8fE&&M H&A 49, - - $3.50