The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-11-22
PROSECUTED BY PROFITS.
a Rich Man Who Tries 10 Lose His For
tune, but CAn't.
FROM he Courier. Journal

From Tie Courier. Journal
The history of John Lawrence Schoolcraft.
who now. broken-hearted and aimless in life.
plods uncomp!aininGly through a weary exist
ence. earning by constant labor n bare main
tenance. is a sad one. Several days ago bonds
and securities amounting to $50. 900 were found
in the bottom OF a cast-ofT trunk in the Saratoga
Hotel at Chicago. us was related at the time in
the Cowier-JOundl. The finding of such valu-
Rbles has led TO an Investigation. and the fact
has been established that tie bonds and securi-
ties belong to John Lawrence Schoolcraft.
formerly of Kentucky.
Chief of Police Badenoch of Chicago. when he
turned over The securities to the owner, instead
of making him happy. brought sorrow and suf-
fering to him.. as the bonds recall a sad event in
his life. which he had striven hard to wipe out
and forget. The day the bonds were found by
a waiter at the Saratoga Hotc! Schoolcraft was
earning his living by addressing letters at 81
per thousand. 1t was quickly learned that~he
was the owner OF the bonds. for he had tho
hotel check for the trunk in which they were
found. II" also had y rrceip,ed bill for his
board at tHc saratoga Hotel. lie, when asked in
regard TO securities he once possessed. gave the
numbers readily. chief Badcnuch. wanting tn
be more sure. however, sent Schoolcrnftts
picture to his old home in Richmond. Va. Let
ters were received Immediately from prominent
business men Of Richmond saying the picture
was undoubtedly that of Schoolcraft. This dis
missed all doubts as TO the mans identity ana
right of ownership.
with $4,000 at his. command. keeps up the
drudGery, of addressing cnyeiopes 10 earn his
daily livelihood. lie himself declines to tell the
questioning only says: :, No man OIL earth has
would he dug up in connection with these mis-
cradle old papers, would never have made
claim 10 thcm' May my secret be buried with
my BODY"
Ten years ago John Lawrence Schoolcraft
was n vigorous, handsome young man OF -
years. lie WAS an entcrprising young business
man and was n member of the finn q Camp
bell ~ Schoolcraft OF R~ici,mond; Va. The firm
was u popular, one and made money fast
Schuolcrnft had extensive business ventures
outside OF his regular business, ana al OF them
beautiful woman and WAS one OF the most at
%tractlve and fascinating leaders OF hichmond
society. SchooIcrait, idolll"d his wife. and his
whole life seemed to be given mn TO Ter pleasure
and happiness, One day he awoKe 10 the reali-
Hation that II YouIe lawyer named stein, who
had been one Of his most confident and trusted
friends. had robbed him of his wiie's affections.
The affair bad gone too far TO admit OF any rec
0ncilint ION. and with u broken heart he left her.
He made no complaint. neither ala lac utter q
word OF ccnsurc, but hastily converted al hi.
portable securities and left his once happy home
TO become II wandcrer the rest "f his life.
SClo0lcrafts main purpose was TO suuhnder
all his money and scatter IT, in a way that his
wife could never get IL. lie rushed into big
lied handsome profits. Taxes on his real estate
we're purposely LEFT unrnid and The property
WAS sold aud respld unlil II WAS clouded by
mortgages too tSr 10 admit OF any resumption.
Tie went into big hiGi.g ; tSem.s and all kinds
OF wiz spenulAtlDnE, ana III almost every IN
stance would win. Finally he was heard from
in Albuquerque, y. NJ, where he had Invested
in what he considered q losing venture, but to
600. Schoolcrau iiually succeeded in sQuander-
ing all his money, and landed In Chicago about
two weeks AGO with but II few dollars Ia his
pockets and with II determination To earn a
small pitlanCu whercwit I'll 10 sustain himself.
When Chief Badcnuch took the securities
after they were found md showed them TO
SchoOlcraL he said they belonged To him. but
they were worthless, Experts who have exam
ined them declare they are good. and not only
can their face value be r"aiily collected, but
tle accrued interest, wiich NH amount 10
though hvIng oaly 80 years of age, las aged
rapidly. and the sad expression on his face poF.
trays a blighted life. D
schoolcraft was born In Kentucky, and livea
In the state prior to his residence In ri hm0na.