Evening star., 1896-11-27
PERsECUTED BY PROFITS.
Rich Man Who Trie4, to Lose His
Fortune, but Cant.

Fortune, but cSSn't.
From the Courier Journal. J is !.
The history of John 4lawfence School
craft. who now. broken,hearted and aim
less In life, plods uncomplai iptngly through
a weary existence, earRinp by constant
labor bare mainenanees is a sad one.
Several days ago bonds' and securities
amounting to 10000 wers found in the bot
tom of cast-off trunk Inshtne Saratoga
Hotel at Chicago, as was related at the
time in the Courier-Jotlr2aEi The finding OF
such valuables has led TO an investigation.
and the. fact has been established that the
bonds and securities beiongIto John Law
renee schoolcraft. formef4S VI Kentucky
Chief, of Police BadehofNt Of Chicago,
when be- turned oyer ths a9avritiss. to the
sdwnff: rinstead. sofs mi kiaaxs i.hin, n ha ppy,
brought sorrow and suffskng 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 Hotel SchoolcEaft
was earning his living by addressing letters
at 81 per 1000. It was quickly learned that
he was the owner OF the bonds for he had
the hotel check for the trunk in which they
were found. He also had receipted bill
for his board at the Saratoga Hotel. He
when asked in regard to securities he once
possessed. gave the numbers readily. Chief
Badenoch. wanting 10 be more sure. how
ever, sent Schoolcraft's picture to his old
home in Richmond, Va. Letters were re-
ceived Immediately from prominent busi-
ness men of Richmond saying the picture
WAS undoubtedly that of Schoolcraft. This
dismissed all doubts to the mans lden-
tity and right Of ownership.
These letters also explained why School
craft, with $4,000 at his command, keeps
up the-drudgery of addressing envelopes to
earn his daily livelihood. He himself de-
clines to tell the story of his life, but in
answer to persistent questioning only says:
no man on earth has suffered more than
l. Had l thought MY past would be dug
up in connection with these miserable old
papers, l would never have made calm to
them. May my secret be buried with my
body"
Ten years ago John Lawrence Sehoolcraft
was q vigorous, handsome young man of
twenty-nine years. He was an enterpris-
ing young business man and was member
of the firm of Campbell & Schoolcraft of
Richmond, Va The firm was popular
one and made money fast. Schoolcraft had
extensive business ventures outside of his
regular business, and all of them netted
him big gains Mrs. Schoolcraft was a
beautiful woman and was one Of the most
attractive and fascinating leaders of Rich
mond society. Schoolcraft idolizcd his
wife, and his whole life seemed to he given
UP to her pleasure and happiness. One day
he awoke to the realization that a young
lawyer named Stein, who had been one Of
robbed him of his Wife's affections. The
affair had gone too far to admit of any
reconciliation, and with a broken heart he
left her. He made no complaint, neither
did he utter a word of censure. but hastily
converted all his property and business in
terests into cash and portable securities
and left his once happy home to become
a wanderer the rest of his life
Schoolcraft's main purpose was to squan-
der all his money and scatter it in way
that his wife could never get it. He rushed
into big speculations and often, instead Of
losing, realized handsome profits. Taxes
on his real estate were purpOsely left In
paid and the property was sold and reso!d
until it was clouded by mortgages TOO far
to admit of any redemption. He went into
big mining schemes and all kinds of wild
speculations, and in almost every instance
would win. Finally he was heard from in
Albuquerque. N. NJ. whefe .He had invested
in what he considered a losing venture, but
to his utter disgust he realized from it over
$1O0,00O. Schoolcraft finally succeeded in
squandering all his money, and landed in
Chicago about two weeks ago with hut a
few dollars in his pockets and with de-
termination to earn small 1ittance where
with to sustain himself II
When Chief Badenoch took the securities
after they were found and showed them to
Schoolcraft he said they belonged to him.
but they were worthless. EXPERTS who have
examined them declare they are good, and
not only can their face value be readily
collected, but the accrued interest, which
will amount to some thousands Of dollars
Schoolcraft, although being only thirty
nine years of age. has aged rapidly, and
the sad expression on his face rortrays a
hlighted life. er' e
lived in the state prior to his residence ir
Richmond.
An Island Garden of Fifty Acres.