The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1896-12-03
PROSECUTED BY PROFITS.
Il Rfch Man Who Tries to Lose His
Fortune. But Can't

Louisville Couricr-l Ournnl.
The history Of John Lawrence
SchOo!craft, who now, broken-hcartcd
and aimlcss in life, plods uncomplain-
lngly through Il weary existence, earn
ing by constant labor a bare mainte-
nance, is sad one. Several days ago
bonds and securities amounting to
1000 were found in the bottom OF a
cast-oil trunk in the Saratoga Hotel at
Chicago, rs was related at tho time in
the Courier-Journal. The finding of
such valuablcs has led to an investiga-
tion, and the fact has been established
that the bonds and securities belong to
John Lawrence Schoolcraft, formerly
Of Kentucky.
Chief OF Police Badcnoch, of Chica-
go, when he turned over tho securities
to the owner, instead Of making him
happy, brought sorrow and suffering
to him, as the bonds recall sad event
IN his life, which he had strivcn hard
to wipo out and forgot. The day the
honds were found by waiter at tho
Saratoga Hotel Schoolcraft was earn
ing his living by addressing letters al
81 per thousand. 1t was quickly learn
ed 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 Il rcceiptcd bill for his boar(
at the Saratoga Hotel. He, whcl
| asked in regard to the securities he
| once possessed, gavc the numbers read
lily. Chief E5adcnoch, wanting To be
more sure however, sent Sch0oIcrafts
picture to his old home in Richmond,
Va. Lcttors wore received Immediate
~ from prominent business men Of
Richmond saying the picture WAS un
doubLcdly that Of Scboolcraft. This
dismissed all doubts a. to the mans
identity and right OF ownership.
These letters also explained why
SchoOlcraft, with 5000 at his com
mand, keeps up the drudgcry o: ad-
dressing envelopes to earn his daily
livelihood. He himself declines to tell
the story Of his life, but in answer to
persistent questioning only says: "No
man on earth has suffered moro than |.
Had | thought my past would be dug
up in connection with these miserable
old papers, ] would never have made
claim to them. May my secret bc
buried with my body"
Ten years ago John Lawrence
Schoolcraft was a vigorous, handsome
young man OF % years. Ilo was an
cntcrprising young business man and
was a member Of the firm OF Campbell
IL.
firm was popular one and made
money fast. Schoolcraft had cxton.
sive business ventures outside Of his
regular business, and all OF them not
ted him big gains. Mrs. Schoolcraft
was q beautiful woman and was ono Of
the most attractive and fascinating
leaders OF Richmond society. School
craft doliZed his wife, and his whole
life seemed to be given up to her
pleasure and happiness. One day he
awokc to the realization that young
lawyer named Stein, who had beon one
Of his most confident and trusted friends
had robbed him Of his wifc's affections.
lie made no complaint, ncither did he
uttcr word OF cenourc, but hastily
converted all his property and his bus
mess interests into cash and portable
securities and left his once happy
home to become a Wandcrer tho rest OF
his life.
Schoolcraft's main purpose was to
equandcr all his money and scatter it
in u 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 purpOscly loft unpaid and
the property was sold and rcsold until
1T was cloudcd 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, where he had invested in what ho
considered q losing venture, but to his
utter disgust he realized from it over
100000. Schoolcraft finally succeed
ed in squandcring all his money, and
landed in Chicago about two weeks
Ego with but 8 few dollars in his pock.
cts and with q determination to earn 8
pittancc whcrcwith to sustain himself
When Chief Bac cnock took the Sc
curities after they were found and
showed them to Schoolcraft he sai(
thoy belonged to him, but they were
worthless. Experts WOO nave oxamin
cd them declare they are good, an(
not only can their face value DC rcadil,
collected, but the accrued interest
which VIII amouuU 10 some thousand
OF dollars. Schoolcraft, although be
ing only 80 years OF age, has aged rap