The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-11-15
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A MAN WHO CANNOT LOSE.
He Seeks to Become Poor But His
Every Venture Enriches Him.

He Seeks to Become Poor But His
Every Venture Enriches Him.
From the Louisville Courier-Journal.
The history of John Lawrence School
craft, who now, broken-hearted and aim
less in life, plods uncomplainingly through
weary existence, earning by constant
labor a bare maintenance, is a sad one.
Several days ago bonds and securities
amounting to $4,000 were found in the
bottom of a cast-off trunk in the Sara
toga hotel at Chicago, as was related at
the time in the Courfer-Journal. The
finding of such valuables has led to an
lnvestgat ton, and the fact has been es-
tablished that the bonds and securities
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 suffering 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 waiter al the Sara toga hotel
Schoolcraft was earning his living by ad-
dressing letters at 81 per thousand 1t
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 a recepted 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 to be more sure.
however, sent Schoolcraft's picture to his
old home in Richmond Va Letters were
received Immediately from prominent
business men of Richmond saying the
picture was undoubtedly that Of School
craft. This dismissed all doubts as to
the mans identity and right of owner
ship.
These letters also explained why School
craft, with 0,00O at his command, keeps
up the drudgery of addressing envelopes
to earn his daily livelihood. He himself
declines to tell the story of his life, but in
answer to persistent questioning only says:
mo man on earth has suffered more than
l. Hal l thought my past would be dug
up in connection with these miserable old
papers, 1 would never have made claim to
them. May my secret be buried with my
body"
Ten years ago John Lawrence School
craft was vigorous, handsome young man
prising young business man and was
member of IT, firm of Campbell & School
craft of Richmond, Va. The firm was
popular one, and made money fast. School
craft had extensive business ventures out
side of his regular business, and all of
them netted him big gains. Mrs School
craft was a beautiful woman, and was
one of the most attractive and fascinating
leaders of Richmond society. Schoolcraft
dolized his wife, and his whole life seem
ed to be given up to her pleasure and hap
piness One day he awoke to the realiza-
ton that a young lawyer named Stein,
who had been one of his most confident
and trusted friends, had 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 interests 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
suuander all his money and scatter IL In
a way that his wife could never get 1t.
He rushed into big speculations and often,
instead of losing, realized handsome prof
it's. Taxes on his real estate were pur'
Dosely left unpaid and the property was
sold and resold until it was clouded by
mortgages too far to admit of any re-
demption. He went into big mining
schemes and all kinds of wild specula-
lions, and in almost every instance would
win. Elldlly ne was HSdlu lACAli III a.
buquerque, n. NJ, where he had invested
in what he considered a losing venture,
but to his utter disgust he realized from il
over 100000. Schoolcraft finally succeed
ed in suuandering all his money, and land
ed in Chicago about two weeks ago with
but few dolalrs in his pockets and with
a determination to earn small pitance
wherewith to sustain himself.
When Chief Badenoch took the securi
ties 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 in
terest, which will amount TO some thous-
ands of dollars. Schoolcraft, although be-
ing only 80 years of age, has aged rapidly.
and the sad expression on his face por-
trays a bilghted life.
Schoolcraft was born in Kentucky and
lived in the state prior to his residence in
Richmond, Va.
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