The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-06-16

Barnato's Fortune of $3.50, 100000
Shrunk to SIS, 100000

London, June 16.-The death of Bar
ney Barnato. the famous SPECTATOR.
must cause widespread ruin among
small investors They had pinned their
faith TO him The big spectators hav-
ing had inside knowledge OF his seri-
Gus condition. have either cleared out
or been manipulating his stock with
profit Barnato's tragic end has con
WINGED the public here Of the worthless
fabric, the South African scheme which
now easily takes rank as the biggest
stock speculation on record
He was driven to desperation by the
lass of millions Of dollars in the last SIX
months He had left only about So
O0O, GOO out of a fortune estimated a year
ago at $3.50. 600 COO
No secret is made of the fact that
his breakdown was accelerated BY
heavy drinking, which began when the
kaftr slump started. even before his
departure for South Africa which was
hurried and private His mind show
ed signs of failing under the strain
eight months ago, on which account he
was sent away from England IneTe
has never been any nOticea bic improve
ment in his condition His RESPONSE
bilities weighed heavily on his mind,
and he sought '.solace'' too frequently
His naturally robust constitution had
been undermined by his labOriOus, ez-
citing life. and symptoms Of sOftening
Of the brain manifested themselves-
at the probable effect on his securities
if this were known, as they were be-
leved to be dependent solely on his
personality.
So they used every effort to get him
OF the Cape and place him in seclusiOn
for time in the hope that he would
recover. He, did not want to leave
London, but by ruse they induced
him to set on board a steamer to see a
nephew off to the Cape, and he was
kept talking in the cabin until the ship
departed with the tender He was
thus shipped away against his will
This explains story. made much of at
the time, and now revived. that he
went the last time TO South Africa 50
unexpectedly that he had only the
clothes he stood in
His condition became worse instead
Of better, and he made public exhi-
bitiOn of insanity at johannesburg
about six weeks ago. but it was attrib-
uted to temporary causes. His friends
knew better. however, and a good deal
of selling of his securities for a fall has
been INDUCED in during the slump BY
well informed spectators
The collapse has nOtf vet been as
great as looked for. because the Belts
and other big South African houses
have combined to keep up prices At
the same time it has been more than
sufficient to prevent a newly attempted
boom in these securities on which the
stock exchange has been reckoning for
a few weeks.
After Barnato began building a lord
" palace for himself on aristocratic
Park Lane, his phenomenal good for
tune deserted him. Barnato's house
cost, it is estimated, 81, 600 900 (S5, 000,-
O00). It is now approaching completion,
and the internal decoration is partly
done. The exterior is ornate in the ex-
IRENE, BarnatO having given unlimited
discretion to the architect to embe1lfsh
1t with tracery, pilasters and statues
London, June 16.-Secretary Honey OF
Barney Barnato's cOmpa MES says that
the claim of Mrs. BIackman, Cleveland.
o., to be a daughter of the late South
African speculatOr is prepOsterous, as
Barnato was only once married.
Today's papers publish columns OF
obituary. "reminiscences and history OF
the dead specuIatOr. It is said he
thrice attempted to commit suicide be-
fore he left Cape Town
Cape Town, June 16.=The Cape par
lament has adjourned out of respect
for the late Barney BarnatO.
New York, June 16--AIiss Alice HoI-
brook, the siSter-in-laW Of the late Bar
denied many Of the stories told about
Barnato's life.
He was not q London street Waif.''
she said ''+He came of a good English
Jewish family, as we do. My sister was
never q barmaid. Mr.. BarnatO was
never a circus clown, and 1 did not
teach him to spell He was a fine in
telligent mau-his success in business
shows that It is not true that I did
not like him"