The evening times., 1897-02-11
THE GIRL KNOWS ALL;
HE KEEPS DRINKING

young man in New York has to get
drunk regularly in order to keep his money.
II he were sober and industrious, as other
young men have to be in order TO get
ahead in the world, he would be left ab-
solutely penniiess. This is the queer story:
The young man is Peter Renshaw, aged
twenty eight, formerly of Mobile, but now
living here. 1t YVES the intention or Rem
shaws uncle to put premium on his
nephew's sobriety and industry. Instead,
should Rensiaw, who has no natural in
clination for dissipation, 'setue do wn'
and gain good reputation, he would
lose an income of Sc, 600 a year. Not only
that, but he would lose his chance OF
marrying the girl of his choice, Miss
Amy Hoag. She is but eighteen years old,
but charming blonde.
Nathaniel Renshaw, TIE uncle, was
cotton merchant, of Mobile, who died in
1882, and left fortune of about $50 900.
The income of this for life was left to
young Peter Renshaw's aunt, and upon her
death it was provided by the will that the
property was to be divided between the
nephews and nieces, OF whom Peter is
one. His share was about $4,000.
But his stern, level-headed Self-made
old uncle, with foresight, worthy enough
in its way, added clause to the will, the
effect of which the old man could little
expect heclause was as follows; III atthe
time of death of my wife, the said Cynthia
Bartlett Renshaw, the said Peter Renshaw
shall be q drunken dissipated, or exhibit
vicious or wild tendencies, or rahsh in-
clination, the said hereinbefore mentioned
share devised and bequeathedto to him shall
toe retained in trust by the hereinbefore
mentioned trustee until such time as
court shall adjudge that the said Peter
Renshaw is sober and industrious, and OF
worthy habits"
1t was further provided by this will
that If Peter should continue drunken and
dissipated, the principal should 90 to his
heirs at his death, he never being permitted
to touch a penny OF it other than the in
come.
Doubtless this wise safety valve put on
the document by the good old man would
have proved efficacious, inasmuch as Peter
exhibited no tendency TO drunkenness,
had the young man not inherited $4,000
from his mother, who died in 1898.
With this, having completed his college
education, he embarked in busiIes $ as
stock broker in Philadelphia with part
ner named Lorber, whose alleged dishon-
esty wrecked the firm and left ReDshaw
with judgments against him aggregating
$4,000. The judgments, costs and interest
charged against him as the result OF his
bad selection Of a partner would swallow
up his share Of his uncle's property and
half as much again.
Tttly W
died after a Iingeringillness. Renshaw com
suited James a. Donegan, a lawyer OF this
city, mo told him thlttfhe continued sober
and industrious the trustee would pay the
money over To him, aud there would be no
way OF preventing it from being gobbled up
by the Judgment creditors.
His lawyers told him. as Renshaw says,
to go to Mobile and raise the devil"
In Mobile Renshaw did considerably more
than comply with the letter of the law.
There are Mobilians who say that Rem
shaw's descent upon the town reminded
them of times "befo' the wah. In two
weeks Renshaw convinced the trustee OF
his unclc's estate that it was his plain duty
under the provisions of the will 20 hold the
Young mans share in trust, anu incident
ally TO pay over the income To him.
Renshaw's sojourn in Mobile, while he
was So engaged in settling up his uDcle's
estate by not settling down, was marked by
q continuous trail of broken glassware and
bills rendered in the morning for damages
done the night before. The winter the
dissipated, but conscientiously law abiding
Mr.. Renshaw spent in Florida
Miss Hoag was in St Augustine, and
through Mr.. Renshaw's resolution to
comply with the letter of the law in being
drunken and disspated' without ceas-
ing, he succeeded in getting himself criti-
cised by members of her family, but he says
the girl unde rStands.