Cottonwood report. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1893-1901, 1897-12-17
THREW HIS MONEY AWAY


anu Norpnine Fiend.
Tom Coffin, a mysterious spend.
thrift who lived near Winthrop. Nc
Is dead. His end was in keepjny with
the strangeness of his life. He died in
tne little town'of Lowell, Me-, from the
effects Of the morphine habit and leav.
ing no friends or money to bury him
Inc selectmen Of Winthrop have.
received word that Coffin has been
buried at the expense of the town If
Loyeli and that Winthrop would he
looked to to ME good the costs. How
CONN got hls money no one seems TO
know. His life away from Winthrop
Is a mystery. Some say he got his
money as a bookmaker at the New,
York race tracks; some say Inflated
mine and land enterprises. But this is
known: He was there twelve wears
ago with money heaps and stacks
of money. Coffin was Winthrop boy
and lived there till nearing young man
hood. Then he got into trouble and had
to leave town. Nothing was heard or
thought Of him for years, when sudden
~ he reappeared in the community at
that time man Of middle age, medium
size, agile, hearty Of manner, with
strong, intelligent face. But soon he
began to paralyze the community. He
was an opium fiend at the time. He
bought horses, and when he got angry
at them he had them shot. lie bought
fine house and Immediately began to
mutilate the grounds by tearing away
a fine bank wall of granite. He had his
front stone steps torn up AMI carted
away because some young people sat
upon them, unlimited, one evening. He
bought carriages and furniture AMI
then more carriages and furniture and
made bonfire on his lawn of the first
installment. If he had an end in life
1t seemed to be to dazzle and astOnish
the acquaintance of his youth. He
bought expensive carpeting, to be
spread from his front door across the
street so that the woman he introduced
as his wife light go to an entertain
ment without soiling the soles of her
slippers.
Sometimes he had his tantrums and
bad spells. Then there were shrieks
from the house, from its female in
mates, and the good people Of Winthrop
held their breath with thoughts Of muir
der and other crimes.
1t is estimated that Coffin must have
spent $780, 900 at least in the four years
he was in Winthrop, and several per-
sons in the place were left the richer
for his having come. He distributed
his money among his friends with Law
Ish hand. He seemed utterly careless
in regard to the keeping of his money
At one time he left basket containing
100000 in currency in the house, II
plain sight, in room, with no one LEFT
to look after it but few women.
He carried about with him gri[
stuffed with $4,000 in bills, and once
absent-mindedly left it in a store and
did not think to call for it until the nexl
day. 1t is also related that one time he
had the grip full of money, and, being
about to start on trip to Boston, he
did not wish to be bothered with SO
much money, so he emptied 1t upon the
floor of a closet in his house and start
ed on his way without. further thought
He left Winthrop after these escapades
as suddenly as he came. When he was
there again, short time ago, he was
changed man, only the ghost of his Tor
mer self, emaciated, unsteady in gait
n pitiable wreck