The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-08-30
WANTED: A HERMITS CASH.
EoCES rHIO BILL GOULD SLOWED MS
MONEY! OUT OF REACH.

Relatives Didn't Even Think He had Mnde
viii. but Finding That, They Are Now
Searching for hts Hoard-Tho Old Mans
Gratitude to = widow who Nursed Hin.
PLkISFIILD. N. j.. Aug. 20.-There Ia scarcely
20 be found In Scotch Pains or its vicinity a
person who doesn't remem Der William Gould.
who lived away back OF the Plains on q small
farm All the boys recall old "Bll" Gould.
His face was as familiar az the frovsy little
mule which was his constant companion whom
on visit to the village. "Bill" was eccentric.
Seated behind his mule. on a two-whceled
gig, the old man attracted moro or less
attention because OF his quaint dress and un-
kempt appearance. He was tall. raw boned
and angular. For moro than thirty years he
lived the life OF a recluse. His farm OF about
seven acres was located on the New Providence
road He was OF a retiring disposition and made
but few friends. TO those 70 whom he made
tho least pretense OF giving his confidence he
would tell but little. lie said that his early lie
was spent UP In New York Stnts.
lnQutsitive neighbors who occasionally had
the temerity to pry into the old mans affairs
wore not infrequently snub5ed. Gould ad-
mittod that he knew Jay Gould. and when
pressed for an answer as to whether he was
related to the nnancier. no would reply
brusquely: dispose be-" The old man had
sometimes spoken Of Delaware county. New
1OrH. anu many Oh his uolkubOTS DolloNou tio.
he had at ono time been associated with jay
Gould In the latter's early struggles.
William Gould secured In the early '70's near
the Plains n small plot OF land that for q num-
Der OF years he cultivated. He built frame
cabin at a picturesque spot In the mountains.
He cleared part OF the land and devoted his
time to raising garden truck.
No one troubled him and he troubled no ono.
In 1890 Gould was taken sick. and but for the
kind attention Of Mrs. Eva Brown a neighbor.
he would have died alone in his crude home.
Mrs. Brown had missed the old man for several
days and she thought 1t strange. She
determined to investigate. The mule was
found tied to pole in the rear OF the shanty.
With some difficulty Mrs Brown succeeded in
gaining admission to the house. Stretched
upon miserable bed she found the old man
dying. For days she did not cease to minister
to his wants. Kind treatment and gentle
nursing saved his life
Bill Gould did not forget the kindness OF
the Widow Brown. The illness had told on his
constitution and he was compelled to give up
farming. He tried to sell his place but without
success until the summer Of 1891. when.
through tho efforts OF a law firm. Ernest G.
Keb OF Fanwood. purchased it. paying Gould
S2100 for It. Gould moved to Scotch
Plains and died there in 1893. Not many
months after he sold his farm he made his will.
The instrument was drawn by lawyer H. G.
Runyon OF this city. Although it was always
supposed that Gould was q poor man. II 10 now
believed that he had accumulated considerable
money. In the will he bequeathed 500 to
Mrs. Brown. The balance Of his estate he
divided equally between his two sisters. Miss
Mahaley Gould Of Manchester. N. H.. and Mrs.
Lucy Morton Of Monson. Me. The will was de-
hosited in tho First National Bank OF this city.
Ind was n ver probated. the relatives seemingly
rot thinking the old man had any means.
hfter Gould had received the cash for his farm
he went to New York and deposited the money
In the Seamens National Bank. Soon after
making his will he withdrew the money. but
what he did with it is not known. 1t was only
by accident discovered that he had left a will.
A. H. Morton. son Of Mrs. Lucy Morton.
who lives in Chicago. where he is associated
with Marshall Field & Co. had bust
ness in New York. One day Mr. Morton
ran across a relative. who made inquiries
concerning the eccentric uncle. and was told
that he had died Tho relative said that Gould
had been in the habit OF making deposits in
the Seamen's Bank and that he believed he had
money In one OF the Plainfleld banks. A visit
was made to the Seaman's Bank but Mr.. Nor
ton was told that his uncle had transferred
his account to another bank. Mr.. Nor
ton came to Plainloid and with Mr.. Runyon
visited the First National Bank last Saturday
morning. There to his surprise he found tho
will. which was opened and read. But no cash
was on deposit in the name Of William Gould
and the bank officials said that there aaver
had been. The matter has been placed
In the hands OF LAWYER Runyon. who has
been authorized by Mr., Morton to make dill
gent search for the missing cash. 1t is be-
Heved by those who knew Gould that he may
have boarded perhaps $4,000. A thorough
search is to be made among the old mans
effects which are still at the home OF the fam
lily with whom he boarded previous to his
death.