Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-07-26

HAS DISPOSED OF ALL BUI
$500, 0~00-SAILED FOR EUROPE
YESTERDAY TO FINISH SQUAN-
DERING HIS PILE.
NEW YORK, July 25.-James A.. II.
Bell, formerly known as the Monte
Cristo of Brooklyn an eccentric in
diyidual, whose main object in life IS
to spend every dollar of his money be-
fore he dies, sailed for Europe to-day
to proceed with his u~nlaudable enter
prise.
MI. Bell is doing this to spite his
sons. He made a will once, cutting
them off with 81 apiece, but a lawyer
told him such an instrument would
not stand in court, and he determined
to get rid of his fortune in his own
way before he died.
There was a time, and only a few
wears ago, when James H. Bell was
worth fully $4,000, 600. To-day he may
have $500, 600. He has spent and given
the rest away, principal, interest and
all. Now ne has gone to Europe to get
rid of the 100000.
Mr.. Bells troubles began in a quar-
rel with his wife over the marriage of
their oldest son, Charles A Bell. The
mother sided with the boy and said he
had married a good girl. This angered
Mr.. Bell, who didn't like the young
bride. He drove his son away and
from them on Mr.. and Mrs. Bell sell
dom spoke The broken hearted
mother died a few years later.
John Graham Bell, another son, did
not take to business" He wanted to
be a teacher of music. This angered
his father.
After a day of reading and medita-
tion in his library the millionaire de-
cided to disinherit both his sons.
"They shall have a share of my for
tune" he said grimly. ct shall not
be as large as they expect. 1t shall be
exactly 81 apiece"
He Sent for his lawyer and made his
will. 1t provided that his fortune,
with the exception of the said 81,
should be divided among charitable in
situations in Brooklyn. The trustees
of an orphan asylum had made him
many offers for the old mansion on
Sands street. He had refused them
all. Because" he said ITO the lawyer,
81 want to give it to them when l am
dead"
John Graham Bell never prospered.
III health and an enfeebled will made
of him driftwood in life's stream. One
day three months ago the stream car
ried him to st. Peters hospital. He
had no money. He told the superin-
tendent of the hospital that he was a
son of the eccentric millionaire of No.
As Sands street, the Monte Cristo of
Brooklyn" The superintendent sent
bill after bill to the Sands street man
sion. There was never any reply.
The superintendent engaged a lawyer.
AT first the lawyer was diplomatic.
Your son is too i'll to be removed
from st. Peters to a charity hospital"
he wrote. I'VE would spare you the
disgrace of sending him to such an in
stitution. We are sure this-to you
tri1ing bill has escaped your attention.
We are sure that with this reminder it
will be promptly met"
1t was net. The aged father read it
in a cafe on the Champs Elysee. He
lit a cigar with 'it and laughed.
1t was only when his housekeeper
warned him that.a suit was impending
that he returned Sfrom Paris.
He arrived on Friday, June 80. 81
will settle this matter and go back to-
morrow he said. And, though his
son died that night, the kept his word.
II am shaking the dust of America
Off my feet forever" he said, as he
boarded the steamer.
A mar watched the shrunken old
figure mount the gangplank of the
ocean liner. He was a middle aged
man, with a curious likeness to the
old man who had just gone aboard.
He frowned. Then he set his lips
firmly under his thick, gray mustache,
and went on with his work as dock
agent at pier No. 81, North river. The
old man could have seen him had he
looked that way, but he did not. The
dock agent was Charles A. Bell, the
only surviving son of the old million
aire, who vas leaving America forev-
er.
Mr.. Bells main hobby has been to
dissipate his fortune as quickly as
possible.
He gave a friend his yacht, one OF
the finest ever anchored in the Sound.
His home was a great gallery of val
liable paintings from abroad. He has
given some of them to the Brooklyn
institute. More have gone to friends.
and many to strangers. He has met
several men on the street or in Pros
pect park whom he has taken home
and presented with a painting worth
double their own fortunes.
He threw gold and silver coins to
children in the park, as George Fran
els Train does.
He called passerS-by into the house
if their faces or manners caught his
fancy and gave them pieces Of the gold