The San Juan County index. (Aztec, N.M.) 1890-19??, 1900-05-18
. BRAVE STRUGGLE
MADE TO PAY THE DEBTS or
ANOTHER.
70 Finally Brought Death - Pathetic
story ~ tho Life Task Of Giles n.
Finey Of st. Louis-rrisd g Ray
o1,3Bo.OOO.

One Of the most pathetic stories now
going the rounds Of the press Is the
one which tells Of the brave struggle
OF Giles F. Filley Of st. Louis to dts
charge an enormouse debt Of 81. 1850, 900
shouldered upon him by the shortcom-
ings Of another man. Every dollar Of
this sum should have been paid by
John How, who was morally RESPONSE
BILE for It, but Mr.. Filley was %unfortu-
nate enough to have stood his security.
believing implicitly in his ability and
honor In financial transactions, and
when John How failed Mr.. Filley found
himself confronted with the necessity
Of meeting his obligations. He could
not pay the full amount at the time,
although he was one Of st. Louis most
prosperous merchants, but he under
took to pay it from year to year, and
for t~hirty-ave years he staggered un-
der the burden. Except for his fall
ure In business some few weeks ago he
would have paid every dollar Of Il, bat
financial disaster overlook him, and
his own death followed soon thereafter.
When John How was mayor Of st.
Louis during the closing days Of the
civil war he was thought to be the
wealthiest man In the town. He owned
extensive ~tanneries and other business
enterprises. The home of How was on
Locust avenue, and next door-1527-
was the Filley residence. The two men
we're bosom friends. Mr.. Filley trusted
How as only one man gives himself to
another In whom he believes. Both
were on the high road to riches; for
each life could not seem to be bright
err. How needed ready money. He ap-
pealed to Mr.. Filley for aid. Mr.. Fill
ley instantly Endorsed his notes for
amounts that in the end aggregated
$500, 900. Some little trouble over one Of
the notes led Mr.. Filley to investigate
the standing Of his friend. How fed the
city. Then It dawned on his neighbor
that he was legally responsible for
every dollar paid on the notes he in
dorsed. He accepted the situation. His
friends urged him to go into bankrupt
cy and settle for so cents on the dollar.
This he refused to do. He drew on the
resources Of the Excelsior company to
meet the notes. He never compromised
but two notes-one held by a bank
which would accept nothing but a
compromise and n possessed by the
late Capt. Eads, who would take but
so cents on the dollar. The other notes,
with interest, we're paid in full, with
only two or three exceptions. Death
interviewed and prevented their pay
ment. The interest on the notes in the
thirty-hve years aggregated over $780,
900, but Mr.. Filley made no remon-
STRANGE. His business prospered for a
time. Up to 1880 and 1881 he was able
to keep abreast of his misfortune. Then
a fire and a strike cost him $3.50, 900.
Still, he recovered from this until three
years ago, when a change in the con-
ditions of the iron trade seriously af-
fected his company. He had no reserve
capital to draw upon. His life's work
was represented by the Cancelled How
notes. He breasted the rising tide as
best he could, meeting payment after
payment. Last month he could no
longer command money, and the end
came. Now he is in his grave. How.
after his exposure and flight, appeared
In Arizona, where he led a dogs life