The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-11-30

FOR SUNDAY REPUBLIC.
Benjamin w. Gist of Falls City. Neb.,
| threw away $4,000 at st. Joseph, Mo-. in
seven days. He is not a drinking man. and
is declared to be in his right mind. Young
Gist is q years old, and fell heir to the
money he threw ava a short time ago
through the death of some relatives. The
bulk of 1t was left to him at the death or
an uncle. whose favorite he was When
the uncle died Gist was not of age. and an
other uncle was appointed guardian for him.
His guardian said the money should have
been divided between the nephews and
nieces of the dead man., and there was talk
of bringing suit to break the will. The
suit was not filed. however, and when Gist
became of age there was nothing to do out
deliver the legacy over to him.
For several weeks the money renamed IN
the banks untouched, and young Gist says
he was thinking all the time of dividing II
among his relatives, or. at least. of giving
them a share Of 1t. He owns a farm ana
considerable other property. In addition to
the legacy. The relatives OF the young man
kept clamoring for a division of the $4,000,
and auarreled among themselves as to how
it should be divided. They were not will
ing to allow Gist to apportion it as he
pleased.
81 will see my aunt about it." said the
young mar Sne Will aoVise me- AIN l WIZ
take her advice"
The aunt nv. 8 in Atchison County. Mis-
souri,. She thought her own children should
have the most of the money. Then Gist
went to see an uncle. who said he would
rather see the money given to the poor
than given to one member OF the family.
He thought his brother should have divided
it among the brothers and sisters, instead
of giving the entire sum to one nephew.
Young Gist returned home and secured
a draft for the 10000, which he deposited
in one Of the banks in this city. His rela-
tives knew nothing about 1t. The next day
he hired a carriage. drove to the bank.
drew a check for 5000 and asked the CASH
Ter to give it to him in gold.
Il shall draw out my entire deposit dur
ing the next few days" he said. and I
want all Of it in gold"
With the sacks of money in the carriage
beside him, Gist went into the district where
the poor live an6 distributed $50 gold pieces
among them. To give himself courage he
took several drin Is. but at no time during
the seven days he was owing gold pieces
did he become intoxicated. When he met
school children in the street he gave them
gold pieces. Old men and women profited
by his liberality and were made comfort
able for many months to come by his gifts.
Gist gave away 5000 the first afternoon
and followed it up the next day by giving
away a larger sum-. He became reckless at
times. and. ordering the driver to stop
where he found a Grove assembled on the
street. sowed the gold pieces broadcast He
gave money alike to the deserving and the
undeserving, to ''the Just and the unjust
as he expressed it. His one idea was to get
rid of the $4,000 and place it where 1t could
not be collected again. He succeeded in CIV
ing 1t all away. 1t is said that he paid 800
for a box of cigars and IS for every drink
that was taken at his expense. When he
had his shoes shined he paid the bootblack
a twenty-dollar gold piece and would not
accept the change. All he desired was