The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-02-03
DIED IN RAGS;
WORTH $4,000.
Aged Ann Nixon ly,d In HoVsl
10 Add 10 Her Wealth.
STA WEEK FOR BED AND BOARD
Owned Rial Estate Worth $4,000, AID
Had Thousands Ia Gold aad SILVER Coin
Was Called a WilcA.
STA WEEK FOR BED AND BOARD

New York. Feb s--Alono. unattended.
wrapped ln the rags that were her only
clothing plnched and starved 20 eTnacia-
tion. old Ann Nixon died yesterday ia
tho filthy squalor of the little room ia
tht Bronx that for four years she had
called home
To the coroner whose duties took him
to her miserable hoveI this seemed the
most aoject cast OF poverty and lonely
misery he had ever seen When he had
unwrapped the rags from cid AIMS body
he learned that she was anluent.
Before he left her hovel he know that
she hao died weslthy lie had found in
one hours search cash. gold, silver re-
cords Of bank deposits ana deeds for real
estate aggregating in value nearly sso. .ooo
IN all the records OF miserly hoarding.
whether drawn from fact or fiction. the
story Of Ann Nixon finds few parallels.
Four years ago the old woman-she was
then 81 years old-appeared az the house
Of John Rodenfcld. az ~ Park avenue.
in fremont She was wrinkled and crab
bed tacitur1l and seemingly, very poor
frame cottage, had small hail room
that he could spare from his famly's
needs. He was not svcrse 10 taking
even an humble lodgeI
ONE DOLLAR A WEEK FOR RENT.
So Resented and the old woman struck
close bargain, the beidame eyeing him
narrowly from her hawklike eyes. For
81 a month he agreed 20 let her occupy
the little room-'i a week for rent. Then.
after some further psrlay old Ann per-
suaded him. without additional cost. TO
supply her daily with a plain breakfast
Tn not much of an eater" said old
Ann, "and one light meal q day is all
my old bones require"
II Rodenfeld had any misgivings at
first about his queer lodger they soon
vanished. Sho paid her meagre rent
promptly. asked no favors and minded
her own business. what that business
might be Rodenfeld and the neighhors
could not make out.
Ann Nixon was an early riser. bit
OF toast or an egg and cup of coffee
early I'm the morning and then she was
eff for the day None knew where she
went. what she did. whence she had
come To these who dared tc question
her she sometimes smiled nysterously.
but she more often scovled and knit
her beetlng brows Children in the
neighborhood looked at her asksnce and
began 20 call her "the witch"
Regularly a. the clock she would return
st about o'clock usually with an assort-
rnent of bundled rags or cast eff eliot ne
that suggested days work at picking
among the compost heaps and general
scavengerins. These she cast upon the
floor of her room. Then she went 60 bed
and slept until morning brought the right
to another meal So far as her landlord
and neighbers know, She never dinca nor
Supped.
In her absence her door was kept care
fully locked. Those who had al times
obtained peep az she entered or left
her room saw that IL was uncarpeted
and that two or three barrels and boxes
Uttered one corner amid the bundle of
rags. She never permitted anybody but
herself 20 arrange her bed.
IN RAGS AND TATTERs
So she nved-or existed--four years.
Each year she grew moro shabby and
more secreove. Finally her clothing con-
sisted merely or rags and shreds. partly
OF male and partly OF female garments.
swathed about her emacisted form aud
held In place by twists and turnes Of old
pieces of cord and string She had out
lived even buttons and hooks and cyee
Old Ann had withered until she was al.
most clnsh. In her squalid Wrapping of
rags she was moro like a mummy than a
living woman.
She failed to come lo breakfast yeser- !
DAY az her usual hour Knocks on her
door did not rouse her Then John Roden- |
field forced TIE d0or and found her Wing |
dead ON hcr bed. Of apopcNN. Dr Moni /
gomcry came iu a fordham hospital am !
bulsnce. but there was no use for hlm /
Corouer OGormau 1nd his physician. Dr
Curtain. accomplished more
From nc wasted body they un~ound I
wards of rags. cutting tho strings TO 90 /
go. From these coverings dropped out /
Sin0 IN bills ol SO ANA 90. ON her person /
were found also bank books showing dr- 1
l.Osits in the Dry Dock Savings bank. OF 4
seiGe and iu the Bowory Savings bank of 4
N0Sa
Under She barrel was found "a hank :
book showing deposits iu thc Bank OF ,
SavirgS amounting ga taA. and amrthtr
fOr Si0o0 IN the Bicecker street Savings
bank. Records OF other smaller deposits 4
Indicated cash capital or about $500
Searching further in the bed and among 4
rags Is the boxes aud barrels. the coroner \
found about Si00 in gold coin and $50 in I
silver Then h~ discovered deeds fpr rca
estate iu various parts OF Bronx borough \
estimated 90 be worth t500oo. ono Of these
properties is on tho north side OF ono
HUNDRED and Sevonty.oight street. near
Ihird Avenue. Tho deeds were carefully
ticd and kuotied about with pieces of
string