The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1902-01-01
This MONEY WILL
REVERT TO UNCLE SAM.
STRANGE STORY OF HENRY VEINS
Fps ACCUMULATED WEALTH.
oon.rkabIe Management Of an insane
soIdier's Estate That Is Now
Worth Over $4,000.

Starting S11.37 in debt thirty years
400 and depending for a livelihood
wholly on a pension of $50 a month
from the government, the estate OF
Harry Wensler Of Spiker, Wabash
COUNTY, Ind, now amounts to more
Than S25, 1000 and is growing at rapid
ro+e What is still more curious, the
government, having paid Wensler this
tension for a generation, will at his
doatb receive back the $50 month
and $4,000 in addition. Such state or
o8oirs has never before come within
tho ken of the bureau officials, as re-
norted by Special Agent Stephens. The
story of Wensler and his accumulated
wealth is an interesting one and is thus
related by the Wabash correspondent
of the Indianapolis News:
"During the war he enlisted from
wabash county in the Eighty ninth In
diana infantry. While on the march in
+be south he suffered from prostration
nv the heat, which caused mental de-
rangement, and, though he has not at
any time been violent, he has been to
an extent incapable of managing his
affairs. For twelve years after his
affection Wensler was confined in the
hospital for the insane at Indianapolis
end was discharged as being harmless
and requiring no attention. Appl1ca-
tion was made for a pension on ac-
q I,ic, ,ooota1 condition and the
case was pending some time. In 1867
his wife was divorced, and he was left
comparatively friendless.
"At that time his condition was such
that Jonathan Talmage, local banker,
was appointed guardian, and Mr.. Tai
mages report to the circuit court in
September, 1870, showed that Wensler
had overdrawn his account with his
guardian $11.37. In the next report
Mr.. Talmage showed that the pension
of $50 a month, with a considerable
amount as arrearages, had been paid,
and as Wensler had been supported by
the state while at the hospital the ar
rearages amounted to tidy sum.
"In this way the foundation Of the
present fortune was laid. -Four years
ago Mr. Talmage died. and Thomas f.
Payne, a wealthy land owner Of Wa
bash, was appointed guardian. The
pension bureau required about, that
time that all reports of guardians Of
wards receiving pensions should be
made to Washington. In his report of
no
the amount of funds belonging to Wen
sler in his hands was 500, 430 and that
the total cost of administering the
guardianship was S1,214. With a few
exceptions the funds were loaned on
gilt edged security at 10 per cent inter-
est and later at 8 per cent. Some of
the later loans have been made at 6
per cent. This interest was compound
ed, and the total mounted higher and
higher. Wensler was active and con-
tributed to his own sustenance. For
years he piled his vocation as a buck
ster and drove about the county with
his little wagon, on which were printed
in sprawling letters the words, II.
Wensler, Hugster.'
Recently he went into business in a
small way at Spiker's Station, four
miles from Wabash. He lives alone,
and his expenses for food and clothing
are almost nothing. His guardian pays
$3.50 week for his food, and Wensler
takes S25 month for other expenses.
The rest Of the $50 pension and the
handsome increment from the $4,000
at interest is reinvested as it comes in.
The reports of the guardian to the
pension bureau. making this remarka-
BILE exhibit, induced Commissioner Ev-
ans to send Special Agent Stephens to