The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-06-14
ONCE PROMINENT
BANKER DIES POOR
Thomas B. Musgrave, Well Known
i'll Wall Street, Passes Away
Fenniless.
HEARTBRoKEN BY TROUBLE.
Wife and Son Turn Against Him in
Declining Days, and Disputes
Over Property Cause
Long Litigation.
REPUBLIC SPECIAL

REPUBLIC SPECIAL
New York. June i3.-Nany OF those who
knew him twenty years ago, when his was
well known figure in Wall street. were
surprised to learn OF the death OF Thomas
Bateson Mussrave. formerly the head OF the
clearinghouse OF Mussrave & Co.
New Yorks older business men. IS we'll as
the wealthy Bar Harbor set OF e genera
ton or more ago. recall Mr.. Mussrave's
career as that OF man once brilliantly
successful. but afterward financially
ruined. and one whose later years OF life
were emb!ttsred b. domestic broils. litiga-
ton and finally sharp contest. which re-
suited in his liberation from q private san
itarium for the insane, where he had been
confined at the Instance OF his wife and
son. who averred that he was incompetent
to manage his affairs.
Thomas Musgrave, commonly called
Colonel" by his friends, because OF his
Civil War service. was born in Northamp-
ton, Mass. in 1881, and came 10 New York
when a very young man. His early busi-
ness ventures were successful. and in lsSo
he had amassed considerable fortune and
founded the firm OF Musgrave / Co.. which
did a lucrative business.
RICH GIFTS TO BRIDE
After the war through which Mr.. Mus
grave served with credit. he married, on
April IS, 1856 Miss Fannie E Jones Of Phil
adeiphia. who had some means IN her own
right. He brought his bride to New York
and for many years they were well known
IN society circles and entertained generous
No. SIS Fifth avenue. and at the 500, coo
villa which BIZ. Musgrave built at Bar Har-
Dor This summer Eome was conveyed to
Mrs MusgEaye and her S. husband vas S SaS
gifts. among them $4,000 diamond neck.
lace. The Fifth avenue residence also stood
In the wife's name.
Two sons were born to Mr.. and Mrs Mus
grave. The elder died in infancy. The
younger Is Doctor Percy Mussrare. now a
leading physician OF Boston.
In 1859 the banking firm Of Musgrave &
Co. failed disastrously and NJ. Musgraye,s
circumstances were much reduced. He raj
lied from his misfortunes somewhat, how
ever. and became conspicuous advocate of
the Fifth Avenue Railroad enterprise. After
that project fell through he was heard Of
IN New York chiefly through his domestic
Mr. Musgrave went to live with his sister.
Mrs. Edwin P. Woodward of Mount Tabor,
ton on the ground OF abandonment. IN his
defer. Sc OF the suit he alleged that che ex-
travagance OF his family. which had lived
at rate Of $500 q year, had prec!pitated
his financial ruin.
HIS DOMESTIC TROUBLES
He brought counter suit against his wife
to recover some OF the property which he
had conveyed to her. and finally the court
ordered that Mrs. Musgrave should pay to
him a regular allowance Of 500 month.
Suits were also brought In the Maine courts
growing out of the Bar Harbor property.
Mr.. Musgrave was well-krowu member
OF the Union League. In 1883 he was arrest
ed in the parlors OF that club on charge
of SANDER. brought by Miss Julie V. Smith
of this city, who accused him of having
sent to her q scurrilous communication
through the mails The case dragged
through the courts for some months and
was finally settled.
In 1886 the Colonefs domestic troubles
were again rehearsed, when Edwin p
Woodward. his brother-in-law, brought oc-
ton in the Supreme Court to recover from
Mrs Musgrave s, 800 which he alleged ne
had advanced to her while the Bar Harbor
Mr.. Musgrare appeared as plaintiff in a
Boston court. lis son. Percy. having grad
uated from Harvard in the class of 1884
was then in his second year IN the med
teal school. In the family quarrel Percy
had sided with his mother. and his father
for one quarter. which NJ. MusSrave said
he advanced TO his son. and which the son.
now being of legal age, should pay Judge
Gaskell decided in favor of the son, who
had fought the claim
In 1870 the elder Musgraves health Was
paraIytic stroke in 1885 On the complaint OF
his wife and son. he was examined b.
West Tnirty-eighth street physician and
was confined in Louise Murden's private
satnitarium at No. IS West Thirty ninth
street
Mr.. Woodward learned Of his whereabouts
and applied for writ of habeas corpus
which Judge Freedman granted. After an
examination by the State Board Of Lunacy,
Mr.. Mussrave was freed and pronounced