Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-05-30
SPENDS FAIR WEALTH
mayor Bip Smith, of Newmarket
Starts in to Get Rid of Over Half
Million Dollars Legacy From the Fair
Estate-Fun for His Neighbors.

Newmarket, N. j., May 30.-Having
just received s5S5.0o0 as his share OF
the estate of his brother-inlaw, the
late Charles l.. Fair, Mayor Bill
possession of so much wealth does not
disturb VIM. b. Smiths equanimity in
the slightest degree. He is as ,1nas-
Stunning and democratic in his tastes
and ideas-almoSt--as he was when he
got up at his home at , o'clock every
morning, summer and winter. and went
to Plainiield for loaf or bread, pies
and cakes to distribute thru the coun-
try. The chief difference is that now
he has frequent opportunities of going
down to the Lake View hotel and there
saying TO every one in front Of the bar.
'Whatll you have, boys? I've got
more money than any other man in this
town. and If / don't buy up the whole
town before I'm thru I'll eat my hat.
Bill Smith celebrated the receipt of
his check for s5S5,0O0 by giving ban
quet to all his fellow townsmen. The
villagers tasted champagne for the first
time, and they drank it out of beer
glasses.
Next morning, early, Smith bought
the village hotel. Amt sure that III
run it myself" said Bill rehectively,
but I'm goin' to take that hotel as a
strict business proposition. On the
rental alone would make nearly 10 per
cent on my investment. Ii | run it my
self, why. of course, I'll buy out the
other hotel and have a monopoly of
the business.
In anticipation of trip to st. Louis
and San Francisco, Mr.. Smith has
purchased twenty-four horse power
automobile. with glass front and top
and an abundance of red paint. This
vehicle, the price of which was $4,000,
can hardly be classed as an extraya-
giant purchase for a man with SO
much money as Mr.. Smith now is pos
sessed of. The same is true of the
new dress suit case all fitted up with
ver-topped bottles and brushes, cat
cost of $105. sir. and the finest things
that were ever seen in Plainfield," as
Mr.. Smith puts 1t.
On the original settlement Of the
Fair estate Smith received $4,000 as
his share. One of his first acts was
to purchase the Davis grocery, with all
the real estate attached, for $500.
Then Mayor" Smith asked Davis:
How much for the stock in trade?"
Fifteen hundred dollars" was the
reply.
"All right, I'll take it." said Smith.
But don't you want an inventory"
inquired the astonished grocer.
~ ;,,xa n,
me-" and he paid over the $1,000.
A few days later the mayor was
installed as proprietor. Then, with
characteristic generosity, he sent To
New York for brother-in-law named
Charles Thornton, who had been an
employee of the Second Avenue Rail-
road, and the firm of Smith & Thorn
ton was formed. Smith providing the
cash. For time the firm did most
thriving business, for the mayor" in
sisted on selling goods at astonishinglv
low prices, asserting that he was a
philanthropist.
Finally "BilI' got tired of conduct
ing the store, and In one of his fits
of good nature not alone gave the en-
tire store to his brother-in-la for
consideration of 81, but also left ST.
500 to the credit of Thornton in the
bank, in order that his brother law
might not be embarrassed.
Since then he has bought house.
1t is lighted turnout by electricity,
contains fourteen or fifteen rooms,
and Mayor Bin'' invariably takes his
visitors into the cellar to show them
an elaborate electric motor which fur
nishes water from a driven well, 100
feet deep.
Out in the barn is a fast trotter,
Birdie" for which Smith gave $3.50,
and it is conceded that he was not
stuck on that. Opinions differ as
to the value of his poodle dog, "Yor
ick," for which he proudly asserts he
gave $500.