The Washington times., 1906-12-14
BORN IN LUXURY,
DIES IN POVERTY
Life Story of Man Who Was
Once Governor, Then
Criminal.

Asphyxiated by Illuminating gas, Col.
Franklin j. Moses ex-governor of South
Carolina. whose extraordinary career in
public life and as a notorious criminal.
is known from the Atlantic 10 the Pa
cifc coast. was found dead IN his apart
ments in the home of Henry Hamilton,
Irwin street. Winthrop Beach, Mass.
The end was an inglOrious one. He
who had once commanded wealth al
most unlimited, Stunned and despised
by his fellow-men, had spent the last
years of his declining life in a small.
modest room in Winthrop boarding
house The fumes from a gas stove.
used for heating, caused mis- death.
Medicai Examiner Harris made an eX-
animation and reported that death was
accidental. Colonel Moses was sixty
six years old, and recently had been
connected with a Boston financial con-
Germ.
Strange Life Story.
The life story Of Colonel Moses. the
society idol. student, Confederate lead
er. governor of South Carolina, whole
sale robber. opium heno forger. and
common thief is a series of brilliant
situations. debauches, and final degra-
dalton.
Born the only son of wealthy and
influential parents during his youth he
was one OF the most daring hOrsemen,
hest shots, quickest wits, and most
polished young gentlemen about Sumter
and Columbia. He was Il spendthritt
of the widest sort; ne loved horse
racing, women and wine, and was 10 be
found wherever the widest orgies were
held by the gentlemen OF the South.
At eighteen he had sOWn more wild oats
than the average man OF twenty-five.
Marries Fair Woman.
Despite his wildness he married one
OF the fairesU women Of the South. Yet
suH he hungered after an elusive ex-
element. The young man next turned
his attention TO politics being able
through his fathers influence to secure
the post of private secretary TO the gov
ernor In this position he was known
as the power behind the throne.
AT the outbreak of the civil war ne
was in the forefront of those shouting
for secession, and IL Is told In the PAL
metto State that by his hand the Stars
and Stripes We're hauled down from
their proud place after Fort Sumter
had fallen.
a year later, from a poular idol and
fashionable lion, he now found himself
a despised being, his caste lost and his
greatness gone. his creditors, ana ne
had many began 10 descend upon him,
Vet he defted public opinion, and after
a time OF almost abJeCt poverty sue
ceeded in becoming the almost bosom
friend Of the Union officers stationed IN
the South receiving a little later an
appointment as assistant judge OF the
provost court in the Sumter district
Wholesale Thief.
In his success. however, he grew un-
easv. and by a most skillful nlanipula-
ton Of the negro vote had himself elect
ed 10 the position OF adiutant and in
spector general His next step was into
the state house of representatives. aud
here his real career as a wholesale thief
began
With seeming impunity he robbed the
people of their taxes. almost their very
birthrights AS speaker OF the house
ana all desirous Of having bills so
through the Legislature.
His next step was 70 the governors
chair, and here he committed the Wild
est eXcesges. Obtaining money fraudu-
lentlv from every cOnceiVaDle source.
he Iavished il upon his intimates and
became almost physical wreck. He
began the use OF morphine as Il sleep
inducing drug. and on his oeteat Tor
second term found himself without
friends and almost destitute.
Becomes Opium Fiend.
Finding that he could do nothing in
the south. ne went 10 New York. Opium
soon became his meat and drink. lie
was sent 20 prison for forgery. releas-
ed and again sent 10 prison IN Boston
for a long term.
Here ne became cured of the drug
habit, and for a time conducted a weekly
paper In Winthrop. This In time failing,
ne again sank to the depths OF a COM
mon thief, was convicted, and spent
term at the Deer Island WOrkhOuse.
Since his release from that institution
he had remained quietly at his boarding
place. Erwin street. Winthrop Beach,
a broken and worn out man.