The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1909-08-20
MEYER LEAVE ROOM
IF LINCOLN WON
HAYDEN KEPT vow HALF CENT.
URE INSIDE FOUR WALLS.
Nelson Couhty's Most Eccentric
Character Passes Away at
Greenbrier.
HE HAD AMAssED A FORTUNE

Basil Hayden, who swore nearly
nifty years ago that II Abraham Lin
'coln was elected president of the
United States. he would never step
outside his room. kept his vow until
death overlook him last Tuesday at
his home at Greenbrler, Nelson coun-
ty, Ky.
Hayden, who was In the prime OF
his manhood when Lincoln was nom
mated on what was known as the
Abolition" ticket. told his friends
that he was going to do all in his
power 10 defeat Lincoln, but that II
he should be elected he would never
set his foot outside OF his room
again. Little or no attention was
paid TO this declaration at the time
and nearly everybody had forgotten
, il until the news came that Lincoln
had been elected
Upon the confirmation OF the news
Basil Hayden went to his room and
sat down before his fire OF blazing
/ logs. His friends said that It was a
whim which would pass with Hay
den. and predicted that before Christ
mas he would get over his hun
But Christmas came and went, then
spring woke the earth to life and
song again, but Basil Hayden kept
within the four walls which he had
elected should be his prison for the
rest OF his life.
| Persons said that the stress OF the
campaign had overtaxed his mind
and that after a few months OF rest
he would become normal again. III
dispibved these thetriesl however.
by carrying on his business through
an open window OF his room. IL soor
became clear that his mind was not
, affected. and finally his friends and
relatives gave up trying to persuad,
him TO renOunce his foolish vow. To
all he replied that he had made his
bed and was going to lie in H."
SwaDped Horses at Window.
After a year or two. people Twins
IN the neighborhood ceased 10 marye
at Hayden's strange actions. and
among the neighbors II became &C
lcepted as a matter OF course that n
would never leave his room again
He did not exclude himself, however
to the neglect Of business. HE wal
known as a shrewd horse trader. ant
had amassed some money before b,
went into his hermitage. During n,
early years OF his recluse life n,
would sit at his window and swap
horses with some OF the keenest trad
lers IN the country. IL Is said OF him
that he was never beaten at a trade
During his long hermitage Basi
Hayden never permitted anyone IN
his room except his overseer. a man
named Borders. The story to the Fl.
feet that he had had an AFFAIR OF the
heart Is without foundation. for Il Is
well known by all OF his friends that
he never had a sweetheart.
OF late years Hayden had been fee
Bile and had not devoted much atten-
ton 10 business. In the winter he
would sit before his log fire. reading
and In the summer he would draw
his arm chair to the open window and
fan himself with a turkey wing. He
never shaved or had his hair cut ar
ter he retired to HIS voluntary prison
Leaves a Fortune.
A brother. Ramona Hayden, COM
mitted suicide at the home a num-
Der of years ago. Basil did not look
at the body and did not attend the
funeral. The brother suffered from
a hallucinatlon that he was bankrupt
and on the verge OF starvation. when
an inventory OF his personal property
was taken It was found that he was
worth nearly 100000. Basil Hay
den leaves an estate valued at nearly
1875 900