The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-05-25
FORTUNE PROVES
HIS MISFORTUNE
Walter Belt Squandered $40,
900 and Attempts to
End His Life
FOUND UNCONSCIOUS ON
STREETS OF BALTIMORE
His Cousin, Mr.. W. G. Wilkerson,
Leaves at Noon to be at Bedside
of Hayward Youth Who In
herited Money.

His fortune has in truth been his
misfortune, for since Walter L, Beit,
a young man of splendid promise and
excellent habits. came into an tnler-
stence of = 10, e8e on his twcnty-tfrst
birthday. he has gotten into nuiner-
Gus difficulties, associated with vile
characters, squandered money fool
ishiy and lastly attempted to end his
life my swallowing creosote. On st.
Paul street. in Baltimore. he was
found in an unconscious condition
Monday night, and lies in the Sisters
of Mercy Hospital at this time in a
precarious condition. Tightly held In
his right hand was a bottle labeie /
"Creosote, and his breath gAvo every
evidence of the fact that he had swal-
lowed the poison.
In an ineoherent way he told Bal
timore officers that he lived In Rich
mond. and that he had squandereo
well-nigh $4,000 within the last few
months. The Monumental CITY au-
thorities heard his name as burns. =
and this information was telegtaphed
here. An investigation revealed ths
fact that the attempted suicide was
no other than young Belt
Cousin Goes TO Him.
Mr.. w. O.. Wilkerson, first cousin
OF the young man, and at whose home
ne lived since infancy. heard of the
condition of his relative Iuesday ;
night and Immediately telegraphed TO
the hospital for particulars. Learn
ing that there was possibility OF his
dying soon, Mr.. Wtlkerson left We'd
nesday on the noon train for falti-
more. A telegram was received at his
home shortly after he left, stating that
Belts condition had improved. The
( feia m rir
cy."
An aunt of young Belt died in Bal
ttmore when he was very small. In
her will she left him $40, 600, he TO
have II on the day he became twenty
one years OF age. Last December ne
reached his majority, and the execu-
i tors OF the estate paid him the money.
Shortly afterwards Belt quit his po-
sition as clerk and began to lead a
fast life. With a lavish hand he spent
! money. Many were the diamonds he
purchased.
He tired of Richmond and his old
haunts within a little while. and was
not heard of for several weeks, when
report came from Cincinnati that he
] who have Just come to Richmond
| derry On the street and had fred a
! revolver while in a cab. He told the
i Cincinnati people that he was the son
OF a millionaire. and his dress and
/ the diamonds he wore lent color 10
! his story Later he said the woman
with him was his wife.
| After paying fine for his conduct
| in Cincinnati the young man again
| dropped out of sight. and nothing was
| heard form him until Tuesday when
the news came that a man whose name
was thought to be Burns had tried
to kill himself in Baltimore
Might BE for Toothache.
| At Mr.. Wilkerson's home Wednes-
/ day MOI ming Mrs. Wiikerson. a moth
erly woman. who has reared the boy
from infancy. said that Belt suffered
much from toothache, and that he Of
ten put creosote in the cavity. She
thought perhaps he had poisoned
himself in this way. My husband
who Is Walters first cousin, left al
noon for Baltimore. II he dies we
will have the body brought here for
interment. l do hope he will recov.
/ er, thought. His fortune has been
the greatest misfortune that ever be-
fell him. He was a good boy until
he inherited the money left him BY
his aunt