The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-03-15
"GtT RICH QUICK"
PENNINGTON DEAD
Native Hoosier Was Wonder.
full Operator Eluded
Laws Clutches.

Cincinnati, March 1.-THE confirm
Pennington had died last week In a
hospital at Springfield. Mass. has cali
ed many "reminiscences of remarka-
BILE character. whose operations as u
promoter" started In this city. He
had fallen In the street. fracturing his
nose, and later meningitis developed.
causing death.
In his checkered career Pennington
made and spent several fortunes. He
organized dozens OF stock companies
10 exploit his schemes at various times
and the figures he talked of in his or
ganization of capitol were nearly al
ways In the millions. His career APP
pears TO have been one long story of
adventure of the "eet-rich-quick" var
iety.
His operations more frequently than
not lowered close to the ragged edge
OF the law, but he always escaped pros
ecutions. His fabulous schemes var
led along three principal lines. air
ships. automobiles and an invention
for "A new and marvellous light.
Pcnnington's engaging manners and
impressive personal appearance were
the secret OF much Of his amazing pow
er over men. lie was six feet two
inches In height and built In pro
portion. lie always dressed in black
or gray frock coat. There was hardly
an office boy alive who would have
dared to stop him on his way into
an office. and private secretaries were
easy game for him.
He was born at Moores HILL Ind, In
1853. His father was "A blacksmith
and an itincrant Baptist preacher. In
1850 nc ran away with Mary Butler,
and they were married. Before this
he came to Cincinnati. where he OBJ
tanned a place In large machine shop
as n pattern maker. There he got a
slight acquaintance with machinery,
which he Afterwards used as "a basis
for many so.called inventions. lie had
little technical knowledge. and at one
trial he could not tell the court the
difference between "A square foot and
cubic foot. But his first employer
said, after his exploits got out. that
he had an instructive knowledge that
would have commanded a large salary
with any big concern.
Truekman Lost 5000.
While in this city, Pennington met
n truckman who had saved $4,000. He
induced him to enter a partnership
in n wooden pulley company, which
was founded on the truckman's cap
ital. In less than two years Penning
ton absorbed all the capitol and his
partner went back to his trucks.
Pennington returned to Moore's Hill
where his real adventures in high fl
nance began with his organization OF
the Standard Manufacturing company
in 1887. The factory did not pay and
Pennington went to the neighboring
town OF Edinburg. where he impressed
the president OF the First National
bank with the boom the town would
experience IL he located his factory fol
the manufacture Of patent wooden pull
leys In that town.
About that time natural gas was dis
covered in Indiana and the residents
of Edinburg thought the towns in tho
gas belt would all become rich manu-
featuring cities. A committee of the
best men of tho town visited Penning
toms factory, where they found smoke
pouring from all the stacks and few
erish rush and hustle everywhere.
boy came In and dumped big mail
bag full of supposed orders on the
desk in front of the committee. bu
they did not wait to investigate the or
dcrs but hurried back home.
Within two hours the $4,000, Pen
nington had demanded was forthcom
ing and the factory was moved to Ed