A MISER'S END.

Otago Witness, Volume 01, Issue 2123, 1 November 1894, Page 41

A MISER'S END.

WEALTH HIDDEN IN RAGS.

Many of the residents of Hobart (says fchd Mercury) have for years past been familiar with the sight of a ragged, dirty-looking old fellow, with sharp eyes and hooked note, who might generally have been seen in tht prinoipal streets of the city, and whose only avocation appeared to be to inquire in what manner passers*by could afford hiu relief. Few of those, how* ever, who in answer to his petition did suppfy him with food or money were aware that this same old man was the possessor of wealth sufficient to have kept him comfortably for the term of bis natural life if he had invested it wibh oare. But so it wa», for his sudden death recently diloloied the fact that sewn up in bis tattered and dirty coat were bank books showing bis total accounts with different banking institution* of this oity to have been nearly £2000. Little is known of the old miser other than tbat his name waa John Conlan, and that he arrived ia the oalony in the early days in the ship London. For a long time pant he has been existing on, charity and the little he earned by odd jobs, and h%s slowly but Barely added to his hoard. Latterly he has beeu living at a boarding house, where he was supposed to pay 3s per week for the accommodation given, but the landlady states that it was with the greatest difficulty that he could be got to pay, and only the week before he died he endeavoured to get her to reduce thia imall tin-mat to 2s 6d. Pood he obtained in plenty from his numerous patrons, but mi regarded clothes he was n»ver well supplied, considering, doubtlesft, tbat to be warmly or decently clad would militate against) his begging successes. Naturally, as he became older and feebler his health suffered, and he had occationally to apply to the hospital for relief, where he was treated as an out-patient, A short time back he suffered from influei za, and congestion of the lungs, with bronchitis nupervet'ing, brought about his death. From the evidence adduced at the inquest it appears that he left his lodgings to seek medical advice, but had delayed until too late, and being unable to get along owing to his illness wandered into a yard, and fell exhaunted under a shed, where he was shortly afterwards found and conveyed to the hospital, only to die within two hours of his admission. It is not known ab present whether he died intestate or not.