A ROMANTIC LIFE

Waikato Times, Volume 94, Issue 14766, 4 October 1921, Page 2

A ROMANTIC LIFE

"MAN OF GOLD. " WON AND LOST A FORTUNE. How a man made a fortune in South Africa, lost it, and came homo to die outside a little- tobacco and sweet shop which he had bought with the remnant of his savings, was a romantic .story which was told at a Tonbridge inquest on Alfred Loon. He was knocked down by a motorcar belonging to the vicar of SI. Siphon's. Tabard Street, Borough, and a verdict of "Accidental Death" was returned, the driver being exonerated from all blame. Living as a recluse. Leon was not suspected by bis neighbours of being . a pioneer of Johannesburg: yet, lie was one of the early arrivals, at Johannesburg from Kimberly. Doa!', in Thousands. After Cecil P.hodes bad bought, out the small diamond mine-owners, I,eon, by judicious speculation, principally in gold claims, amassed a fortune. Financing gold prospectors, he claimed to have a '-real, deal to do with jroving that the gold reef dipped instead of g"iiv,' down vertically. Deep levels were thus established, making millions for many. Leon speculated successfully in buyIn 1 -' up abandoned gold claims, but he never touched mining shares. He kept an account in practically every bank in South' Africa, and always carried about with him a large amount in notes, although lie had twice been waylaid and robbed. Although lie dealt in thousands, the office was pari, of a small vegetable store, and lie did most of Ins business in the street or on the step of an hotel. I!is judgment was considered so good i that his name as a prospector in any scheme, however extravagant, was sufficient to attract all the capital necessary. Search For Treasure. fie organised the only treasure hunt known to be s leccssful—that for (he recovery of sortie Phoenician gold in the Barberton district. For some years success attended him, and he was reputed to be a very rich man. with, assets believed to amount, to almost, a million. But just before the Boer War for(tune seemed to desert, him ; lie disappeared from his familiar haunts, and was seen no more of until he turned ■up in Tonbridge in 191'*. There lie bought a small tobacconist business, and lived very quietly. Aged sixty-three, tie leaves a married daughter,, who is believed to be living in Surbiton.