The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-08-27

10 you II can Here, Bob''-to a smart intelligent
starcase-''conduct this gentleman through the
wards where the Westfeld patients are and stay
with him as long as he wants your
The boy conducted the reporter first to ward No.
10 on the balcony In front OF which were discovered
two brothers, victims OF the explosion, named Pat
TICK anu Edward Roddy, who are on the straight
road 10 recovery, and were just then enjoying the
glorious breeze that blew up into their faces from
tne broad river In front OF them In reply TO ques-
ton from the reporter the Roddys said they were
ooth getting well rapidly, and, like all the other
OF gratitude for the care and attention they received
al the hands Of The Warden the doctors the nurses
and particularly the kindhearted and charitable
ladies' who have been acting as
VOLUNTEER NURSES
In the hospital since the night of the accident
"Have any lawyers been here to see you since you
began to recovery" asked the reporter.
"fes answered one OF the Roddys, "a man came
here one day last week and told us we could get
lot OF money out OF the ferry company II we author
izeo him TO bring lawsuit AGAINST them for
damages. He said he would have 10 keep half what
he'd get for his trouble and might have the other
halt We agreed to do that; but before he LETT the
building one OF the ladies came along and asked us
what we mad been doing. We told her ana she said
we were very foolish TO do any such thing and adj
vlsed us TO Withdraw our authority from that man
vice, and told him TO do nothing IN our name Last
Saturday he came again and offered TO do II for
twenty-five per cent, but we wouldn't lei him."
"Did he give you his name? 2"
mHe handed us this and said It was MS card"
The card which the reporter retained and still
holds, is that OF law firm whose onice Is on
Broadway.
against the companyr' asked the reporter.
mo; we got u letter some time ago from another
man-wait: here 1t Is"
The reporter took and still holds the letter, OF
which the following Is q COPY
AUGUST 9, 1871.
PATRICK and EDWARD RoppY:-
To-day have commenced eight suits against the Staten
Westeld disaster. and among them commenced one for
try get you with them they You refer
than you can T Win let You know when snytnns new
would pleased to hear from you how you both
Wall street, New York.
"Dd you know the man who sent you this letter,
or ever see him before ?" inquired the reporter
RoDDY-Neyer saw nor heard of him in all our
life, neither OF us; and Pm sure don't know how
he heard OF us.
REPoRTER-Did anybody else speak to you on this
suojectP
RoDDY-No, except lady nurse that was here,
who was very Kind TO US all She was going around
al the time, and Kept constantly telling US that we
GREAT DEAL OF MONEY
out OF this thing, warning US against having any
thing TO do with lawyers until she told She
said she would soon send us The only lawyer that
could do our business, and that we ought to trust.
REPORTER is she here now?
RoDDY-No; Pm told she left here a few days
ago-at least, haven't seen her since.
REPoRrER-We, do she send you any lawyer
R0DDY-Yes; think 1t was on Thursday last
man came here and said he was her lawyer. He
when we refused he SAID he would do 1t for twenty
five per cent He gave me this card
INe cara, WHICH tue reporter retains, Is CnaC OF
law firm doing business, or at least keeping an
Office in Liberty street. On the back OF the card
was written IN what the reporter afterwards ascer-
tanned to be the handwriting OF the lady referred
to-"Messrs. - & - uhe name Of the Aforesaid
nrml are my lawyers, and are uncorruptibe."
REPoRTER-Dld you authorize that man TO insti-
sttute the suit for your
RoDDY-No sir; took the advice Of the other
ladies and Warden Brennan, who cautioned us
against having anything to do with any OF them rel
lows.
fhOga n orr m Dpt n
RoDDY-weil, first thought they only wanted to
the share Of the money they wanted for prose-
cutting IT. but OF the patients here tells that
II they were honest men and respectable lawyers
THEY'D NEVER RUN ABOUT
after cases in this way, and that II gave one Of
them my suit he would either keep all the money
when ne got it or sell out my case to the company
Now" SAID the reporter, turning to his attend
ant spriue, lead NE right away 10 where III find
one OF the volunteer lady nurses" The smart BOY
led the way to the bedside Of another victim OF the
explosion, who was just then suffering the most
dreadful agony. Beside HIM two OF those
noDlehearte ladies tanning the poor sufferer and
utterng sucn words OF comfort as were at their
command Introducing himself and his business
the reporter asked OF the ladies to tell him all
she knew about the lady above alluded to- the volun-
"Well.D replied she 81 can't say that know a
great deal about her, and indeed l can't say that
am sorry my knowledge OF her is so limited. l
know that came here on the night oil the acct
dent ana remained in the hospital until q few days
ago. She worked very, very hard indeed. and was
ever on ner feet, Win one patient and with
another ana made herself on the
MOST INTIMATE AND MoTHERLY TERMS
with the whole Of them. So painstaklng, untirlng
and attentive she that she won the regarI OF all
Ikea Ike Ser vers mnch Alter While noweVer some.
thing began TO show Itself about her that we did not
like so well She introduced herself to us as lady
OF immense wealth. she said her former name was
Mrs. B.; but that she had a divorce from the
husband who gave her that name and was now
THE COUNTESS B.
She preferred however, while in this country to
be known by the name sac formerly bore, as she
did not wish to create any sensations. She was not
only personally attentive and kind TO our patients
but extremely liberal In her offers OF assistance
to those who were poor ana destitute and without
friends. One man. who died here, she had buried
at her own expenses; but she never paid the under.
taker his bl, though he haunted her mere for seve
down very plainly as an imposter. Then there was
a poor man here whose clothes were destroyed, and
provide MIN with clothes and FURNISH him with the
means OF setting up in business: But after several
clothes and promised funds could tell you any
number OF cases OF this kind, all OF which she had
duly published in the papers, particularly an evening
SOME INNOCENT REPORTER.
AT length, however, 1t became but too plain that
she was a woman without any means whatever, and
wnen 10 had gone so far that she could no longer
deny the truth she had gentleman TO call here one
night recently and take her away. since then she
has been sending letters containing lawyers cards.
to all the patients, and advising them as their true
friend TO place their suit against that ferry COM
pany In those lawyers hands,
Turning 10 the patient, whose name was Matt.
O'Brien the reporter asked him If he had mad visit
from any lawyers recently He feeby pointed to
book that lay beside MIN. The reporter took 1t up
a cheap copy OF the "Pckwick Papers"-and from
between the leaves there fell
TWO ENVELOPES, CONTAINING TWO CARDS.
The first was the card Of the Liberty street law
yers above mentioned, on the back Of which was
written the following note-
ST. DENIS HOTEL.
DEAR FRrgND-Messrs. - i - are my lawyers,
uncorruptlbe and after Therefore
you will recover heavy damages III employ them,
will be your witness Your true friend,
The second note was written on both sides OF
blank card, and ran thus
ST. DENIS HOTEL, August 19, 1871
DEAR FRIENDDo not sign any law papers close with
any lawyer until l see YOU Believe me your best
friend. will as feel little better; but will
be glad 70 or hear from through your friends
"Dld you sign papers for any lawyerr' asked the
reporter OF the sufferer
'Yes,n he answered. very weakly, "I signed some
papers for somebody when was unconscious and
DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS DOING.
j wish could stop IL now, but can't do anything
at present. NV sister and brOt law namad