Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1874-10-30
Curious Robbery Of u Miser-A
Life.s boarding Swept Off.

Life's boarding Swept Off.
The history of the old man, Luther Bry-
ant. whose home in New York city was
robbed of $4,000 while he was IL jail
awaiting trial upon the charge of having
purchased stolen postage stamps, IS most
remarkable one. He WAS born IN Cum
mington, Hampshire county, Mass, where !
his father practiced medicine. At the age
of fourteen he was graduated from Will
liams College, and he was then travelled
in Europe for over two years. Returning
he was soon given his physicians diploma,
and began work in his profession. The
n. Y. correspondents of the Boston ''Post"
gives the following story of the old mans
life and loss:
After residence of many years in Bur-
lingtoC, VT, he changed his home, In 1913,
to Charleston, S. c.. Then he came to
New York, and having a fancy for old
CONS, he opened a small stand on the side
walk near City Hall Park. Hesoon began
| to do a large business in quiet Way in
| buying mutilated currency ut thirty per
cent. discount, which he had redeemed at
it's full value at the United States Treas
ury. He continued in his business not
withstanding a legacy Of many thousand
dollars left him by his brother. 1t had been
his habit for thirteen years past to leave
his home at s A. M, walk to u restaurant
in Chatham street, eat breakfast, and then
| going to his stand begin the work OF the
day. Subsequently he moved his little
stand to the railing in front of the old
Dutch church, and here he became land
mark. He was seldom missed from his
place. He plodded On, minding his own
business, and constantly adding to his lit
tie treasure. Recently, to his surprise, lie
was SHOWN a warrant for his arrest, and
was taken to the Tombs Police Court. He
had never been in a courtroom i'll his life
before, and was terrified by the surround
ings. Being unable to procure bail he was
put in cell, and there remained for five
days. Meanwhile his few friends were
unaware of his having been arrested, and
his rooms, with their hidden treasure, re-
manned unguarded. Late on Sunday night,
| October 18th, a resident in the house saw
a carriage driven rapidly away from in
front of it's doors. Investigation showed
that the premises lad been ransacked, and
that the old mans hidden treasure had all
disappeared.
The room where the treasure had been
kept was handsomely furnished and was
fitted up with secret drawers, in which
Bryant had placed $40, 900 in 500 gold pieces
during the last twelve years. Before con-
cealing the coin he Would weigh it care
fully, so as to be certain that was piece
OF full weight, and then would punch a
small hole in the head Of the Goddess of
Liberty on the face Of the coin. He would
then inclose one hundred pieces Of the coin
in silk paper and store away the rolls in
the secret drawer. A shelf above the floor
supported a large tin case. This case was
,1, IpI wifi foo (r.,I
ally the box had become heavier, and at
last he was unable to 1T it up to the floor.
Accordingly he bought a small ladder and
used it in ascending to the box to put iii
coin. The coin in the box Bryant estima.
ted to be worth $4,000. Hanging against
the wall there was large morocco travel
ling bag. In this there was ST. 900 IN mu-
tilated currency and 500 in the new cur
rency: gold watch valued at $500; a gold
chain weighing 100 pennywelghts; a dia
mond ring; a pair of amethyst sleeve-but-
tons, etc. Near the bag was trunk, in
which was hid $4,000 worth Of postage
stamps. All this had disappeared, and as
soon as the fact was discovered a little
girl went to the cell where the poor old
man was confined and told him the sad
story.
Not one gold coin had been left, and
some Of Bryalt's clothing had been taken
The lock OF the trunk had been torn Oft
with a jimmy, and the contents strewn
over the floor. When apprised of his mis-
fortune he showed great anguish. He
Wrung his hands and his eyes were filled
with tears. The police obtained his re-
lease ON his own recognizance to appear
for trial, and then took him to his house.
Cali gone, ali gone,'' he said SADLY
'sThen,'' he continued, ''there was an en-
gagement ring; the setting cost S225, and
there was still another ring-but never
mind, they took them all.'' He was conf
dent that the thieves had procured his ar
rest for no other purpose than to plumber
his home. There seems to be no doubt
among those who know MI. Bryant that
his story is strictly true. While he hoard
ed money and jewelry, he lived we'll. His
apartments were mean, but none in New
York were more richly furnished. He en-
joyed good dinners, and WAS good to the
poor, helping those around him, but had
little to say to them. His money. he said,
he kept in his room, because he had no con-
fdence in banks. A few years ago he made
will bequeathing money to various
friends; and then had added codicil after
codicil until the paper was covered, and
then wishing to put in another codicil, and
not having the room to put it in, he had
burned the will The story goes that dis
appointment in love made him resolve to
become recluse, but when this is spoken
of he shakes his head and says cts too
bad, too bad, that people will say such
things"