The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1877-08-23
RICHES QUICKLY LOST.

The Fate Of New York Gamblers-TheIr Prosperity
short and Ilusory-HoW They Have Fallen from
Wealth TO Poverty.
NeU York Tribune, nth tragical death OF
]. j. Murphy, who shot himself last week in the
elegant parlOrs of Murray's notorious gambling
honse, at No. 10 West Twenty-eighth street, Is one
OF The many examples showing that the lives OF
gamblers generally end in wretchedness aud
gloom. A glance over the past thirty-ive years
discloses the fact that comparatively few OF the
prominent gamblers Who have appeared IN
their ~iltgotten riches and enjoyed life TO the
last. Most Of them sooner or later sank into
misery OF ahject poverty. MATT" Dansers con.
tinued prosperity was q notable exception, and
almost without precedent, A look into The cir
cumstances of the New York gamblers OF to-day
does not ind many Indications that Their last days
will be much happier than those OF their predeces-
sors.
Among the most conspicuous Of the metropolis.
tan gamblers WOs Reuben Parsons, who, from 1870
until his recent death, had at various times
accumulated much money, which he invested in
real estate. But at length he went into Wall
street, and lost his fortune. His ola partner,
Henry Cotton, was believed untl recently TO be
wealthy, but legal proceedings have shown that
he has transferred all his property 10 his VIE, IN
the Interests of bis children. Cotton and Parsons
and the late Matthew Dauser were considered, for
years, to be the richest mon Of their disreputable
class.
From time to time men from distant cities, at
tracted by the inviting field for their operations
presented by New York, have sought 70 make this
CITY their home. Such men were the elegant
Pendleton, Of Washington, and Orlando Moore,
who kept a noted gambling house for many years
In Broac way, one door below the Chemical Bank.
Moore, for o time, was prosperous; but a desire TO
force his family into a circle Of society closed TO
them. in spite of his wealth and the family's edu.
cation. led him into extravagance that proved mis-
ruin. Another notorious gambler was Patrick
Hearne, an Hishnan, of great shrewdBess and OF
polished affahillty OF manner. In company with
Schuyler Halsey. he established and conducted
gambling house FOR many years opposite the Me-
trOp0litan Hotel. Hearne, perhaps, was the most
interesting man OF his class. He had O good edu-
cation, ana his personal attractions ailured into
his society such men as the LtVin2stons, the
Jameses, OF Albany, and the C0sters, OF New n0rk,
from whom he won not less than half q million
dollars. But he loved play for Its own sake, and
was addicted TO high living and dissipation aud
extravaganza generally. He died almost pennl-
less. Halsey passed of the stage two years ago,
leaving out OF an immense amount Of i~llGotten
gains only $4,000. A man named Joseph Hall,
originally q house painter, also tried his fortune IN
New York. He was a handsome man, but pomp-
Ons, Overhearing and presuming. Having succeed
ed in gambling ne invested IN trottlng horses,
and once owned the celebrated trOttinR stallion
Lantern, after ward purchased by Robert Bonner.
Hall was famous for his suppers, and knew how TO
cater for his guests better than any other gambler
host in New York. A story is told to show his ex-
trnvagance, in effect that after Lantern had won
an important race, Hall had a silver bucket made
for the horse 10 drink out Of A few years ago,
WORKOUT aud crippled, Hall was soliciting aims TO
keep him from starving.
John HARRISON was a popular sporting man. he
was convicted and imprisoned Tor keeping a gam
bling saloon-aimost the only case OF the kind
that can be remembered by the Oldest gamblers OF
| to-day. Strange as 10 may seem, Harrison was
called an honest gambler who playeu a fair game.
HIS low instincts finally led him into an alliance
with o woman, notorious as julia Brown. This
ruined him, and he died In poverty. Harrison
had, however. given a fine education to the wo-
mans daughter at one OF the converts Of the
Sacred Heart She has since married q New York
lawyer, and resides at present IN Westchester
County.
Harrison had o son, to whom Mrs. Brown left
considerable property In Westehester, and whose
! life, after leaving New York, was Of a most extra
ordinary and varied character. He went TO Cali
fornla 10 the flush times OF 1851. and became such
a noted Desperate that the Vigilance Committee
drove him from San Francisco, He took refuge III
Kansas, where he was renowned FOR his crimes,
and where he added TWO OF three TO the number OF
persons whom he had killed In California. When
passing through LeavanwOrth one day, In CONVEX
sation with a fellow.desperado, he enumerated
S Sa D' Killed doS'i' Suddenly H 4 G aTpSDn1 T his re- re-
volver, he swore he would have twelve
men oil his own killing In the informal regions as a
jury to try him when he reached his home there,
and shot an mofenstve German who
was sitting on the opposite side OF the street at
work. The citizens OF LeavenwOrth drove him
away, and he took rofuge in another part OF Kan
Gas. In 1861, when the war broke out, Harrison,
with twenty or thirty men Of like desperate char
aUter, Joined the Second Kansas Cavalry, which
was being raised OF that time by Colonel A, @.
Davis, formerly United States District Attorney
Of Kansas. Davis very reluctantly admitted Har-
risOn into the egiment and only after q promise
that he would control his men aud behave him
self. After two or three months in camp, HART
son and his fellow rufhans one night crossed tho
river into Missouri and sacked q lit
son was arrested BY Davis, Tied by coSnrt.martiai,
but be escaped aud went into the indian Terrific
ry, near the place where the Confederate army
lay, He raised a company Of haltbreeds, who,
passing into Arkansas, committed Expectations
on friend and foe ankle. After o time he was cap
tured by the citizens of n town which he had pre-
viOusly robbed. They hanged hun and cut off ba
mead, and stuck 1t on, q pole IN one OF the streets
The Second Kansas Cavalry moved INTO this town
shortly afterwards, and the officers found the
head Of their former associate. Years later, in r
suit for the possession OF the properly which Julia
Brown had left Harrison In Westchester County,
Colonel Davis, who had mean " lille removed TO
New York TO practice law, was called as a wltneHs
to establish the fact OF UarrisOn's death.
The oldest OF the gambling fraternity, and q man
who was possessed Of property and with few
enemies, was shell" Burfeli, who kept n gamb.
llng.house in the Bowerv. Most of his fortune was
made by the roulette wheel. His appearance was
peculiar, as he was round.shouldered aud six feet
In height. HIS manners were pleasing, and he was
always roady 10 stake his last dollar at roulette.
On one Occasion, when asked what tho limit OF tho
bets was, replied, Bet all you've g0t, ana " that
isn't enough, get on The table and III turn for you
But must be allowed to put my own value ON
John I. Cass,day, who came from Cincinnati,
was another prominent gambler. He claimed,
perhaps with reason, to be by birth ana
EDUCATION a gentleman. He was, 9 man
ability. For q long time no wrote letters for the
spirit Of the Times, over the signature OF Lar
KIM Becoming fascinated with play, Cassiday
gambled heavily and continuously. But he was
never d cheat or n blaUkguard. He aled In pOY-
orty, leaving a family, reared In luxury, depen'
dent Upon q relation for tho neces0arles OF life.
Recent years have brought fOrward q herd OF
low and brutal thieves, who, when arrested, seek
10 disguise their real character by saying that they
are sporting tpen.' John Morrlssey, although
perhaps not Intending TO curse New York City
with q gang Of villains, has been the direct cause
OF the emigration Of q hand OF mon OF The worst
character from Troy 10 New York. Hither they
oil came. after Morrissey's successful prize
fight with yankee" Sullivan. Among the
most odlous Of these, and best known g the
police, were "Blacksmith Dan" Edgar MCCor-
fortunate Murphy shot himself on Friday. 0
states prison man, Gins. VOsburg and "Wally"
Patrick. Morrlssey and his partners, Reed aud
spencer, are tho only gamblers. however, who
openly defy the law, aud who carry on In broad
Daylight pOolselling, faro banks, roulette, and oil
other Rnines that allure aud defraud the un wary. |
After all tho wealth that MOrfissey has at differ
ent times possessed, should his creditors f~oreclose
the mortgages on has property In Saratoga, " ID