Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1877-08-24
RICHES QUICKLY LOST.

RICHES QUICKLY LOST.
The Fate Of New York HHmbIers-Thefr Prosperity
khOrt and IIlusery-HOH They Rave Fallen from
Wealth to Poverty.
Yeso York Tribune, Ish-The traRical death Of
]. F. Murphy, who shot himself last week IN the
elegant parlors OF MurTaT's DOtorions gambling
house. az No Is West Twenty eighth street, is one
OF the many examples showing that the lives Of
gamblers generally end in wretoheaness and
discloses the fact that comparatively few Of the
prominent gamblers who have appeared in
Inc sporting circles Of New York have retained
their HI-getten riches AID enjoyed hfe TO the
last. Most Of them sooner or later sank iEI0
misery or ahject poverty. Matt" Danser's con-
tinued prosperity a notable exception, and
almost without precedent. A look into the cir
cumstanees OF the New York gamblers OF to-day
does not find many indications that their last days
will be much happier than those Of their predeoes-
sors.
Among the most conspicuous Of the mstropoli-
tan gamblers was Reuben Parsons, who, from 1910
until his recent death. had at various times
accumulated much money, which be invested in
street, and lost his fortune His OLD partner,
Henry Cotton, was believed until recently to be
wealthy, but legal proceedings have shown that
be has transferred ali his property to his wife. in
the interests of his children. Cotton and Parsons
and the late Matthew Dsaser were considered, for
years, to be the richest men Of their dsreDulable
From time to time men from distant cities. at
tractsd by the inviting held for their Operaaons
presented by New York. have sought to make this
city their home. Suoh men were the elegant
u e
who kept noted gambling house for many years
in Broadway, one door below the Chemical Bank.
Moore, for time. was prosperous but desire 70
them, In spite of his wealth and the fanily's edu
cation, led him into axtraEaRanee thar proved his
ruin. Another notorious gambler was Patrick
Hearne. an Eishman. Of great shrewdness and OF
polished affabihTy Of manner. In company with
Schuyler Haisey. ne established and conducted n
gambling house for many years opposite the Ne
I tropoltan Hotel Hearne, perhaps. was the most
Interesting man OF bis class He had good edu-
"a and
his society such men the LiviDgstons, the
JaEneses Of Albany, and the Cosrers OF New York,
from whom he won not less than half million
dollars. But he loved play for Its own sake, and
was addicted to high living and dissipation and
extrHvagance generally He died almost penni-
less Halsey passed OF the stage two years ago.
leaving out OF an immense amount Of ttlRotten
originally house PALMER, also tried ms fortune in
New York. He was q handsome man. but Domp-
Gus, overbeaFiBg and presumtnR. Having succeed
ed Ia gambling ne invested IN trottinG horses,
and once owned the celebrated trotting stallion
Lantern, afterward purchased BY Robert Bonner.
Hail was famous for his suppers, and knew how 70
cater for his guests better than any other gambler
host in New York. A story is told 10 show his eX
trayaganee in effect that after Lantern had won
an important race, Hall had siIger bucket made
for the horse 10 drink out Of A few years ago,
worn out and crippled, Hail was soliciting aims TO
keep HIM from starving.
John Harrison was popular sporting man. He
was convicted and imprisoned for keeping gam
bling gsaloon-almOst the only case OF the KIND
that can be remembered by the Oldest gamblers OF
to-day. Strange as 1t may seem. Harrison was
called honest gambler VINO played q 1alr game.
HIs low instincts finally led him into an alliance
with 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 New York
lawyer, and resides at present In Westchester
County.
Harrison had a son, TO whom Mrs. Brown left
considerable property in Westchester and whose
Ilfs after leaving New York was OF most extra
ordinary and vsFied character. He went 10 Cali
fornia IN the flush times OF 1851, and became such
hat
drove him from San Francisco. He took refuge II
Kansas, where be was renowned for his crimes.
persons whom he had killed in California. When
passing through Leavanworth one day, IN conver-
satio1 WIN ,,,l Ne 1o5I 6
had killed. Suddenly drawing his re-
men OF his own killing in the Internal regions as
jury TO try him when he reached MS home there,
and shot an tnoffens1ve German shoemaker VINO
Was sitting en- the opposite side OF UAe street az
work. The citizens OF LeaFen worth drove him
away, and he took refuge in another part OF Kan
sas In 1861, when the war broke out, Harriso n.
with twenty or thirty men Of like desperate char
aeter, joined the Second Kansas Ca SalrY, which
was being raised at that time oy Colouel A q
Davis, formerly United States DISTRICT Attorney
| OF Kansas. Davis very reluctantly admitted Har-
! ris0n into the regiment, and only after promise
self After TWO or three months in camp, Harr1-
son and his fellow-rufians one night crossed the
tie tiseF town own pIsSSi opposiss he camp. Harr
son was arrested by Davis, tried by courtmartiaL
but be escaped and went into the Indian Terrific
~, near the place where the Confederate army
lay. He raised a company OF half-breeds, who,
passing into Arkansas. committed depredations
on friend and foe ankle. After time he was cap
tured by the cirfzens OF a town which he had pre-
viGusly robbed. They hanged bim and cut Of his
head and stuck It on q pole IN one OF the streets
The Second Knneas Cavalry moved INTO this town
shortly afterwards, and the officers found the
head Of their former associate. Years later IN
sun for the possession OF the property which Julia
Brown had left Harrison In Westchester County,
Colonel Davis, who had meanwhile removed 70
New York TO practice law was called as witness
to establish the fact Of Harrison's death.
Tho oldest OF the gambling fraternity, and man
Whe was possessed OF property and with few
enemies, was "shell" BurTeIi, who kept a gamb-
ling-hOUse in the BOwerY. Most Of his fortune was
made by the roulette-Wheel His appearances was
peculiar, as be was rOundshouldered and SIX feet
in height his manners were pleasing, and he was
always ready to stake his last dollar al roulette
On one occasion, when asked what the limit OF the
bets was. replied Bet all you've got. and II thEt
Isn't enough get on the table aud I'll turn for you
But must be allowed to put my own value on
John I. Casslday. who came from Cincinnati,
was another prominent gambler; BE claimed;
education a gentleman. He was man
| of fine address, ana OF undoubted literary
Spirit OF the Times, over the signature OF Lar
| KIN" Becoming fascinated with play, Cassiday
never a cheat or a blackguard ne med in pow
erty. leaving family, reared in luxury, depen
dent upon relation for the necessAres OF life.
| Recent years have brought forward u herd OF
low aud brutal thieves, who. when arrested, seek
20 oisRulss tneE IeaI Dy saying tnat tney
perhaps not intending to curse New York CITY
with gang Of villains has been tue direct cause
\ of the emigration OF hand OF men OF the worst
character from Troy TO New York. Hlther they
oil came, after MOrrissey's successful prize
hght with Yankee" Sullivan. Among the
most odious Of these. and best known TO the
police, were BLACKSMITH DAN" Edgar McCor-
mick, "Big Mike" Murray tat whose house the un-
fortunate Murphy shot himself on Friday,
States prison man, Chas. VOsburg and "Waily'
Patrick. Morrissey and his partners, Reed and
Spencer, are the only gamblers, however, VINO
openly defy the law, and who carry on In oroad
daylight pool-seliing, faro banks roulette, and all
other games thEt allure and defraud the unGary
After ali the wealth that Morrissey has 81 differ
ent times possessed should his creditors fOreolose
the MORTGAGES on his property IN saratoga tt u
doubtful II he would have $4,000. But spencer u