The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1877-09-04
Misffnanw.
RICHES QUICKLY LOST.


RICHES QUICKLY LOST.
rhe Fate Of New York Gamblers
-.Thrtr Prosperity snort aud H.
lusOry..iiUvv They Have Fallen
from Wealth ~ Poverty.
Ne,o York Tribune 18Th The trag-
cal death of F Murphy, who shot
himself last week in the elegant parlors
'f Murrav's notorious gambling house,
At M IL West Twenty eighth street, is
me of the many examples showing that
ne lives of gamblers generally end in
Sretchedness and gloom A glance owe,
the past thirty-fve years dlscloses the
fact that comparatively few of the prom
lnent gamblers who have appeared in
he sporting circles of New York have
retained their ill-got'en riches and en-
ioyed life to the last Most of them
sooner or later sank into misery or sb.
ject poverty "Matt." Danser's contin-
aed prosperity was notable exception,
aud almost without precedent A Isok
into the circumstances of the New York
gamblers of to day does not find many
indications that their last days will he
much happier than those Of their prede.
cessors
Among the most conspicuous of the
metropolitan gamblers was q Reuben
Parsons, who, from 1S40 until his recent
aenth, 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 old
partner. Henry C"lton, was believed un-
t ! recently to he wealthy. hut legal pro-
ceedincs have shown that he has trans
ferred all his property to his wife, in the
interests of his children. Colon and
Parsons and the late Matthew Danser
we're considered, tor years, to be the
richest men of their disreputsble class.
From time to time men from distant
cities, attracted by the inviting field for
their operations presented by New York,
have songht TO make this city their home
Such men were the elegant Pendleton,
Of Washington, and o lando Moore,
who kept a noted gambling house for
many years in Broadway, one door be.
low the Chemical Bank Moore, for d
time. was prosperous; but desire to
force his family into circle of society
closed to them, in spite of his wealth
and the family's education, led him into
extravaganza that proved his ruin. An.
other notorious gambler was Patrick
Hearne, an Ifishman. of great shrewd.
ness and OF polished affability of manner
In company with Schuyler Halsev, he
established and conducted a gambling.
house for many years opposite the Me
itropolitan Hotel. Hearne, perhaps, was
the most interesting man Of his class -
He had good education, and his per
sonal attractions aliured into his society
such men as the Livingstons, the Jane
ses, of Albany, and the Costers, 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 ex
travagance generally He died almost
penniless Halsey passed eff the stage
two years ago, leaving out of an i'm
mense amount of ill gotten gains nnl,
$4,000. A man named Joseph Hall
originally house-painter, also tried his
fortune in New York. He was hand
some man, but pompous. overbearins
and presuming Having succeeded ir
gambling be invested in trotting horses
and once owned the celebrated trottins
stallion Lantern, after r~ard purchased
by Robert Bonner Hall was famou,
Tor his suppers, and knew how to cate
for his guests hetter than any othe
gambler host in New York A story il
told to show his extravaganza, in effec
that after Lantern had won an impor
tant race, Hall had silver bucket mad
for the horse to drink out of. A few
years ago. worn-out and crippled, Hal
was soliciting aims to keep him from
starving.
! John Harrison was popular sport
ing man. He was convicted aud impris
oned for keeping a gambling saloon
| almost the only case of the kind tina
can be remembered by the Oldest gam
blers of to-day. Strange as it ma
seem, Harrison was called an homes
gambler who played fair game Hi
low instincts finally led him into an all
ance with woman, notorious as JUL
Brown This ruined him, and he die
in poverty Harrison had, however
given fine education to the woman
daughter at one of the converts Of th
Sacred Heart She has since married
New York lawyer. and resides at pref
ent in Westchester County.
Harrison had son, to whom Mr.
Brown left considerable property
Westchester, and whose life. after lea'
ing New York, was of most extrao
: dlnary and varied character. He we'
to California in the flush times. Of 1855
and became such noted despersdo th,
the Vigilance Committee drove him frnl
San Francisco. He took refuge in Kal
sas. where he was renowned for h
: crimes, and where he added two {
three TO the number of persons who
he had killed in California. When pas
q ing through Leavenwnrth one dav,
conversation with afellow desperado,
enumerated on his fingers eleven persol
y whom he had killed. Suddenly dra'
: ling his revolver, he swore he wou
/" have twelve men of his own killing
y the internal regions as jury to try hi
u when he reached his home there. al
" shot an inoffensive German shoemak
8 who was sitting on the opposite side
J." the street at work Tue citizens
u Leavenworth drove him away, and
took refuge in another part OF Ksnss
Is In 1861, when the war broke out, Hs
'ison, with twenty or thirty men of Ii
desperate character. joined the Seco
* Kansas Cavalry, which was being raj
II ut that time by Colonel A c Dav
FL formerly United States District Attt
e. ney OF Kansas, Davis very reluctant