The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1878-02-04
Death of Paddy the Painter. !"

A wel!-knOwn character of this clty
died in pauper's bed in Bellevue Hos.
pitsl on Sunday last. He was a former
detective, who was popularity called, on
Wall street and the lower part Of the
city. Paddy the Painter" His real
name was Patrick Flavin. He was q
native Of Ireland. but was brought to
this city when child. He procured
slight education in one Of the down.
town public schools, and was then ap-
prenticed to painter. In 1857. when
he was about 22 years old. he was ap-
pointed member Of the Metropolitan
Police Force He was assigned to the
Firs; Precinct. and while patrolling the
business streets. he made it his business
to become acquainted with merchants,
bankers, and brokers. and the skillful
thieves who preyed upon them. He
soon acquired valuable amount of
this kind # knowledge, and in 1859 be
was appointed detective. He was
then assigned to duty on Wall street,
where he made. himself very useful.
Several times he succeeded in foiling
the best laid plans ofsuch skillful bank
thieves as Dutch Heuriech and Dan No
BILE. and he caught many of the fellows
who used then to waylsy bank messen-
gers who were intrasted with gold
checks, bags Of coin. etc. In 1868 Pad
DIV. finding that his knowledge and de-
tectiye skill were more valuable. to
bankers than to the Police Department.
resigned his position ih the Detective
squad. He then procured employment
as special detective in the service Of
such banking institutions as tho Bank
Of North America. Union Dodge & Co,
and Clarke. Dodge 4 Co. He was en-
ployed at different times by other insti-
tutions. He made but few arrests after
leaving the police force, and it is said,
performed his duty towards his employ.
ers by simply watching the movements
Of criminals on the street, and warning
them from committing depredations
upon his preserves. He took part in
the search for young Ketcham when
that skillful forzer victimized his bust
ness associates. and he also assisted in
the capture of jenkins. the cashier of
ono Of the down. town banks, who en-
bezzled $500. 900 and sQuandered $780,
600 upon pretty waiter.g girl in Broad
way saloon. Flavin made . great deal
of money through his Wall-street cli-
epts. Beside his salary, he often re-
ceived points" upon which he was
enabled to mako thousands Of dollars.
Becoming inflated with the possession
of money, Paddy became sporting
man. Every summer he went to Sara
togs and Long Branch, where he bet
heavily ON races and against the tiger
While in the city he lived in handsome
apartments in the Stevens House, and
he had wardrobe probably unequal
ed in the city. 1t used to be said on
Wall street that Paddy the Painter had
. suit Of clothing for every hour in the
day. BY degrees he allowed his money
to slip away from him, aud in
1872 the need of the banking houses
for his expensive services vanished with
the complete banishment of such thieves
as Dutch Heinrich. Dan Noble and
Chauncy Johnson from the street
Soon after he became impoverished by
Some unsuccessful ventures on race
conrses. Some friends procured him
the position Of detective at the Metro
politan Hotel, but his habits were too
expensive for the proprietors Of that
house To rettin him. Since the: he
was supported by contributions from his
former employers. The disease Of which
he died was consumption. Before his
death he wrote to friend on Wall
street. asking him to bury him, as he
did not want his body to be dissccted.
" \. Times