The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-11-28
COMPOSER BABIES SON.
The Heir to Hundreds of Thousands IAN
Inmate of u New York Jail.


New York Special.
1t was not until this afternoon, when APP
plication to bail NJ. w. Balfe was made in the
jefferson market Police Court by Counselor G.
A. l.. Goldey, that it was known in the court
that the only surviving of the composer,
Michael William Balfe, had been in cell on
petty charge of assault and battery since last
Monday. That day short, spare symmetrical
ly-built man of middle age with keen but honest
blue eyes, German cast of features, thin brown
hair, and a stubble beard and who was in the
garb of q workingman, vas arraigned before
Justice Patterson. Court-officer Joseph A.
Gardener had arrested him on the complaint of
Ellen Thompson of No. 80 Varick street. who
made affidavit that Saturday the prisoner had
knocked her down. The prisoner on his formal
examination said, with pronounced English
accent:
I'm not guilty. never raised my hand
against woman in my life, and can prove il"
He signed his name in firm, bold hand, NJ.
W. Balfe; said he was forty six years old and
gas-ftter. He was committed to stand trial at
the Court of General Sessions in default Of $500
bail.
Investigation do-day showed that the prisoner
is the son of the eminent composer of THE
Bohemian Girl" and one of four children. He
was the ''ne'er-do-weli" of the family. He was
born in London educated at the Royal Academy
at Gosport and destined for the royal navy; but
circumstances altered all these original designs,
and he began studying for Oxford. This soon
came TO an end, and young Balfe began to roam.
tie was then sent to a German school, but gave
this up voluntarily, and finally the Marquis of
Downshire procured him a commission in the
East India Companys service and he went to
Calcutta, where he reported at Fort William and
was sent to Meerut forty miles from Deli to
Join the Thirty second East India Company's
Regiment. When he arrived he found the
regiment cut to pieces, and was attached to the
Seventy fifth Foot. The mutiny was over, and
the ensign did years duty at 200 rupees per
month. He had no field service and firing of
lie vyhi
the commanding officer declined to accept
This made no difference to him, and he left of
his own accord.
He found on reaching London that his parents
had gone to st. Petersburg and that his sister
was about to become Lady Champion. Then, to
his mothers intense disgust and his fathers
eternal displeasure, he married Norah Maglin, a
nursery governess and the daughter of merch
ants clerk. She is now living in this city and is
the mother of two daughters, Maude Lena
nineteen years old, and Victoria, thirteen years
old. Young Balfe got along as well as he could
until 1860, when he, with funds advanced by his
mother, came to New York He had about
f100 and soon spent the money Then he
looked in vain for employment until he was en-
gagged as usher by Manager Davis of the New
York Theatre when Lucy Rushton was playing
there. There gas-fitter Hudley taught the
young stranger his trade and Michael William
soon able to leave the theatre, where he was
paid 81 night, and go into business for himself
He invented a light for bakers ovens, which, if
managed Dya man OIL greater business tact
might have yielded him a large sum, but it
merely eked out living for him. although to
this day it is used in every large city in America.
In 1873 young Balfe's mother wrote him that
if he would behave himself she would get him a
position in the clearinghouse of the Roth
schids. He promised everything, and, going to
London with his family, was clerk in the divi
dend department of Rothschids' banking house,
Now Court, st. Sarthens lane He 'sickened"
of the routine, and went to gas fitting in London
and ireland In 1879 his mother almost dis
careded him At last he wrote to the Duque de
Freias, his Spanish brother-in-law. but that
grandee gave him no consolation. In 1880 he
and his family came again to New York. Since
then Balfe has been earning a precarious living
as asftter and when arrested by Officer
Gardner was seated in bed and smoking a pipe
included several houses, was about $500 OOO and
Michael William appears to be the sole heir,