New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-04-29
SANDY" SPENCEK DEAD.
HIS cmyCKERED CAREER-BRoKES DOWN BY I'M
PRIsONMENT.

HIS CIIECkEkED CARkER-BROkEN DOWN BIZ I'M
PRIsoNMENT.
Alexander X. Spencer, better known as
SANDY" Spencer died from pneumonia yesterday at
the International Hotel ia Park Row Few Of his
age were better known In tins city. lie WAS born In
Freehold ~ j. February 1897 and came to this city
when mere lad obtaining situation Us bartender In
downtown liquor shop He was OF aJovia disposition.
soon favOrile with sporting men, and before he
had attalsed his majority had place OF HIS own in Cen
tre-st near Chambers Then no moved to Crosby-st,
and after short time, with his brother John, Opened
quor store la the basement OF the building adjoining
the old Theatre COmique lie opened u keno" game
IA the OF the place. II was
game comparatively little known at that time. and
IA large number play at the me 1t became
popular. Other places opouei, but 5andys" WAS
tho most popular and made considerable money uut
the game notorious and the gaming place
numerous police broke them up. Not long after
Sandy" and Charley" White. the negro
minstrel, leased tho Theatre Comique aud
made bic by producing local plays
William Horace LinSard woLknown English char,
meter actor who popular for time made his first
appearance there. Spencer and White made a good
deal OF money by tns venture. Afterward Sandy
leased the Globe Theatre the site OF that leased by
lIarrigau Il Hart, which was burned recently He
lost nearly all OF his fortune IN this speculation. a.,
the building ut the southwest corner OF
Bleeckor-st. and the Bowery; lilo made some money
there but rather slow business. and after lew
months he gave It up and hned the basement OF
KnOx's building the northeast corner OF Broad
way and FultonsI THIS he kept ior sew
rral years. aud tue proprietor Of IL at the
time OF his death. Whom the tnlegraphers' strike 9e
Cured In 1888 Sandy furnished several OF those who
hard pressed Tor ready casn in meals gratullous
~. He ess Interested IN some 0f the ganl-
ing houses IN Annst. II is doubtful II he made any
thing by TINS. Something over year ago he opened
eIog shop ON the west side OF the Bowrry, hetween
Houston and Bleecker sta lie gave low variety enter
tInnent which was popular among the Bowery
sports" Tho society for the Prevention Of Cruelty to
Children discovered that boys aud grs requentsd the
place ana Spencer was W. warned s6., that tni III.
aud was arrested. He was convicted sentenced to the
PenitentHIy for one msnth ana ~ pay me- ana served
out his toriu and paid his me- ,,-
SANDY changed man when he came out OF prison.
Under business he had preserved aJoNhl OK
any OF his old friends. lie became and moody,
Who KIN Knew him best say that ho had many
good qualities. He was generous and charitable, aud
something better than tho average sport In appear
ance he Was of large frame with fiorid complexion.
MAYOR Ora CE AND MS HUNGRY FOLLOWERS
The politicians aud office seekers fairly swarncd
about Mayor Gracss office yesterday aud he beset
with appeals aud petitions in behalf of candidates for
the offices which will become vacant Friday. Among
the letters presented said be from Secretary
Bayard for Commissioner OF Charities and Correction.
The politicians all agreed that if such letter pre-
sented It would have great weight, ~ the Mayor
said be under obligations to the Secretary for the APP
po ntment OF William X. Roberts as Minister to Chill.
petition was presented in behalf of NJ. d. Gallagher,
eweler whose friends ask tor bis appointment as an
Excise or Charities Commissioner Several dry-goods
merchants in petition in behalf OF James ihord
as Charities Commissioner. ExAlderman seaman,
and host of persons whose names come up III connec
ton with about every oce that becomes vacant
among the persons &" mentioned for this aud that
place Ii was stated that nearly 800 applications had
been receiy for appointments marshas IN place OF
the thrty-six whose terms then expire. The Mayor Is
recent as the appointments that he will make and
the speculaons tar represent principally tho hopes
of the politicians