Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-04-05
SHIPS OF SOLID GOLD.
CURIOUS PRESENTS GIVEN BY
THE LATE MIR. MORGAN.

of the latest Plums OF Metropolis
tan Law Practicc-"Plunger" Wal
toms Antecedents.
NEW YORK, April Mrs. Morgan and
her idiosyncrasies continue the nine days
wonder OF the metropolis. Had her nus
band lived all this notorlety would have
been avoided. He was a close old money
getter, in whose eyes a dollar was as
large as an ordinary mountain. At times,
however, he developed remarkable pecu-
liarities. In house in Bristol, r. l.,
miniature golden steamship modelled
after ore OF the Morgan line. Spars,
crosstrees, figure heads, cables, bulwarks,
smokestack, cabin and everything Is OF
pure gold. The tiny blocks and cOrdage
are Of exquisite workmanship. The pro-
peller is of the finest Guinea gold. The
model seems like perfection itself. This
golden steamship sits on waves of silver,
crested with foam Of frosted silver. Be
meath all is silver music-bOX, which can
thrill the air with ripping naval melO-
dies. This gem is one OF three golden
steamships ordered by Morgan a quarter
of century ago. They cost him $4,000
apiece, and We're Christmas presents To a
GOulllb "a olu Ell lDydSs Oue was gwen
10 James Lawless, a Morgan Line cap
tain, who had proved man OF sterling
worth to his employer. The second one
was given to MOrgan's old manager in
New Orleans. He bears a striking resem-
blance to Morgan and was an intimate
friend of his. He afterwards became a
millionaire and is well known throughout
the South. The third one Of the precious
steamships Mr.. Morgan retained tor him
coll . 4 g L.
gave 1t to Henry, son by his first wife
who had often expressed a desire Of pos
sessing it. He had no children by his
second wife. Henry died many years ago
leaving a widow who afterwards married
a French nObleman, taking the golden
steamship with her to France, although
some people declare that IL was found
among Mrs. MOrgan's effects. However,
that, may be it was not placed on exhibit
ton nor sold among other costly curiOsi-
ties at the sales which lately took place.
These three vessels of precious metal are
said to have been the only gifts that Mr..
Morgan ever gave to his employees. On the
.other hand his wife was over generous.
She bought napkins at $40 and $40 each
and sent them to her friends. One OF her
gifts TO a new acquaintance was table
cloth valued at $500. After her death over
$50, 900 worth OF brlc-a-brac and curiOs
NVit lohhd bo<AN0 a III AtA DoullleS ana
cellars just as they had been received
from Europe. She had not even looked at
ehem.
PLUMs OF LAW PRACTICE.
People outside of New York have no
conception of the depth and extent OF po-
litical influences here. FOrinstanee take
the cases of the Justices Of Supreme and
other courts in this city. In quite num-
Der of other States they are appointed.
Here, while nOminally elected by the peo-
pie, they are really indebted to the politi-
clans for both nomination and election.
Their salaries range from IS, 600 to S17,5OO
a year. Their hours OF work are very
Light, consisting of emily three or four a
day, and they rarely hold court ON Satur-
day, while their summer vacations last
two or three months. Politicians are i'm
mensely benefited by this laziness of the
Justices. The calendars are crowded
with civil cases, and the cOgwheels ofjus-
tice would be completely clogged were il
not for what is known as the referee sys-
tenn. Under this system the Justices Vir-
tually appoint sub-Judges, VINO organize
little courts of their own in obscure law
omees, hear witnesses, make judgments
anu refer them TO the appointiVe power.
very lew OF these referees are good law
yers. WHAT they know about Kent and
Blackstone could be put in a nutshell.
Nine out OF ten, however, are politicians.
The referee, unlike other political
parasites, avoids the city treasury and
draws his fees and emoluments from the
lltigants left to his mercy. The referee
arrangement is entirely distinct from the
receivreship and guardian systems. All
three, however, are wonderful political
placers. The case of the insane Parsee
merchant. now in the courts, serves as an
Illustration. About dozen years ago
this man came to New York from Bonn
bay, and losing his reason was taken
home TO die. lie left a fortune Of $4,000
in cash in this city when be died, and his
widow is still waiting for what the law
yers may leave of it. The administrator
OF the estate is suing Nathaniel Jarvis,
Jr., the committee Of the estate, for an
account OF his stewardship, and MIR. Jar
Wis is having some trouble to show that
he has been vigilant in mis- trust. One OF
the oldest and best lawyers ia New York
said recently that the pickings thrown to
politicians from the courts of this city
aggregate between 100000 and $5,OO0,-
GOO yearly.
"PLUNGER" WALTON.
"Plunger'' Walton, who has gained
widespread notoriety in connection with
turf matters, is much more of man than
most people haYe been led to believe
While he tmpresses one as a queer otf-
shoot OF that good old stock, il is true that
his parents were members OF the denomi-
nation known as Quakers, and the "Pluu-
gers" early lite was spent under the infu-
ences OF the belief and teachings OF that
society. HIS parents conducted the BULBS
Head tavern at Philadelphia, popular
rendezvous with the industrious farmers
OF the day, and which, by the way, is still
in existence, without having lost any or
its homelike comforts or popularity. The
shrewdness, pluck and emery that are still
characterIstics OF the "Plungerv were
marked in MN as boy and young man.
He went into Philadelphia politics early,
aud set out to get an Office, and was al
ways in the field. He was defeated for
the nomination for Sheriff, hut managed
20 catch on to that for recorder OF deeds
and 10 be elected. He made a great deal
OF money out OF the Office. He was also
daring Spectator and made and lost n
that way immense sums. He cleared
100000 out Of Pennsylvania railroad
stock, but dropped it all again. He also
made good deal Of money by his man
agement OF the st. James hotel in this
city, and when he gave up that house his
fortune. IL is estimated, amounted to a
round million. To prevent the possibili-
" OF carrying his family down with him,
II he should 90 broke, be settled property
and securities worth third OF a million
upon bis wife, who 10 a bright and hand
some woman and the mother OF several
children. He lately went 10 Philadelphia
house-nunting with the intention OF NOV