Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-01-18
HOBBIES OF THE NAB0BS.


Dealers &uU frilAt t' -
Getting Round an Excise Law-Fishel p
RriDtntbe Giided Deus of the Gam b.
isrs,
NEW YORK. Jan. lt.-W Wealthy people
with hobbies for making collections nave
become so numerous during the last is"
years that a regular family of human
sharks Who feed on their pochetbooks
have sprung into existence. The ecceu-
fricities of the collectors are almost i'm
hume able. Few people have any idea oil
the strange enamel in which the minds
OF the wealthy cranks run. Each Ine
furnishes an avenue for moury-makng
for the suarps. First there comes tine
small boy with the postage stamp ieVer.
Firms innumera0le are lc readiness 70
take from him all the money he eau coax
ont of mis- parents for the qualification OF
his whim. The low price stamps are
generally genuine, but very large lac-
ton OF the higher priced are hot genuine
The stamp fever usually dies Out, now
ever. before the collector reaches mature
years. In the meantime miiilOns OF uol-
lars have been spent in satisfying tins
within. The com craze requires "A greater
outlay OF money, Is Al4u as $40 being
maid for a half cent OF the year 1904,
and is INDUCED in by an
older class OF collectors. 1t Is the craze
OF the wealthy for pictures, statuary, rare
china. brc-d-brac and precious antlgui-
ties. which affords the most IemuneratIVe
field for snafp dealing aud successful op-
GRAFTON 81 the tricks OF the trade just now
the case ot the late Mrs. Mary j. Morgan
Is attracting public attention aud IN a
measure opening tue eyes OF collectors OF
all sorts. She was the widow OF the
founder of the Morgan line OF steamers,
who lett $1,000, 600 TO her. The estate rs
NOT now expected to yield more than S.
900. OoO in money. Mrs. Morgan had an
incurable malsdy and was aware that she
could not live very long. she aimed to
get as much pleasure as possible curing
her remaining days upon earth, and her
reckless expenditures were for that pur-
pose. While lying IN her invalid chair
she would have picture, piece OF pot
fprv or some other beautiful thing placed
before her for contemplation, and they
were usually changed every hour as
long as sne found diversion IN ga2-
ing at them. When her disease
arrived at a stage that threatened to con-
fue her 10 her bed she gave orders for "A
sumptuous decoration OF chamber aud
a couch with furniture and walls set with
Jewels and painted wit the hneneSs Of
N essonier canvas. and the work, which
would have cost Sl00. 600 was barely be-
gun when she died more suddenly than
she had expected. the appralsement.
lust completed. OF herart property reveals
most astounding frauds perpetrated upon
her in the purchase oil pictures. china,
Jewels and other decorative objects. She
expended quite three millions for orna-
rBental things, including great eXtraVa-
gance IN orchids, ana The careful estimate
bv experts oil the amount likely to be real
ICED through auction sales as only halt
million. Taking into account the differ
ence naturally 10 he expected between
auction prices rs those fairly charged boy
retail dealers. the calculation is that Mrs.
Morgan fooled away not less than two
millions. A fayorite method of dupiug her
was to T. present that ceramics Of
fine. vet not unique character, had been
bought at enormous trouble and expense
from the private collections OF European
and Asiatic aristOcrats. In that way She
was induced to pay $4,000 to $1,000
apiece for china not worth more than as
many hundreds even in the eyes of enthu-
siasts on the subject. she spent round
million for paintings which possess only
a fraction OF that ssleable value. The eX
ecutOrs are willing to sell the entire col
lection of leWelTy at One-third the sum
that Mrs. Morgan paid out. Instances Of
downright SWindling have come to light.
A gambler reduced to his last diamond
a big one worth about $l.000-had il Gu
riOuslv set in an original manner, took it
70 her, related how the gem had been
brought by him from Brazil, where 1t had
been the property Of Dom Pedro, and
thereby sold IT to her for $4,000. A noop
of gold set with three diamonds is offered
for sa!e-at 100000 less than she paid for it,.
HOW FlsHEL WAS RUINED.
turbulentrow is going on among the
richer gamblers Of New York, In watch
several men widely known on the turf as
bOOkmakers are involved. on tie return
under arrest of Frederick Flshel, who had
robbed bis employers of $4,000 BY means
Of counterfeit checks, and lied to Canada
ne cleared his breast by full confession.
saowing that nearly all the money had
three notorious gamblers, who
were arrested on the charge
that they knew, when accepting the
checks and casning them, that they were
forged. Bail was fixed "a $6JD apiece
and The size OF the bail made ii necessary
tOhustle around pretty lively among their
friends 10 Get the bondsmcn. Care was
taken that the bOndsmen should beOwnsrs
Of property worth. free of ercam nfanca.
twice the amount Of tine whole bond, and
this required he possession o az la8st
$4,000 ~ real estate nv each 1oudsmau.
an agreement was made uv tae urlsa-pr-
with their bunGsmeu thai tuacaea- would
be settled outside of crluua. ur0ccadtur5.
even though they bat ~ ntheareturn b!
the money lost in their places. but ~
looks now as though prosecution would
be insisted Oh DF the District ATTORNEY.
irrespective OF tac Wsnes 8f ANYBODY.
MOre0ver. the ruin oil tisuCl tT5u.pire, f..
have been elected by deep conspiracy.
Involving The use az "a handsome ady-.-
turesS named Nellie Fisher a, "a stDo.-
pig. on TO lure him into gambling. iu Which
be was snOrn In manner htr % short 81
highway robbery. AN his puts ttc.cls..
In a worse aspect than al hrst. anu iHa
bOndsmen are fearful Of losing tner laI-
tunes so foolishly ri~kod. Two OF tbr
b0ndsmen are James k.iIy. TIE ltn. of
the bOOkmakers, and Tony Pastor. fn.
variety actor. The aggregate Of their
losses, in tie event Of t1e forfeiture OF the
bonds. would be $50. 900. and % adv OF tnc
bondemen get clear IN any way. by quib
BILE or flight, his salvation would leave
the burden on the other signeIs o. the
same bond.
EVADING An ENCi-E LAW.
Some time ago the Excise Commission.
ers passed law forhiddiBg ttc use of "a
doo9 in wall between theatrical premi.
ses and a barroOm. since tuau tat saloon
Keepers Interested have been tryin. DUB
every way 10 eyade The law without rol-
ting themselves into tFuublp 'IU.t uHLn