Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-07-08
RICH RAGS.
A Beggarly Hag Loaded Down with Money.
Boston Herald.

Boston Herald.
The police patrol-wagon was called out
five times last evening on division 6.
Four times for simple drunks, one of
whom was woman. just before IL
o'clock the disk dropped for box 4. 1t
was the fifth call, and the wagon darted
out of Athens street, and. flew to the cor
ner of T and West First streets. In just
three minutes from the time the call came
the wagon was at the station house door.
1t contained a woman, old, ragged, aud
barefooted, and with greasy and torn
| piece of shawl over her head. She was
assisted to the police rail. Officer Smith,
who had her in charge, said to Lieut..
Coulter, who sat at the desk:
II want to put this woman up for safe
keeping. She tried to commit suicide
| twice tonight Once she attempted to
jump overheard at the foot of D street,
and two young men prevented her; after
ward she essayed to get into the water at
the foot of street, and there again the
young men saved her. I found her secret
ed under some rubbish in the hallway of
the old House of Blazes on First street.
No one in the house knew her, and she
seems to be a subject for safe keeping"
At this point the woman began to
plead piteously to be let go, declaring that
she would attempt suicide no more, and
cursed the officers.
She was dressed in ragged clothing COW
cred with vermin; her face was pinched,
and the flesh of her hands and neck chung
to the bones as if she suffered from want
of nourishment. She talked sensibly and
gave her name as Kitty Murphy; birth
place Ireland; age so years; place of resi-
dence. an attic at the corner of Essex and
Kingston streets. She stated that she had
made her living by begging, by working
at odd jobs, and by picking rags on the
dump. After her records had been placed
on the books, Lieut.. Coulter ordered the
officers to search her. She refused to be
searched and resisted. Officer Smith
drew forth an old dirty rag filed
with dimes, then an old glove filled with
quarters, then a handkerchief, a dozen
old rags filed with copper and silver, and
two purses filed with bills and silver all
securely wrapped in paper. After all the
bundles of money that could be removed
were piled on the ieuts desk, it was
found that the old miser had seven or
eight packages of money done up IN cloths
and sewed to her corsets, so that it was
impossible to remove them, The money
taken from her amounted to $62.16, and
it is estimated that she had about 5000
more sewed to her ragged clothing, as
the other packages were filed with bank
bills, as she afterward acknowledged.
1t is believed that she was seized with the
idea that her snug little fortune would be
taken from her, and that impression
crazed her brain and drove her to attempt
suicide. She will not be arranged for
drunkenness.
Two Musical Giants at Play.
Boston Traveller.
List in London told friend that when
he and Chopin were young men some one
told him that Chopin had talent for
mimicry. Liszt said to the Polish plan
ist:
"Come round to my rooms this evening
and exhibit this talent of yours"
So Chopin came in blonde wig.
Il was very blonde at that time" said
List.
Presently an acquaintance of List
came in, and Chopin went to meet him
and took off LISTS voice and manner so
perfectly that the man was completely
deceived and made an appointment with
him for the next day.
And there / was in the room all the