News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1886-06-24
A NOTED MISER'S END.
The Wretched Fate of Luther C. Bryant
Tie Memory of an Old Robbery Revived.
From the N. Y. Eve. Post I


A bent and feeble old man, blind
and scarcely able to walk, tottered past
the Charles Street Police Station tho
other afternoon. A policeman, who saw
he could not go much further, led him
and told him to rest himself until he had
gathered more strength. The Sergeant
on duty questioned him and learned
that he was eighty five years old, and
had recently been staying at No. SO
Christopher Street. 1t was not his
hone, but he had no other. Neither
home nor friends were left to him in his
age and weakness, he said, and he shook
his head sadly; the money that had
once bought him one and replaced the
other was lost. 1t was apparent that he
would not much longer want either and
the sergeant did the last act of kindness
that could be done for the old man
sent him to st. VIncent's Hospital. to be
cared for during the few days he yet had
to live. To the hospital surgeons it was
apparent that they were few indeed.
The old man was in the last stages of
softening of the brain, brought on by
old age and restitution. When told
that his days were numbered he eX-
pressed no regret. To the house sur
geon, DR.. DAWN, in whose mind the cd
mans name, Luther c. Bryant, had
awakened vague recollections, he told
the story of his life. Those who remem-
Der the old post Office on Nassau street,
will recall without difficulty the bent
old man who kept little stand on the
corner opposite it, and sold old coin,
medals, and postage-stamps. 1t is about
eleven years since the stand disappeared.
One day the morning paper told in de-
tail the story of how the old man Bry-
ant who kept it had been arrested the
previous day on the charge of collision
with thieving Office boys, who robbed |
their employers of stamps and sold them |
TO him at about one-tenth their value. !
The arrest made a great sensation, and |
much indignation was expressed while |
the defenceless man lay in the Tombs |
vainly clamoring to be heard. When |
his story was finally told, and it speed |
lily appeared that the arrest was trick |
put upon him by thieves who knew his |
reputation of being wealthy old miser, |
and who had used the opportunity to |
rob him at leisure while the police held |
him captive, the indignation took an
other turn, but 1t was then too late. |
Old Mr.. Bryant had lived alone for |
years and years IN single room
IN the tenement No / FORSYTH
street, boarding his savings and deny
ing himself almost the necessaries Of life
TO scrape together the money the thieves
carried off in the night after his arrest.
Haw much it was, was never satisfactor-
lily established. The old man claimed
that it amounted to fully $500, zoo, of
which $40, 200 was in gold coin, at a
time when 1t commanded a handsome
premium In the money market. With
characteristic distrust of banks he had
Kept 1t IN secret bureau drawer in his
room, where he believed it safe; but
the thlevez, as it appeared, knew of the
hiding place and carried it off, to the
last dollar, together with lot of valua-
bic medals, rare coins, and the like that
were kept with his hoard
When old Bryant having proved his |
innocence of the trumped-up charge |
against him and satisfactorily estab- |
iished its source, was released and hast
ened home a free man. it was only to
find himself pauper. The three stout
padlOcks that had secured his door In
his absence were broken, and the bureau
with the secret drawer sacked and
empty. The boarding of lifetime were
gone and his business was ruined.
Bryant never appeared again at his
old stand. He devoted his remaining
years and strength TO the pursuit of the
thieves who had ruined him. Two
were captured and convicted. They
are now serving out twenty-year SEN
fences in State Prison. But of the
money the old man got little or nothing
back. Under the weight of the years
and his cares his mental and physical
health gave way, and before the bur
glars come out free men to enjoy their
stolen wealth, he will be long buried in
the Potter's Field