The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1890-03-29
BROADBRIM'S N. Y. LETTER

/
Iscarot betrayed his Master with kiss in
the Garden of Gethsemene, has a more
damning tale of treache cry been told than
that rehearsed in the Court OF Oyer and
Terminer last week during the trial of |
Sheriff James A. Flack tor conspiracy, |
Beside him, and indicted for the same,
was his son viii Flack, whose treachery
and betrayal of his poor old mother, who
trusted him, finds a parallel In Iscariot, the |
betraYer Of his Saviour, alone. The whole |
story reads more like one of Zola's evil |
novels than a chapter of New York every
day life Many years ago young man
came from the country with his girl wife
and opened small bookbindery in this
city where he worked early and late till he
built up paying business. He was frugal,
but lived well in modest style. After a
time his bndery became a resort of the
local ward politicians, and the young book
binder began to forsake his home evenings,
and might be found in the corner saloons
talking politics with the ward politicians.
II was not long before he was candidate
for office, and one of the formost men of
his ward. He soon found his way into
Tammany Hall, and lots of city work was
thrown into his bindery by bis political
friends, and James A. Flack was fast get
ting to be rich man. This was in the
time of the Tweed ring, when bills against
the city were not unduly scrutiniztd and
political characters needed no Endorsement.
Tweed was deposed, and Flack became
right bower of John Kelly, his successor;
he got to be one of the chief sachems of
Tammany with the best jobs and offices in
the city within his reach. AS he grew rich
and powerful. the old wife who was the
companion of his early days was not stylish
enough for him. So eighteen years ago he
took from his bindery a handsome Young
girl named Sarah Cherry and installed her
in apartments as his mistress. With her
for eighteen years he was known at various
hotels and boardng-houses as James A.
Raymond. A son was born to them, and
Sarah Cherry, who seems to have quite a
religious turn, insisted on having him
baptized Mr., Flack Raymond thought
that the rites of the church ought not TO
be neglected, so he carried the baby to the
Little Church Around the Corner, and
there it was duly baptized Edward Ray
mond. Flack himself under the name OF
Raymond acknowledged the paternity OF
the boy, How he could have carried on
this dual life as publicly as he did foI
eighteen years is a mystery that will never
be solved. During that time he occupied
various public stations and received from
the Democratic party two of the highest
offices in its gift, those of county clerk ant
sheriff, and either is worth at least one
hundred thousand dollars a year. Where
were his lynx eyed political enemies al
this time? No one can tell, for no on
appears to have suspected him. He still
kept nominal home with his first wifi
uptown, but he came and went wheneYe
it suited him, and passed his old wife b
without the slightest notice.
For months he never spoke to her, hi
only communication was through his sol
VIII, their only child, and on him the oil
mother leaned, tor he was the only frien
she had in the world now that she wa
deserted by his father, so she trusted hir
from her inmost heart.
While Sarah Cherry went dressed /
silks and diamonds, Mrs. Flack had tn
bare necessanes of life, and was driven I
sleep in small hall bedroom while he
husband and her son took possession {
the best portion of the.house. At last I'll
demands of his paramour became imperi
tive; she would no longer live as his mi
tress; she wanted to be his wife in name
well as in fact; she was tired of ma
querading as Mrs. Raymond. she wante
to be Mrs. Flack. This conld only |
effected in two waYs-by divorce or murde
murder was dangerous, and Mrs. Flack di
not want divorce, for she was determine
that Sarah Cherry, the creature who ha
ruined her home, should never be Mr.
Flack as long as she was alive. But whe
Flack became Sheriff he was very near
the Judges and high officers of the Cour
and he soon had them subseryent too
for the working out of his accursed plo
Flack told his wife at last that they mu
separate, and the poor woman said 81 SUI
pose So" He said, WIN can prepare Il
papers. Will did prepare the paper
VIII is now man, nearly forty years oil
and his trusting mother left everything
him. The papers were drawn up by Flack
lawyer, one Mcneil, and instead of
separation were an application for absolu
divorce, the respondent being Sarah Cherr
VIII Flack told his mother that this was
separation giving her the house she liy,
in and twenty-five dollars a week for tl
remainder of her life. This same Mon,
appeared in Court as the lawyer for MI
Flaek demanding the divorce. Jud
bookstaver, the friend OF Flack, was rea,
to do most anything to oblige the sherl
but TO have one lawyer appear on bo
sides of the case was more than be cou
swallow, so he advised the substitution
another name which was accordingly dor
and creature of Flack's by the name
Meeks was appointed referee Eyerythi
was now all right, and the consplrators Z
the divorce on the application of NJ
Flack. When Mrs, Flack found out wi
had been done she nearly lost her reasC
but Flack and his son did not care for tn
The decree of divorce forbad Mr.. Flack
marry again, but that only applied TO N
York. He could 90 to New Jersey
Connecticut and marry Sarah Cherry
next daV and no New York Nourt m,
touch him. But the plot was discover
in the nick of time, and Nemisis was
the track of the conspirators. An
gascal by the name of Jarvis who assist
in the conspiracy was driven from pull
life. 1t was he who years before had loo