The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-04-04
MuSsox & MCNAMARA.
A STRANGE TRUE STORY.
A Wounded PauPer Dies in n Hospital
and Proves to BE n Millionaire.


and Proves to BE n Millionaire.
The keeperOf the lodging room for vagrants
in the Fourth Precinct station house reported
at the hospital late one bleak night in winter
that enc of their dodgers, a new conner, was
very i'll. The man was brought 70 the hospital
In an ambulance, and the following history
of his case was placed upon our records;
Thomas HUM, aged a, residence Yonsers
Widower Born in Ireland Had lived in
the United States thirty mine years. Painter.
No friends. Complains of pain in left hypo-
chondria and in unbilical regions; Says he
was kicked in the abdomen at 10 q. n. the
day before by an unknown man on Cherry
street He is of medium height and weight
and dark complexion. Dressed in dark blue
sack coat and trousers, with blue flannel
shirt, heavy shoes and woolen socks. Clothing
evidently new and of quality worn by labor
ing men for holiday dress. No external sign
of injury. Pulse and temperature normal"
l had the man put 10 bed and ordered an
opiate for him, under which his pain disap-
peared and he fell asleep.
Thefollowing morning his general condition
was good, and, as our beds were in demand,
decided to have him transferred TO another
hospital. de wished to dress himself for the
ride and, as he sat up in bed 20 don some OF
his clothing, he suddenly expired
l rushed to his side, but before could
reach him the spark of life had gone out. He
died without groan.
The autopsy held by the coroner revealed
an injury 10 the internal organs sufficient 10
cause death. He bad doubtless been kicked
some days previous TO his death, and had not
realized the serious nature of the blow.
As we bad no addresses by which we could
find his relatives or acquaintance, we were
obliged TO give a minute description of him to
the newspapers. No news resulting from this
advertisement, his body was sent to the
morgue.
A few days later a man called at the hos
pital and asked TO see the house surgeon.
was busy at the time, and he amused himself
meanwhile in looking over our "Reporters
Book" volume kept for the benefit of news
paper men. When 1 came to him be had the
book open at the entry relating to Thomas
HUM. at once recognized him as a private
detective
What do you know about Thomas Hum r
he asked.
very little What you read there is the
extent of my information regarding him"
dlll ABJkAA4% lOa u ENaAAANAANA "-C AAooF
peared recently from AN uptown hotel his
case Is mysterious When read in the news
papers about Hum became curious regard
ing him"
''But Hum was a workingman. he had
nothing of the gentleman about him"
Gene with me to the norgue," said the
detective; you may be right, but want TO
satisfy myself"
As soon as ne had looked at the body Of the
man had known as Thomas Hum, he took
some photographs from his pocket. They
were pictures Of the dead painter"
Sending for the brother and son Of tbs
missing man, the detective related to me d
strange story.
The vagrant who died under the name Of
Thomas HUM was, up to ten days ago, a bos-
pitable, genial man, living IN luxury at a hO-
tel on Fifth avenue. be was worth millions,
which he had made in the west. his dinners
and suDpers were considered trIumphs Of epi-
curean skill by the bon vivsHts Of the city.
Suddenly &c disappeared Nothing has been
heard Of him until this moment.
The dead mans relatives had arrived and
had established the Identification nnade by
the detective.
It was not until some months later that
learned the details Of tae case. / met the DE-
tectlve one evening, and he said
The Thomas Hum affair wiz never be
wholly cleared up II seems that the million
are let his hotel one day 10 company with
vyorkinxTrAn. when the wer1srners monsy
gave out he pswBed has clothes ard jswelTy
and continued until be was again broke
But there is 10 Doubt tbat be was murdered.
Some day clue may bs fouHd % tie H1ys-
terry At present al i dark concerning t.
How about the HorkingnraD who accom-
panied him on Els debauoaF
He left the millionaire az ioAst to days
before tie death blow Wa struck
And who = Thomas Hume I asked-
That is a curious feags-e o. ths affair
Thomas Hum was poor house paInt4r y
tbs west yho Rad bsea urouEsd financially
By the millionaire who died bearing tie narss
u his victim Human nature - = queer
thing- Cor. PEiiadslpaia Pres