The morning call., 1892-11-16
JOHN BOEY.

The death or John H0ey OF New 0rk Is
something more than the passing away OF
mere expressman. In his way, and in
peculiar phase of American life, John Hoey
was almost an historical parsonage.
His early life was the stereotyped story
Of the rise of an enterprisng lad from
poverty and obscurity to prominence and
atfiuence. cabin boy. newsbOy, a mes
senger-bOy, he became a trusted servant Of
Alvin Adams when that energetic man
founded the express business by carrying
round parcels in a and-basket. Young
John Hoey became Adams Iight-hand man,
and remained so when the Adams Express
Company grew to be a great financial and
industrial institution. He was supeIin-
tendent when his infa;uation for pretty
Josephine Shaw, who had just been divorced
from her husband, William H Russell, and
was leading lady. first at Burton's, then at
Wallacks, was the town talk of New York.
She had all the young men at her feet, but
regular theater-goerS observed that in her
great parts her eyes would always stray TO
the stall where John H0ey's jolly face was
to be seen. he married her; she remained
on the stage for many years, and her chief
successes were won under the name Of Mrs
Hoey.
Hoey knew everybody and was liked by
| every one. Thus, when the war broke out
and speculation burst forth, his friends put
| him into their good things, and he made a
million. tie bought him fine estate at
! Long Branch, and spent fortune In en-
belishing it. There Mrs. Hoey dispensed
generous hospitality. and entertained the
magnates of Washington and Wall street.
| Hollywood became one of the show places
of the East. Gradually politicians got into
the habit OF visiting there; at the close of
| JOhnson's term, it was not unusual to find
Grant and Sherman, Thurlow Weed and
Henry j. Raymond, Jerome and Murphy.
| Conkling and Jones of Nevada, h0bnobbing
under lis broad balconies. Under Grants
Presidency, Hoey was one of the inner
circle which operated. as its members sup
posed. on a certainty. But when speeula-
tors are too we'll informed, they often trip
up. In the days of reconstruction no two
men were in the possession Of so many secrets
as Hoey and Murphy. They knew what the
Government was going TO do, when the
treasury was going TO sell gold. when the
| Pennsylvania was going 10 absorb its con-
Meeting lines, when the New York Central
was going to declare a stock dividend.
They knew so much that Murphy died a
bankrupt, and Hoey had to save himself
from ruin by using his position in the
Adams Express to obtain command of
funds. Not one OF the Long Branch
cOteIie failed 10 become poorer through bis
intimacy with Grant.
Yet the fact was kept a secret for many
years. At the very time when John HOey
used to take the morning boat for New
York. not knowing whether be would not
break before the close of bank hours, he
was as smiling and Jolly as ever. full of
iaet o.,do .,if, o,,Ia a., L.
TO any one who wanted to enlist his influ-
ence at Washington. That influence was
not myth. To the last President Grant
was his friend, and served him when he
could. The great soldier was so simple
minded that he knew nothing of the ways
of spectators, and seeing Hoey's paatial
home maintained on a scale of princely
splendor he bad not the least idea that be
was hopClessly insolvent.
Nor did his co-direct0rs IN the Adams
Express suspect that there was anything
wrong until two or three years ago. Then
they depOsed him from his Office as presi.
dent and took what money he could afford
to give them. They never prosecuted MIN.
To them it seemed that the recovery Of
more money was at least doubtful and
that so widely popular man as John might
easily be made to figure as a victim. They
were themselves unquesuonaDly guilty OF
gross negligence in the discharge of theil
trust Thus Hoey walked the streets with
his head as high as ever and with the old
smile on his lips. But the iron had entered
into his soul. The long protracted agony of
his struggle against fate had sapped the
vigor of his constitution, and one of the
many diseases which lie in wait for broken
men overlook him when he was defen seless
So ne passed away, and the coming genera.
ton will not remember his name.