The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-02-06
HAS MR.. SANFORD sl7,OOOi
BIs PITTFUI STORY OF THE Loss OF
SAFE DEPOSIT KEE
MS Mind Now In such . Condition that He
Can Give Little Ala 20 HIS Lswyers-Is
He che Same Man Tint Made tho Deposit

a SAFE KEY
M, Mind Now In Such . Cona,tior that he
Can Give Littte Aid 20 Hts Lsvyers-Is
Ne che snme Man that Made the Deposits
Charles Fl. Sanford. the old man who says he
has S17.000 locked up in tho vaults OF tho
Mercantile Safe Deposit Company. Is living In
extreme poverty at 81 Chestnut avenue. Jer-
sey City. He is ~ years OF age. md the money
he claims represents the savings Of a life
time OF work and economical living. It was
on one OF the last days OF June. 1882. that he
left his homo in Jersey City to come to this
city. In an envelope he had a $4,000 silver or
gold certificate and several hundred dollars
worth Of coupons clipped from United States
bonds. The coupons he intended to convert
into money and put with the $1,000
certificate into n box which he says he rented
from the Mercantile Safe Deposit Company In
the Equitable building. He spoke OF his in
~tentions to Mrs. Butler. the widow from whom
he rented his rooms. and showed her the GER
~tiicate. He was gone all day. and was brought
back home late at night by q policeman who
had found him walking about the streets OF
Jersey City In q dazed condition. Friends
recognized him on the street. and told the
policeman his place Of residence.
The old man went Into a spasm soon after
getting homo. No attention was paid to the
confused story which he told OF having Ind
trouble with some ono In the Equitable build
ing. and afterward OF having been robbed OF
his pocketbook which contained the key to his
box in tho snfe deposit vaults. He was sick
never since recovered his full mental faculties.
He. had been q dealer in law books. andi t
WSs : KnoT He t Mas ne Hsr ha sjs ama Asa sa 2 snaG slm m.,se
thought rich. He said nothing more Of MS
losses after he was well enough to get. about.
1t was noticed, however. that he was absent q
great deal from home. and It was afterward
about Jorscy City and New York trying to find
his lost koy and the pocketbook which con-
10 identify himself to the sale deposit com.
Ha had been living in Mrs. Buffers house
his aye atSD'l he Kept lis loss ss" from her Tor two
siair and HS' told "a the tSee w soEs story tor :"s s'a't" III 10.
Mrs.. Butler At once corsulted lawyers and
opi 35 che eGi%DHh il: ssan iaS sS bas Is nF saSst s aHdiHsi %%i
vaults which had not been claimed for sew.
t q a. years. y sis Tho old man MAJ, tried tie +, to {, explain rad that
v%,s w and ni lis sS snemory o imp %1s tnt ever a Since ot sse
his confused story WINS not accepted blythe COM
business he lived at North. Adams and at an
other time at BridGeport His residence IN
mail was constantly getting mixed with that
of another man in each town that had exactly
had his mail all sent to him undor the name OF
Charles q; Sanford, He came to New York In
ds;osi sn eam H i ap h,s a sSfs Iast p wifh the safe
After tho loss Of his key and his prolonged
sickness he claimed his money and bonds in
tho vaults. OF the Mercantile Company In the
name Of Charles II. Sanford. but the company
refused to honor his claim. Thus; !ace9rding
Without the means of procuring the necessaries
Of life, olrs. Butler. however. has never al
a store in this city. and out Of ier salary gives
him sufficient TO buy his daily bread.
James nnese ). Wsish ha ~ c 9Ssn eesu STREET. Sy to ha eomr
pei the Mercantile Sale Deposit Company to
permit the inspection Of its books. Preparatory
covery Of the money deposited in its vaults.
LAWYER, Walsh said yesterday. to a Sun re-
old mans case he was convinced OF the truth
OF his story. Of course; he said. the old mans
was much worse than usual: but he was in the
habit OF keeping a diary in the days when his
nimnds vas ai sound nrro,o ana al dis IS Ate ateTsnt now are
Walsh says he has other proof Of the old mans
identity which he cannot make public >pst
Mr.. Sanford was found yesterday in tho res:
avenue. Jersey City. He said thst all he
wanted to get his money back now for was to
him So faithfully. in, easy, circumstances. 50
that she would not have to work the rest OF
her days.
Mr.. Laws. the. proprietor OF the restaurant.
twelve years. that up to the time OF his mis-
fortune he had always been u regular GUS
money to pay his bills. and he had often seen
him with $500 or S4OO in his pocket. On ono
was taken sick. he went out OF the restaurant
and left his pocketbook on the cashiers desk.
Mrs. Laws took charge OF It. and there was
Mr.. Sanford is. a native OF Boston,. He was
left an orphan when twelve years old. and he
Jersey City put faith in his story. They say
he was a man OF very clear mind and OF good
business ability previous to his afliction.