New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-03-15
4 CRANK'STOUROFTHEHO HOTELS
HE IMAGINED HIMSELF VARIOUS PER-
SONAGES
vISCOUNT AT ONE PLACE AND DUKE OF YORK
AT Alphabetically A DEMENTED
ENGLISHMAN WHO HAD BEEN
a BROKER.

n BROkER.
The latest production of the Tenderoin precinct
is crank who makes hotel clerks his special prey
This particular crank Is at present under the i'm
preston that he is member of the British peerage
and wherever he he is careful TO announce his
high estate 1t was Just before noon Yesterday
when a short, slight. sparely built man. with gray
mustache and curly hair. and carrying on the
whole military appearance. entered the Office OF
the ST. James Hotel and selling pen inscribed on
the register the following lie: THE Viscount
Richardson. 10th Hussars, Arus Castle and No. 10
Grosvenor House"
The clerk looked at him with dubious eye
DO You doubt me- sir" said the visitor There
Is my name and title DO with what you will"
With little persuasion he was induced to walk
out on the sidewalk lie thence made his way
over to the Victoria Hotel where he demanded
room. Here he registered "Sir Thomas Richard
son. Bart and the clerk delighted by the prospect
of having member of the British nobility as a
guest was about to hand him the key of a particu-
larly choice room when the visitor casually
marked that he first cousin to Cornelius Van
derbilt and the King OF Italy. This was enough for
the clerk and he politely Informed the visitor that the
hotel was full. Then, a British nobleman shall
so to the Brunswick" he sald loftly raising his
hat All record of him for the six hours was
lost. but at o'clock he turned up in the Hotel
Savoy This time he not alone. Behind him
salked tall, fat, beefy-faced man, whose fore
head was wet with the perspiration. induced by
fast walking. Boyd Decker. the manager. and
Edward Purchase. the clerk. were behind the desk
as the stranger approached. Il want the suit OF
State apartments for my daughter the Princess
Nide Baroness de Richardson he remarked. dip
ping the pen into the ink. preparatory to registra
ton. He had got far Lord Thomas r.
when Mr.. Decker. who Is used TO cranks. stopped
him with the reply that the hotel was full The
crank's eyes glttered. lie drew back. His hand
moved to his hip pocket. Then he smiled weak
vacuous smile. "Of course YOU don't know that
am the Duke Of York travelling incog,' he said.
IN to the Plaza
For heavens sake give him a room" whispered
the attendant spirit TO Mr.. Decker. ! hired TO
watch him at o'clock this afternoon. and he's
kept me on dead run ever since. We've been into
no less than dozen hotels. He's run me al the
up from Wall Street without stop" But
Mr. Decker shook his head. and the Duke Of York"
proudly led the way into the hotei New Neherland
Here, for n change ne made for the telegraph
office. and began furiously writing kilograms with
every appearance of feyerish haste Inside Of six
minutes a dozen telegraph slips were strewn over
Prince of Wales, TO Queen Victoria. making an APP
70 the Princess Euaile Lord Rosebery. John D.
Rockefeller and the Baroness Richardson.
up and akns the Visitor by he arm susg Si@f
that telegraph Office at Flfy-sixth-st and Sixth
course YOU know who am? No; A word in your
name Is Vanderbilt Morgan Richardson Look me
up IN Wall street and III let you IN on good
thing"
With these words he stalked out. only to return
moment later as II he had forgotten something
He stood In the middle Of the hal for moment
and calmly looked around him and said in a
loud voice THE viscount bids you adieu,"
Then amid ripple of laughter from the
guests he walked out again He took General
Earle'S advice. for he next found at the tclc-
graph office at Ffty-sxthst. and Sixth-avc. Here
he addressed telegram TO the Lady Violet Rich
ardson. Washington Park. Brooklyn, saying that
he was about to visit the Queen at Windsor Castle.
From this point traces of him frequent. In
succession he had left his record at the NcndOme.
the Marlborough and other hotels. carefully
scrbing his list OF titles the register before the
clerk awokc To the fact that he had lunatic in
front Of him. Finally he found his way the home
Of his friend. Or. Weld, a dentist. at No. u West
Twenty-siXth-st, where he remained for the night
The truth about the man Is that his name is
Thomas Richardson. he is an Englishman. has been
In this country many years. and was lately broker
engaged in the South American trade. Ills offices
were in Coentiea Slip. About week ago his mind
gave way, and he II now awaiting the departure OF
the Umbria. which he will return to England
Saturday. His wife Is wealthy woman. who lives
in Washington Park. Brooklyn. Until the ship sails
ne will remain in the care of DR.. Weld.