The morning times., 1895-12-08
CHIcAGo,s BssT.ppEssEp MAN.
He Was a Degraded Black Man OF the
Notorious Levee District.

He Was a Degraded Black Man OF the
Notorious Levee District.
| ST. Louis obt-Democrat.
what was IN an respects the most re-
ma Ia. bic tuperal that has ever taken place
| IA this city, was that observed une day last
4 week, when Frank Aoare, was laid away
| forever. The dead man was a young negro
| who thrivad in the "levee'' district. The
,-aaseof death was murder by woman.
| The ,prtege was the longest ever seen at
| black burying id the West. The crowd
| in ami around the church numbered 4.OG0
| people. black and white. The fiurai offer
| ings we're as numerous, .s,stly artistic and
| inappropriate as any ever laid0p,n the bier
| OF private citizen. The hearse which
| carried the body t" the tomb was the best
| in ChicaCo-in fact, the same vehicle in
which the mortal remains of the late
| Carter IL. Harrison were conveyed TO the
cemetery.
Tae coiored preacher WHO delivered the
| DISCOURSE act,ratcd by desire TO say
| "a few words to The living. none TO the
| dead knew the disreputable character
| of the life that had ended in tragedy, and
| did not hesitate to say so from the pulpit.
lis remarks drew from the ''uncies" and
"mammies'' in his audience such expires
sions as Amen" :. Deed he do" "BIcss
! de Lawd," God a mercy" How true
The best ard the worst elements of life in
the crime-infested spot In which Moore
was Regarded as an Uncro wned king fol-
lowed the corpse 10 the grave, and to this
day the poinp OF the ohsequies and the
r-nown OF the dead man are the chief topics
OF talk among the night birds who heard
the brass and play requiem over Moore's
seternai resting place.
Frank MOORE was the product OF adul-
tcrated vice. He was not a bra wier, nor
a druBsard, nor a thief. He was only
4 fhrr.I y,s;lrG OF fulf
athletic. full OF animal spirits and good
nature.
He became known as the Black Diam ond
King" and ii is unquestionably true that
he possessed the largest and finest collection
of gems o " ned by a colored man In America
Ten thousand dollars Is not q high estimate
OF his jeweled wealth. He wore diamonds
on his fingers, In his collar and cuffs. set in
his watch case. and embedded in the charm
hanging from his vest chain.
The possession or " bite gens was mania
with him. 80 pronounced that only n few
days before his death he arranged with
dentist to Set half-caret stone In one of his
front teeth. He was the pride of the col
ored toughs, the pet OF the fancy, the bone
of contention among the scarlet women.
1t was his popularity that caused his
death. Rosie Scott. white woman who,
only a few months ago, bought a wen-
appointed saloon and installed Moore as the
w
outright to Moore's uHcic completely
stocked hardware store on q busy street,
became Jealous of the attentions other
women OF her class We're bestowing on her
protege.
She sent for him, and when he eros sed
the threshold of her room she shot him
dead without warning, expia ma ton, or
compunction Before the police had taken
the body TO the morgue the same persons
who had been Moore's friends i'll life had
pluckei diamonds worth $4,000 from his
fingers and bosom.
But it was not alone In the ownership Of |
diamonds that Moore found plea sure He |
was the best dressed man in Chicago. 1t |
is Impossible that there should be better |
dressed civilian in the world He was
much given TO boasting OF the cost OF his |
raiment and his Jewels, and it is to this |
circumstance that acquaintances OF 1.-The |
Black Prince as be was called not in |
frequently, were enabled to determine the |
cash value OF the, man as Ie swung care
lessiy along the streets OF the Levee last |
Easter Sunday.
On his head he wore silk hat for which |
he paid $40. His buff ovcrcoat was $500 |
garment A dark coat, silk vest. and gray
striped trousers represented $3.50. The
patent leather shoes cost SIS. Nothing but |
silk underwearat S;95a suit and socksat S5a |
pair were good enough for Moore. An en- T
and SIX snspenders SO each.
His delicate silk umbrella with ornate gold
handle had cost a .yrifle of $50
1t is stated as fact that he had wanted
his New York tailor to have gold buttons, |
solid gold, made for use on his trousers, but
the tailor tn lked him out OF that unneccs- |
sary expenditure Thus it Will be seen that.
OF 1ewelry, the Black Princes
dress when on parade represents an outlay
or considerably more than $500. On occa-
sions OF state, diamonds worth anywhere
II ON S5 900 to IS 900 were hitched to his