Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1895-12-30
aBLEW M A FORTUNE.


is. as second-class matter.
"BLEW IN" A FORTUNE.
Charles Osborne, formerly of the i'm
porting wine house of John Osborne,
Sons & Co., widely known as member
of several social clubs, where he
was popularity known as "Charley"
Osborne, and man-about town, was ex-
amined in supplementary proceedings
before Judge Mccarthy, in New York,
Friday. He had been sued by Osborne
& Homer Oh q note for $3.50 made by
himself to Hofner's order.
Lawyer Wales F. Severance exam
ined Osborne as to his financial stand
ing, and during the course of the ex
animation the witness officially ex-
planned to the court the meaning of the
slang phrase blowing it it," and also
related in great detail how be had
squandered many thousands of dollars
in carousing-'blew it in as the still
Jolly clubman remarked with the ut
most stnonchalance. Osborne stated that
before he became member of his faith
er's frm he was clerk at q salary OF
$4,000 a year. In 1898 his share of the
profits of the firm was $50, 900, all of
which he said he 'blew in" in various
ways. About balf of that sum, he said,
he spent for the maintenance of his
family, consisting of his wife, son and
daughter. Iu 1894 the firm made no
money, and it is now out of existence.
He was asked by Mr.. Severance re-
garding $4,000 in notes which he
negotiated for a Mr.. Garcia, out Of
which he made 5000, but which he
could not account for.
He thought it was "blown ip" on
pleasure parties.
Mr.. Osborne testified that he had been
engaged with Alfred G. Garcia, of No.
81 Stone street, in promoting several
enterprises which has proven failures.
The witness said that his daughter
was the Administrative of his wife's
will, but that he did not know he was
beneficiary under the will.
fhis $4,000 income in 1898 he sGid
yearly S25, 600 was spent in supporting
his family, and as much more about
town.
"Cau you tell us specifically how you
spent that money!" asked Mr.. Sever
ance.
sob, I don't know. I suppose in
riotous living" said Mr.. Osborn, with
laugh.
''Is your memory poor at PRESENT."
II think any mans memory would
become bad if he drank as hard as l
did during the past year."
Have you loaned any money!"
Lob, plenty oft; can't remember
exactly"
Mr.. Osborne was asked about fiat
at No. 126 east Tbirty-fourth street,
for the rent of which he had become re-
sponsible.
"Who occupied that fat ?"
"a lady"
"Was your name on the door?"
''No sir; there was no name on the
door,
"What was the lady's name?"
Mr.. Osborne here shifted unessily in
his chair.
81 beg of you, Mr.. Severance" be
pleaded, mot to ask the lady's name.
She is now moving in good society 10
Fifth avenue, and any notoriety now
would ruin her. 1t would do no good
to mention her name, and beg of you
not to ask me. 1t would ruin the poor
girl.''
Mr.. Severance did not press the ques-
ton, but asked, "How mnch money did
you spend on her altogether"
"Well, spent the most of that S25.,
600 on her."
"What was the most you ever spent
OH her at one time?n
sOne thousand dollars"
"Was that 81 900 loan?n
"No, sir; it was gift. I once bor-
rowed $3.50 from ber.n
Osborne said he was living at the
Warwick Hotel, where he has room
at 81 week; is an agent for whisky
house and made nearly $500 a mouth.
did you make anything else ?"
"Well, certain champagne house
gives me about $3.50 month for intro
ducing their wine. Ispend every cent
of the allowance"
Mr.. Osborne said that when he left
the firm he had overdrawn his account
between $4,000 and $4,000. He was
doing his best now to scrape together
some money to pay the present judg-
ment against him.
"How much do you owe now, aside
from any debts to the firm ?'
about S100,0O0
''Can you tell me how much you are
owed by persons in New York ?"
"Oh, a big sum of money!
Well, Fred Berthoud owes me he
tween $4,000 and $4,000. The poor
fellow is in the hospital now"
"Has he any money ?"
mot cent, sir.n
Had he.ever any money?"
"Well, ore time he failed for between
four and Eve million dollars. / always
gave up literally to everybody" said
Osborne, with smile.
Scan you give names of the other men
Ito whom you loaned money ?''
ooh, the town is full of them.D
'Come now, give me one name?"
.Well, there's Eddie Schmidt, he
owes me several thousands of dollars y
HE was an insurance agent in the
Equitable?n
Eyes, SIR"
ssDid he ever pay you back any
thing ?n
aWell, Iharrowed 500 of him some
time ago; that was the 500 that gave