Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1895-09-26

swaths in the army of brokers. Stats
ties show that it was more fatal TO be
long to that army than to an army in the
field.
We had latterly somewhat neglected
business. our real business being at
night, when we made the pursuit of
pleasure hard work Soon the finances
Of our firm not only ran low, but We're
on three several occasions exhausted, so
that we not only had recourse to bOr
rowing, but were barely saved from
bankruptcy by liberal donations from
Eds parents. His father was a fine, jol-
ly old gentleman and took it quite as 4
matter of course that it was his duty 70
help us off the rocks when we ran on
them My partner took everything easy.
but l. having no indulgent parent be
hind me ever ready to draw check,
began to be uneasy over the financial
situation. Strangely enough, however,
it never occurred to me to cut down my
personal expenses, and | continued liv
ing at the same extravagant rate rs
when money was plenty, dining and
winning and being dined and wined.
Just here an important character, one
destined to have an influence for evil on
my future life, came upon the scene,
and will halt for moment in my mar
rative to give some account of him.
This man was James Irving, popular
" known as Jimmy Irving, chief of the
New York detective force, and a bad
hearted, worthless scamp he was. was
with several friends in the Fifth Avenue
hotel one cold January night when he
came in and one of our party, knowing
him. introduced us He was Il man Of
medium height, rather heavy set, blond
mustache, pleasant eyes, but with
weak mouth and chin and a flushed
face, telling a tale of dissipation. 1t
was when Boss Tweed ruled supreme in
New York, and the whole administra-
ton was honeycombed with corruption.
Except under similar political condi
tions could such a man attain to so re
sponsible an Office in great city as
that Of chief of the detective force-a
position which at that time invested
him with all but autocratic power, an
old rounder and barroom loafer without
one attribute of true manliness and not
possessed Of any quality which would
point him out as fit man for the place.
Nevertheless, when the position became
vacant his political pull caused his Sc
lection. From being a mere detective
ON the staff he became chief. And truly
this meant something i'll those days.
The great civil war had but lately end
ed, and the country was still reeling
., IT,. H,,Db
times resultant from the enormous
money issue of the government kept
everything booming. The foundations
OF society Were shaken, and vice no lon
ger hid itself in tie dark caves and dens
of the great city.
But to return to my friend, Captain
Jim Irving, who, before our party had
separated, had opened thEce bottles OF
wine Before leaving ! had asked him
to call on me at the st. Nicholas The
next day he came and invited me to
take drive with him to Fordham the
following Sunday On Sunday he ap-
neared behind a fast trOtting horse and
in every respect an elegant turnout
Ga. TrUUr u;irlc- yTt7 rv-ttri Irv-yi rfry
hotel, and after dinner, lighting cur CT
gars, we started for police headquar-
ters. There he attended to some routine
business, having first introduced me to
two of his chief detectives. Many who
read this Will recognize the men, but
in this narrative they viii be known MS
Stanley and White. / will not further
describe them now, but as they Will APP
pear in the story from time to time the
reader viii be able to judge what man
ner of men they were.
For the next eight weeks my life
went on much the same as usual In
our business we made some money, but
by one unfortunate investment lost our
entire capital, and, what proved worse
for me, my partners health began TO
fail Dissipation, late and heavy dim
ners and irregular hours began to break
a not overstrong constitution; conse-
quently one Saturday he abruptly an
nounced his intention of Withdrawing
from the partnership to take a trip TO
Europe There was nothing to divide
save the furniture in our office, which
he presented to me. The following
Wednesday he sailed with two members
of his family saw him Off, bidding
him what proved to be Il last farewell.
| left the wharf feeling very lonely and
miserable. 1t may be well to remark
here that he died year later in Italy,
one more victim Of a fast life, while
was spared, but took no warning from
his fate In truth, was in the Prim-
rose Way, which is ever found most
tormenting and unhappy thoroughfare.
Meeting Irving from time to time, he
was most flattering in his attentions,
while l was young enough and silly
enough to be pleased with his notice.
One evening about this time l met him
while coming out of Wallack's theater.
Shaking hands warmly, he invited me
TO supper at what was then known as
upper Delmonico's After supper, walk
ing TO the st. Denis hotel at Broadway
and Eleventh street, we found Detect
ives Stanley and White. Here wine
was ordered and long after midnight
we parted, they first having eXacted II
promise TO dine with them the follow
ing night at Delmonico's, at the same
time stating that they wished to make
me business proposition.
At II | arrived and entered the res
taurant, was at once recognized by Il
waiter, evidently on the lookout, and
ushered into "a private room up stairs.
Only White had arrived, but soon lry-
ing and Stanley came, and supper was
ordered. With such gentry as these wine
is always in order Then they became
confidential, and the conversation turned
to the subject Of making money. Very
sldllfully they extracted the confession
that had none. When excited by the
talk and the wine ] cried ont, "By
heaven want money! Stanley grasped
my hand and said, "Of course you do (;
a mans a fool without it, " Irving in
teriected, "Are you game to do us a
favor and make $40, 900 for yoursef?"
But how?" l gasped. "Go to Europe
and negotiate some stolen bonds we
have, will you;"
For $40, 900 to become accessory TO a
| crimel
1t was an appalling proposition, and
1 shrank from it with IN aversion /
could not conceal amy moro than he and
| his confederates could conceal their
| chagrin over tho way | took it and over
| the fact that their secret had been i'm
| parted 10 another. More WINE was orr
dered, and before we parted | had prom