The herald., 1896-02-14
lie BOUGHT CHEAP WINES
But Paid the Price of Better
Article
TIE Trsmp Who Found Jack Brsdy's Steal.
ings Had More Ways OF Spending
Money Than Panurge

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. l3.-The arrest of
John D. Harms, the tramp who found the
money stolen by lack Brady from Wells,
Fargo u Company, created quite eepsa'
ton, especially among the small army of
people who lived on his bounty. All along
the district known as the "tonderloin'
those who knew the ex-tramp during the
brief period of his prosperity indulRed in
"reminiscences. Some of the large nights
which re had given were described with
marked elaboration.
There can be no doubt that Harms spent
his money like sailor. Wine ani women
were his weakness. He also had ten.
der spot in his heart for people with a
smooth tongue and a goodly fund OF flat.
terry. To these he was in the habit Of
sions, while out for spree he is known to
have given $500 and sometimes $1,000 to
his companions.
The girl on whom Harms spent most of
his money was May De Vaughn. She met
him in the early days of his wealth, He
was green as grass and fell an easy victim
to her charms. He afterward formed other
acquaintance among the fair sex. but
with none of them was he as lavish with
his money as with May. to whom lie al
ways referred as "the queen of his heart"
The woman known as May Tells a great
many stories about the manner in which
he spent the fortune that he dug out of the
ground.
"When Hermann went off on a spree"
she said, "it cost him about 5000 day.
Wipe-it used to flow like water. He
thought no more of buying 500 worth Of
wine than the ordinary man thinks of buy
ing glass of beer on a warm day. The
only fault I had to find with Herr
mann in this respect was his
fos la
almost unknown brand OF wine. If they
did not happen 10 sell that wine where he
went he would get up and go out. 1t al
ways cost him just as much as the stand
ard brand, but, as | say, his early training
in this respect was sadly neglected"
living by giving tips on the races Harms
was regarded as godsend. They always
called him "the banker" 1t was very
easy to draw on him, and he never
expected the money returned. He
posed as a capitalist with untold wealth.
When any one who was really looking
out for his welfare spoke to him about the
throwing money away. he always replied:
''Don't be afraid; l am simply spending
the interest of my fortune"
Among a number of the business men
he posed as a rancher and usually ex-
planned his frequent visits out of town by
saying that he had business at his ranch
in Marin county. To others he told very
pretty romance about kind relatives
who had worked hard and &C.
cumulated vast fortune to which
he fell heir. Notwithstanding
Harms recklessness and utter contempt
for money he had real faculty for MAX
ing friends. A great many people, whom
he helped in a financial way, are really
sorry tor his misfortune. They speak of
him as a pOOd-hearted gentleman and re.
fuse to believe that he is tramp.
Harms wardrobe and other effects which
we're taken from his lodgings in this city
show the extent to which he indulged his
luxurious tastes. The silk haudkerchiefs,
costly overcoats and suits, the manicure
sets, scented powders and soaps and cham.
payne openers are evidence that it was an
easy matter for Harms to forsake the hnb.
it's of the tramp and adapt himself 10 the
fastidious elegancies of a man about town.
The express company claims the wardrobe
because it was bought with their money.