The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1896-08-06
GEORGE LAW.
INCIDENTS IN THE CABEER or
AN ECCENTRIC NEW Yorker.
An Eccentric but Generous Multi
Millionaire--Fond of sporting
characters, He Often Spent
Thousands I'm n Night.
nEw YORK paners have been

~
IN to the career OF the late
George Law, a multi-million-
aire, whose eccentricities have often
been described in the local press. 1t
was nothing, in his Judgment or lack
of Judgment, at times, says the Herald,
to spend $1,000 in a night for wine
alone. Most OF this wine, however,
was absorbed by his followers. He
liked to have a lot OF fighters and
"bad" men around him and "give
them points" 1t was then that the
boys would begin to profit by his
generosity. 1t was "George, I'm
strapped; lend me hundred" and
Mr.. Law would go down in his pocket
andproduce the money, or if he hadn't
the coin, write check for it. II is
said he frequently spent from S10, 900
to $40, 900 week in this way.
The story OF how Mr.. Law. when
feeling exceptionally exuberant at
Saratoga in the summer of 1883,
decked his admirers and followers
with diamonds in the barroom OF the
Grand Union Hotel, will doubtless al
way be regarded as one Of the crown.
ing evidences OF his eccentricity.
As soon as Mr.. Laws presence 10
Saratoga became known that resort
was speedily embelished by the arrival
of such distinguished friends of the
millionaire as Jere Dunn, Colonel
Patrick Duffy, of New Orleans; Colonel
"Pat" Sheedy, at that time John l..
Sullivan's manager; John Halleck,
gambler OF Boston "Joe" CoburD,
William Tracey, Johnny" Saunders,
former pugilist OF New York; Captain
McCue, small fry lobbyist of Albany,
and handsome Dan" Murphy, gam.
bier Of Boston. These constituted a
committee of escort, and also com
mittee OF appreciation. Their laugh
ter at Mr.. Laws jokes were long and
loud and their thirst at Mr.. Laws ex-
pense dreadful and unquenchable.
Frequently members OF the committee
found themselves "a trihe short of
money" although they had no occa-
sion to use any while with him. His
handy check book met their appeals
whenever and wherever made. Cham
payne was rs free rs water so far as
they were concerned. Mr.. Law had
rooms at the Grand Union Hotel, but
did not waste much time in them.
Whenever he did sleep the committee,
which constantly added to its number,
stood guard in the corridors or in the
entrances OF the hotel and awaited his
awakening.
One of the committee said that there
was no dust upon Mr.. Laws coat while
tia committee was around. sThf P&iy
Hetood - i'm, pat, noNun
the back, picked imaginary specks OF
dust from his shoulders and agreed
with him in everything. When he
said that he was the only man John L.
Sullivan was afraid of the committee
men said that they had heard Mr.. Sui
livan say as much. One member OF
the committee, who looked like a
tramp when he arrived in Saratoga,
said that he had been eating feathers
until Mr.. Law came to town. He was
soon arrayed in splendid raiment, and
instead of eating feathers he partook
of the real birds.
Mr.. Law was with the committee in
the barroom of the Grand Union Hotel
one Saturday night and the corks were
lying from bottles of champagne. The
members of the committee were agree
able to everything he said and he OBJ.
served painful lack of jewelry among
them. He sent for Jacob Dreicer,
proprietor of the jewelry store in the
Grand Union Hotel. and explained the
sad condition of affairs among the
committeeman. Mr.. Dreicer there.
upon removed n section of his iewelry
store INTO the barroom, and Mr.. Law
told the committeeman to make their
selections. Handsome Dan" Murphy
chose beautiful solitaire diamond
ring, valued at $500. Jere Dunn took
n ring, set with rubies and diamonds,
valued at $3.50. Joseph Coburn selec-
ted solitaire diamond ring. valued
at $500. Johnny" Saunders chose a
ring. set with rubies, sapphires and
diamonds, valued at $3.50. John Hal
leck's choice was ring, set with tur-
quoises and diamonds, valued at $3.50.
William Tracy selected diamond ring
'"'uSu ~ S"'V' N"p'hiu hcSue WIS
lucky enough to secure two diamond
rings and $500 in money. Mr.. Law
added up the prices of the various
items himself and paid the bill. Then
several members of the committee
borrowed money from Mr.. Law and
called for champagne, for which Mr..
Law paid.
Anecdotes OF Mr.. Law might be
multiplied indefinitely, but the fol.
lowing shows him in his greener days
to have been even embyro the uncon.
ventional George Law of the latter
times. His father, it appears, was a
strict disciplinarian and made his son
drive car twice day from Fifty
ninth street to the Astor House, so. he
might know the business from the
dashboard up, as il were. Young Law
was driving up Eighth avenue late one
cold, drizsling night, when a young
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