The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-06-20
REDDY THE BLACKSMITH,s RULE.
Two Samples or tho WAY He Managed tho
Pickpockets or Forty Ycrrs Ago.


ut used to be said, - remarked the exempt
fireman, that a man was safo from robbery in
Harry Hills place, oven IL every thief in town
was there at the same time. But what isn't re-
mcmbcrcd so well Is the fact that forty years
ago lteddy the Blacksmith would not allow any
body's pocket to be picked in the old Bowery
Theatre. although pocket picking was common
in every other theatre III town.
THAT seems almost incredible to-day, but l re-
member an instance which shows clearly what
Reddy could do. A party OF us started uptown
one nigh to see tho great Kavanagh-Carme bill
linrd match, and we went in n Fourth avenue
car from French's Hotel. Jim Clute, Tom Leigh,
Tony Ryan, and jim Lingard were In the party.
When we had got pretty we'll up toward Four
teenth street somebody asked Lingard what
time 1t was, having noticed that his watch chain
was dangling loose from his vest
Jim felt for his watch and 1t was gone. In
those days 1t was looked upon rs rather a good
joke on II man to have his pocket picked, and
Lingard was enough OF q sport to have mado no
squeal. only for tho fact that the watch was a
presentation affair, very valuable, and elabor-
ately inscribed as n token Of esteem and affec-
ton and all that. SO he was dead sore and we
were all rather sorry for him.
ION the way downtown we stopped of for a
drink at the Bowery Theatre saloon. and In there
wc were talking about Lingard's loss ana he
was telling us for about the fifth time how much
he thought of the watch. Ferd Hagadorn was
tending bar at the time, and hearing the talk no
inquired about il, asking particularly when the
thing had happened.
when he heard that 1t was on q Fourth ave-
nue. car. he told Lingard that no would bet him
q case of wine that he would get the watch back
for him before morning. Naturally Lingard
wasn't slow about taking up the bet, and natur-
a11x. tnn hn hnl,at tha .liyltaat ln,;,o a. ,ufz 4
We began drinking the wine right away. and
Hagadorn sent a messenger over to Reddy the
Blacksmith's place.
"Isedty kept u saloon thon under the branch
p nos, o 0nSS IN IN Chatham IL square, Nr,a SO he had a
the first branch Office THAI was established in
tho city. The messenger was back in a few
gard would Wait. Mr.. linsard Waited Y; "a and dit it
in with y mans hat half full OF watches.
,r o = G; ,Gt.d rS e o,: MI IL Lji IL, she said, so !
il is here. OF course You can tell It by the inscrip-
ton And 1t was there. and she gave it TO him
More than that. as we learned afterward.
Reddy. when no heard about it,, was bowling
tho watch; gave him a tongue flashing, besides
knocking him down. for having robbed a man
1t was actually true that he protected tho old
theatre even to the extent of eXempting its
patrons from pocket picking.
He didn't protccr the whole Bowery by any
means, though. There was II memorable night
in tho Crystal that showed that. The Crystal
was n great gambling house on Grand street
that was run by Joe Dcbro. Ed Murphy. and u
policeman. l don't care to mention his name,
but it was perfectly well known at the time that
he was a partner: After "A timo 1t was moved
around into tho Bowery. and was one OF the
noted resorts OF the street.
Tom Hon Ferris dropped In one night with a
wnd and half q jag, and started in to make a
play at faro. George kerrigan was dealing. and
| the lnrk ran aruinlt ERrril nrPtfv hRn yi1v Hn
had more than ST 800 with him. rs some Of tho
gang knew. but he didn't propose to lose much
began TO accuse Kerrigan OF dealing n brace
game; or course, that sort of talk doesn't 70
is ready TO do some fighting also; but that. as it
happened, was, Just what Ferris was looking for,
after some hot words Ferris dared him to come
outside;
We'll. I'm the youngest, said George. and I
can just about lick you myself. You can tackle
you want to. but l don't believe You Will
ri. "'G ( outside and m shoI YOU yelled Fer,
thorc was sure to be a fight, said:
whats the use of Soing outsidef II you
want TO fight. why don't YOU have 1t out right
80 they stood mp in tho middle of the room,
and everybody Clse stood around TO see tho fun.
lteddy the BLACKSMITH WAS there with several
Of his gang, and they stood behind Ferris. They
knew that he had his roll with him.. Kerrigan
""' my Sh,IiUi .nhhH ny, toh1IiciuuIc, UuJ LHt
Camc OF good lighting stock. His brother, Col.
Jim Kerrigan, happened to he somewhere in the
ncighhorhood, and heard in n few minutes that
Tom Hen Ferris was trying TO do up his brother
George. Col. Jim thought a heap OF George, and
he wasn't fond OF staying out OF u fight himself
so he camo tearing into the place In almost nc
time Mt all. But as quick as he was 1t was all
over before he arrived.
George got in one good punch soon after the
fight began that sent Ferris spinning. He would
have, fullon fiat, but Reddy tho blacksmith
caught him in hs arms ms he was falling. liz
only held him for n moment. but when Ferris
stood upright again and recovered a little from
his confusion his fifteen hundred WAS gone, ant
30 was lseddy."