The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-10-23
JAS. H. SALMON'S CAREER.
HIS IDEA OF THE DUTIES OF A
MAN ABOUT TOWN.

FEEDING ana Champn EninE stage Folk with
out Regard 20 scx-A WELLS noyyn Figure
In the Tendcrioin District-FIncd IS for Dis
orderly Conduct In the Firth Avenue Hotel.
James II. Salmon, who was arrested at tho
Fifth Avenue Hotel on Wednesday night and
fined $5 in tho Jefferson Market Police Court
yesterday for disorderly conduct, has been for
tho past five years n well.known figure in up
town life, and his recent eccentricitics have led
many persons to believe that his mind was af-
fected. He Is well known TO the nighthawks
Of upper Broadway. the walters in the all.night
restaurants and tho policemen in the district,
who had como to look upon his ccccntricities as
harmless. although within the past few months
they have grown much more marked. On
Wednesday night, shortly before his arrest In
tho Fifth Avenue Hotol, he was put out OF an
uptown confectionery, where he had been for
some time muttering at the In a
way that threw them into q condition OF panic.
But he left without creating further disturb
ance when tho man in charge spoke to him,
and it was rare that his peculiar conduct ever
became more noticeable. On the streets he
was constantly talking to himself. Sometimes
on an election night or at some other holiday,
he would be seen walking down Broadway
waving his hands In the air and shouting. hut
as he never molested anybody and confined
himself strictly to such inoifensivo outbreaks
he was never arrested.
Salmon ia about 35 years old, and at the time
of his majority anne into an estate which gave
him an income Of about SO, 600 a year. The
death Of a grandfather who lived on the upper
east side made him comparatively rich. and
from that time his habits of life underwent an
entire change. He had previously been unus-
ually religious. attended to these duties very
atriotly aud AVIAN lad In fha prny fnpptinUa pf
the church to which he belonged. He had been
for many years an orphan and had lived al
ways with his grandfather. At one timo he
studied law at Columbia College, but gave that
up after he came into his inheritance.
Then he moved down from his quiet home
Se.S~91 or and life ss" where 20 it 'f Is s so test pf He liter Mts
ally gave his fortune away. He has sat In
shanley's at supper and TAKEN a valuable scarf
, man who happened to admire It,. lie was as
extravagant In money matters, and after he
asking every thing he had in his pocket and
promise the rest. He began to take an eager
interest in theatrical people, men as well as
ing to meet the small fry Of the profession 10
spend his money On them, One particular bur,
O great deal toward diminishing his resources.
He would frequently be seen sitting at a table
with half O dozen members OF the chorus, men
and women, buying for them all that they could
eat and as much champagne as they could drink.
When the money he happened TO have about
him was gone his jewelry was at the DISPOSE.
tion:of his guests, and he was kept busy repiac.
ing pins and rings. His remarkable change OF
habits madc no difference in his appearance,
and he dressed with US little pretcnce TO fash
ion as he ever had. Lately his appearance
has indicated great CareleSsneSs and neglect.
Whether SO much of his fortune Is gone that he
is in actual need is not known. His relatives
are few in number.
riff. raff of comic opera and burlesque perform
ers, no person was ever the particular OBJ
ject OF his attention. SO long as he could gel
n crowd about him at a table and he was SURF
that they were really connected with the thea
tre,.t made no difference toshim whether thcy
they were. Apparently his only infatuatioI
was for anything pertaining to the stage. and
as he was well able to pay for the pleasure
he could, Of course, easily find his guests. HI
would fee walters with Il SIS bill as readily IA.
with a quarter. and many n nighthawk has q
grateful remembrance of q munifcent reward
for a very slight service. His money was rare
" spent on himself, however. The fortune
which he had inherited was used up almost
entirely by other people.
Several times during the past few years
Salmon has disappeared temporarily from view
and IL would later appear that he had suddenly
gone to Europe, only to return after IA very briei
crease In his income had made the suppers and
the presents impossible, so he has always beer
seen alone for the past two years. Then he was
walking swiftly along the street talking vlo
lently to himself and apparently oblivious Of
his surroundings. His family had lived in New
been conspicuous in church work. He has
been q heavy drinker for several years. ant
that is believed to be responsible for the in
creased ecccntricity of his behavior.