The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-06-23
PRINCE Of BEGGARS
Poor Harry Lawson, Who
Told His Hard Luck Tale
IN RICH FOLKS EARS
Faring SumptvOusly Every
Day, Is Now in Jail.

SldlAOA. nc tAdS OSen buSES AOE twenty
four hours. This title, given him by the
police of the West Side. is wen earned.
The prince of Beggars'' by his dress
would not be taken for anything less than
gentleman. He Is young. well attired,
has made a good living at his profession.
and has had plenty Of leisure and q good
time generally.
One evening about a month ago ring
came at the door Of the big gray-stons
house Of Gilbert Colgate. No sO6 West
Seventy-sixth street. The butler saw
standing on the step a boy Of about eigh-
teen. He was geEteely clad and did not
betray the slightest sign OF embarrass-
ment.
''Please take this to Mrs. Colgate" he
said, as ne handed the butler a square
envelope.
The envelope was entirely as It should
be. 1t was made of heavy white paper.
1t looked for all the world like note from
some friend of the Colgate family. Such.
me butler believed it to be when he deliv-
cred it TO Mrs. Colgate. Inside, on q sheet
of fine white paper, was written:
Lady: Please can you give a poor boy
something to eat, as had nothing to eat
all day. HARRY LAWSON"
Mr. Colgate went downstairs and inter-
viewed the bearer Of the note. He was 50
much of a gentleman, he expressed so
much humiliation at being compelled TO
ask for charity, and altogether told such
splendid hard luck" tale that he won Mr..
Colgate in a very few minutes.
Not only did Mr.. Colgate give him all he
wanted to eat, but he promised him a posi-
ton If he would call next day at his Office
at No. SO John street.
Mr.. Colgate is one Of the chiefs Of the
millionaire soap manufacturing concern Of
that name. An opportunity to enter his
employ is a thing that many rich young
men would jump at
Thank You, very much, fsir!" said the
beggar TO Mr.. Colgate II will be at your
office at O'Clock in the morning"
He never came and Mr.. Colgate was still
|, on the lookout for him when he went to
dinner last Sunday evening at the house OF
his brother-in-law, John Putnam, at No.
2l6 West Seventeen street. Harvey W.
Putnam was also present. His home is in
Buffalo, and he is one of the State Com
miSsioners of Charity. He has had some
experience with all sorts and conditions Of
professional criminals.
Mr.. and Mrs. Putnam, with their guests,
were in the drawing room upstairs when
the maid handed note in a square white
envelope to Mrs. Putnam.
ITS from nice-looking Young man at
the door," she said.
This must be a case OF real distress"
said Mrs. Putnam, as she read. Here is
a young man named Harry Lawson, who
says he hasn't had anything to eat all day.
How much misery there must be in New
York;
Mr. Colgate took up the note as she laid
il down.
81 know that man" he said. I'm look
ing for him. He's a rascal and ought to
he in JAIL
Mr.. Colgate stood by while Lawson re-
peated to Mrs. Putnam the same tale Of
woe that he had heard from the same
source a month before. When Harvey
Putnam learned how Mr.. Colgate had been
duped, he said quietly to the beggar: 81
think you had better tell that story to a
| policeman"
q The young mans face grew very pale
and ne trembled a little. 'Oh, there is no
need of doing that" he said. THE police
have no regard for poor unfortunates like
myself
But Detective John Kennel came from
the West Sixty-eighth street station and
put some pointed questions to the gentle
manly beggar. He denied that he had
ever seen Mr.. Colgate before and cantra-
dicted himself a good many times.
~ guess you had better come with me"
said the officer, as he put his hand on his
shoulder.
Taking his alpine hat in his hand, the
young man bowed to the three men who
had caused the arrest and said with the
utmost dignity:
Gentlemen. I trust that you are pleased
| with your work.
Then with a martyr-lIke expression, he
| accompanied the policeman 20 the station.
There they searched him. The question
able memoranda which they found in his
pocket are keeping detectives Of the West
| Skye ghth street station busy as they
| have not been before for weeks.
Besides a number Of transfer slips from
Almost every street railroad in New York.
| and a newspaper clipping containing an
account OF the recent incendiary fire on
Randans Island, the police found twenty
letters with as many envelopes. all OF
! them duplicates OF the ones which had
been received by Mrs Colgate and Mrs.
Putnam In his waistcoat pocket was a
narrow memorandum book. containing
about fifty names and addresses.
Nearly all of the names are OF men well
known in New York. After many OF them
IS entered commentary by the writer. At
the top Of one OF the pages are the words:
Governor Flower. res. No. 5s7 Fifth
| avenue; bus. No. As Broadway"
Another entry Is as follows:
800 a year a cap
r Croker. Ill Broadway"
| Under the word Positive l. entered the
following: Sheppard. Knapp & Co., 9Th
Avenue and 18th street.
No. as West SiNty-ninth street Is mark
ed: SHY One item in the strange little
| book reads: - houses near Grants Tomb
| near iosth- street are some" then follows
| this list Of merely routine comment
The Elite directory Manner the following
! 81 tenants OF the houses n the beggar's
| list:
| l53 west Ssve1ty-sixth st-eet-Exceilent
Cwlliam II. Ciark-)
$50 West End avezue-Falr
fuuher4 H.ursRn