The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-11-27

New York. Nov. 27.-Caleb r. Lunger,
inventor. stock speculator member of
swell London clubs is detained in the
Raymond street Jail, Brooklyn, awaiting
examination on charge of attempted
burglary.
What adds gravity TO the offence is
tnat the burglary was attempted at night
time and the place was rectory, but IL
is probable that the prisoner will be per-
mitted to escape punishment for his
story Is a pathetic one. and none who
have heard the gray haired mans sob
bing confession and protestations of peni-
tence can fail TO be touched.
Lunger is 81 years of age, and of digni-
fled appearance,
stock speculation drove me TO my
crime" he sobbed, yesterday. "As usual
the brokers got IL all and here am I. pen
niless and disgraced."
HAIR RESToRER ENRICHED HIM.
Lunger was born I'm Washington, n. j.,
and made some money there I'm the gro
cery business. In 1897 he and Major s.
W. Herrick. of that place. went TO Lon
don TO exhibit at the Colonial Exposition
hair restorer in which they had equal
interests.
Gus hit and four years later Lunger sold
out his interest for $4,000. lie married
"A beautiful English woman OF excellent
family and settled down In little house
near London.
lie entered into stock speculation, and
within "A short time had cleared $4,000.
At the time Of the Venezuelan dispute be-
tween the United States and England.
Lunger was worth $4,000.
Then came President Clevelands ulti-
matum followed by rumors OF war and
a sudden slump i'm stocks. and Lunger
awoke one day To find half his fortune
gone He continued To speculate. some
times winning, but more often losing. His
fortune grew smaller and smaller, until
at last his holdings consisted of South
African mining shares.
BoER WAR BROKE HIM.
Then came the Boer war and the drop
in mining stocks, and Lunger found him
self again a poor man. as ne had been %
years before, but with loved wife and
child TO support and expensive tastes that
had been developed I'm the days OF his
prosperity.
lie had however. what promised 10 be
the nucleus OF another fortune i'm half
interest in the patent Of an ingenious
fancy comb that did away with the use OF
hairpins
with his partnership papers in his
pocket and a modest sum Of money Lun-
ger bade good-by to his wife and children
came to this country I'm October. 1S99.
n tried in vain 10 interest capitalists I'm
my invention" said Lunger yesterday.
but Fate seemed against me The fash
ion I'm hairdressing had changed. and
there was no such demand FOR combs as
| had counted on. No one wanted To risk
any money I'm II.
Il began to live more and more eco
nomically. but found myself penniless I
had TO pawn my clothes and iewelry I'm
order 20 live. and finally was glad TO be
able 10 pay for a room at the Mills Ho-
tel
sometimes ate 10 cents worth OF food
n day.and sometimes had only five cents
to spend. but ! tried hard 10 keep up an
appearance.
FORCED TO SELL COMB SAMPLES
At last I had 90 sell for a few cents
the samples OF combs.
"Onc OF my friends in England offered
me a small position there. II was a very
small one. but | would gladly have ac-
cepted it-but England is far away and /
had ao money.
"On Thursday I went 10 Williamsburg
intending to find the man 10 whom I had
sold my combs and beg him to give me
back one or two OF them. / thought that
with the samples I would make one more
attempt TO find hacker.
"on my way 10 the store 7 noticed n
building on fotnam avenue. one OF the
lower windows of which was open. Then
the temptation came. 7 had read much
IN the papers of burglars ana u flashed
across me that if 7 could enter that house
at nigu I might take coat for myself
and Few little articles that I mieht
pawn f0r enough % buy. my combs back
and make a fresh start
"A feW days before ! had found N
ilceckcr street an iron bar that looked
Ike box opener. The police say IL IL a