New-York tribune., 1901-02-20
~GRAND CENTRAL LIzzIE'Se FATE.
HER ESTATE LIKELY. IT is SAID. To GO TO
HER SECOND HUSBAND. WHOM SHE
REGARDED AS WORTHLESS

The irony Of fate Is written all over the odd
history Of old Grand Central Lizzie Smith,
the newswoman who for twenty-five years sold
papers at the Vanderbilt-ave. entrance 10 the
Grand Central Station. and who died in the be-
lief that her second husband. Patrick Slattery.
never would get any Of her money Slattery will
get between $1,000 and $1,000 which she tied up
in the Bleecker Street Savings Bank in the name
OF her boy. George Albion, who ran away one
night because his mother cuffed him for drop
ping newspaper in the mud.
"T'n never come back" yelled the towheaded
little fellow. shaking his fist al his mother and
then he darted around the corner and dashed his
bundle Of papers into the gutter.
Lizzie was married in England TO Albion
Smith. with whom she quarrelled. Smith left
home and Lizzie came 20 the United States with
her boy. George Albion. She had well-to-do
relatives in England. and until her money was
gone she lived comfortably with her boy She
finally took 70 selling papers. and guarded an
underlined territory in front OF the Grand Cen
tral station with such zeal that many a boy
came out OF a combat with her with an aching
head In rain and sun. early and late. she sold
papers and when her boy got big enough she
put him al it too. She prospered and put her
savings in the bank. Then a real estate specu-
lator came along and told her a story OF how
She trusted him and lost her money-S7,0OO.
That pretty hard blow for Lizzie. and
wonder she grew sour and ugly. She annexed
new territory, successfully fought more battles
with the boys. and soon again with money
in the bank. This time she deposited II in the
name Of her missing boy.
Her husband died in England. Patrick Slat-
terry, New-York coachman. learning OF LiZzie's
bank account, WOOed her successfully. and the
two were married by Mayor Wickham at the
City Hall in 1876. Slattery was none too fond
OF work, IL seems, and soon became a pensiOner
his wife. This led To a quarrel. and Slattery.
with al his good looks was chased out of the
house one day, and the irate Lizzie nearly broke
his head by hitting him with bundle Of kind
ling wood as he ran. Sickness and unfortunate
speculation again brought her 70 poverty three
years ago, and then she applied 10 the Bleecker-
81. bank for the money placed 20 the credit Of
her boy She was told she couldn't have IL
less she proved that he was dead. This she
couldn't do.
a friend OF LiZZe's. stopped 10 speak 10 her as
Lizzie was selling her papers at the usual place
She told Lizzie that the day before a nice look
ing man about thirty years old with light hair
and blue eyes, had called al her house and asked
ii she knew Of any Mrs. Patrick Slattery any
Mrs. Lizzie Smith.
depot sellin' papers an chasin' IN small boys
of her beat" said Mrs. Kramer. The stranger,
who probably was the missing son. never hunted
up his mother. This broke old Lizzie's heart.
Slattery was lost TO her. her boy was gone. and
she was sick in body and SOUL and il was little
wonder that she died late in 1899 The Public
Administrator took charge Of her estate. and
unsuccessfully tried 10 find her SON. who il liv-
Ing, is over thrty-siK years old. Now Slattery.
who Is siKty-fve years old and over. and who has
been living with another woman for years comes
forward with claim 10 LizZie's estate in the
Bleeeker Street Savings Bank. Public Admin
lstrator Hoes said yesterday that Slattery was
likely 20 get II soon after March l. as George
Albion smith. the missing son. cannot be found.