The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-10-25
BARS UP FOR BEGGAR KING.
mr. AND HIS SUBJECTS NAM
AND BURN THEMSELvES.

keep him OUT Of his kingdom. His MaJesty
Is absent from his own domain on an annual
vizi, 20 Croatia. the Hungarian province
IN which he was born and from which he
and hi- subjects in America have emigrated
for their country's good
The conspiracy has taken the form OF
a letter 20 the Austrian authorities, and Its
further purpose is to lodge protest with
the immigration Bureau OF the United
States, with a view TO having the King shut
out Of America when he tries to return to
his kingdom. Those who know him best are
very doubtful whether 1t will be possible
70 keep him from slipping under the official
bars. for he il a willy old monarch and well
knows tina, there il more than one way TO
skin a cat. Maybe he'll slide in through
canada; maybe by way Of Mexico Who
can tell?
Ma'o Modrichis his name. He and all
hi people are physically MANNED. and the
thing that distinguishes them from other
crippled beggars is that their mutilations
are not the result Of accident. but are de-
hbera,ely inflicted by themselves, In order
tha, they may appeal TO the compassion Of
the generous and the charitable.
Croatia is turbulent little province,
and its Slavish inhabitants bear about the
same hostile relation TO the central govern-
n.ent that the Irish lear TO England. One of
rs smaller towns Is Senja, and there IL a
part Of Sonia that is noted among Croatians
from the fact that many Of its people cut
Of their fingers. cripple their hands with
bandages and burn their arms and faces
with acids with the intention Of going into
business as beggars. Other Croatians
know all this and despise the mendicante
Of Sonia, but the rest Of the world has so
far proved an easy gmae for these predatory
rascals,
Facts which were disclosed to q Sun
reporter Yesterday in Hoboken and in the
Croatian colony in lower Greenwich street,
Manhattan. seem 10 show that they have
been particularly prosperous in their opera
lions in the cities Of the United States. The
largest colony Of mutilated beggars In this
country is in Boston where about 400 of them
make their headquarters. The colony next
in size is in Hoboken.
The Hoboken police got an insight into
the methods of the beggars last February
wien Modrich. the King, had Lucia Mis-
kuln arrested for the larceny of $685.. The
Miskuin woman kept house at 52s Adams
street and got revenue of IS cents day
from about forty of the beggars who lodged
with her This was not her only income
from them, however, for she charged them
good prices, considering the quality. for
what they ate and drank Another source
of profit to her was the commission she
received for taking the small change which
they got by begging and converting it
into bills.
In the course Of the litigation which
ba Of T,,1ia M,slt,ip
was found that she had 81 900 in bank and
was rapidly adding TO her savings. Part
of the s., OOo was the $685. which the King
had given her-he said it was s595. but
she never admitted more than $3.50
King Mato, like some other reigning
soveregns of greater reputation and dig
nifty, has an inconvenient fondness for
the ladies'. Part of the news which comes
from Croatia is that he has started on his
return journey to America accompanied
by woman who is both young enough
and handsome enough 10 fill the eye Of
ROYALTY
Last winter IL was the fair Miskuin
VINO ranked as leading favorite Of the
unnca There is very well defined i'm
preston in the beggar kingdom that Mod
itch would never have reminded her Of
that sj95 II an interloper had not appeared.
woman who lives al 52s Adams street
ard knows many of the secrets of the royal
household, confided 10 a Sun reporter
Yesterday that Lucia had given more of
ler heart 70 another beggar, mere COM
uorer Of a mendicant. than she had given
10 'ha King. Lucia had come to be known
IS the Queen of the Reggars, but she clean
forgot the dignity Of her station and hirted
oUtrageously with a tall, audacious courtier
Who had distinguished himself one night
hv going upstairs with butchers cleaver
and whackinr of his own thumb.
u was on Feb. 5 that the royal displeas-
ur- fell upon the Queen. The records
a. Hoboken police headquarters say that
she wa, arrested for grand larceny. The
criminal charge didn't hold water, but
N,drich got better results when the matter
orlfted into the Court Of CEancery.
He explained TO the Court that he had
simply given the money TO the Queen for
safe keeping. Her private explanation of
how she came into possession OF il wouldn't
sound well before a learned Nice-C Chan
'ellor. so the Court directed the Hoboken
Naynes Bank 10 pay IL over TO Modrich.
Shortly after the decision was rendered
Modrich sailed from this port on a French
liner, taking with him his son. Before he
departed he bought drafts for a large
amount on a bank in yAgram, the Croatian
capital. A furt her indication of the ucra-
tive nature Of his kingship may be obtained
from the fact that in one quarter Of the
present year he sent home TO his wife,
who still lives In Crotia, s.. 500. His yearly
eavlngs ara nor less than $40 900, and may
ts much more.
IN Croatia he has not only a wife, but two
y '!ree children, and II Is understood that
hl> fortune is invested in good real estate
His purpose evidently is 10 live there in
rs declining wears and enjoy the fruits
- h. industry.
Tho secrets Of this beggar kingdom
ere rather closely kept. but the King 8
'..a' On 10 hi, subjects Is undoubtedly
that Of padrone His individual beggin Z
would hardly net him $4,000 year. The
average income Of a beggar is about $40
day. 50 the Miskulin woman says. and as
she IL sort Of fiscal agent for the colony
she ought 10 know.
me hob)kei colony lives chiefly in
Our or five houses. Among the places
which they either frequent now or have
te'entlv Inhabited are 81 Jefferson street
a2s Adams street. 229 jackson street and /;
Washington street
HobOken Is only the resting place of the
gang Their begging is done chiefly in
baltimore. Pittsburg, Chicago. San Fran.
cisco and Boston. and. Of course, they
occasionally take fling at New York. The
heggar in private life il likely to be rather
"elI-dressed person, fond of certain kind
Of good living n ha rd drinker a brav nd