The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-08-28
Bankrupt Druggist RIksr De-
cIaTed He Owned Big Hotel.
SPENT $1,000 FOR FIREWORKS
Purchased $50 Pairs Of Field Glasses.
Sent 10 Insane Pavilion After Posing
as MllIIsnaiTa

New York. Aug. 2s.-summer residents
OF the Thousand Islands enjoyed display
of 5000 worth OF fireworks last Saturday
night at the expense OF a man who was
sent yesterday to the insane pavilion at
Bellevue hospital 10 be examined as 10
his sanity. The pyrotechnics were the
culmination OF the doings of William H.
Riker, who imagined that he had bought
the Murray Hnl hotel. on the St Law
renee river. and that he had millions 10
invest in other enterprises.
Riker was formerly In the drug busi-
ness at Sixth avenue and Twenty-sec-
ond street. The business was founded
about 20 years ago by his father. w u.
Riker whi is now So years old. w, IA.
Riker filed a petition in bankruptcy Sept.
4. 1900 with liabilities OF s192, ashland assets
OF 1890.
While he was In the mSdst OF his finan-
cial difficulties the younger Rlker bought
q house at Broadway and One Hundred
and Seventh street. contracting TO pay
900 for IL. About the same time ne
and HIS wife were divorced and he and his
three children went to live with his
father.
THOUGHT HE OWNED BIG HOTEL.
This summer William b. Riker took his
son and his little granddaughter, II years
old, TO the Thousand Islands. The two
sons OF William III. Riker, who are en-
ployed in this city, remained in town.
About two weeks ago William il. Riker
appeared at the Office OF the family's
lawyers, Cantor, Adams q Mcintyre. and
told Mr. Adams that he had scheme on
foot TO buy the Murray Hill hotel.
II didn't see Riker again until today,
said Mr.. Adams yesterday. Prom plan
ming TO buy the hotel he soon came 10
believe that he actually owned II. and
then he began 10 work up the most elabo-
rate schemes for the Improvement of the
property. He ordered thousands OF dol
lars worth OF goods shipped TO the hotel
AS nearly as l can ascertain, he has
actually paid out about $1,000. while he
has made contracts 10 much greater
amount.
HE ordered l.Ooo, 900 business cards from
a printer. He bought five electric
launches from a man named White on
Statan Island. and told Mr.. White he
would see him soon about forming a COM
pany with s.0oo0oo capital TO build boats.
"One OF his schemes was 10 make a
Monte Carlo OF the resort which he
thought he owned. He bought roulette
wheels and other gambling parapher-
MALTA and shipped them TO the hotel. He
had planned TO buy all the land on the
American eide of the ST. Lawrence from
Clayton TO Round Island, To establish
special railroad and steamship lines. and
i don't know how many other things.
SPENT 5000 FOR FIREWORKS.
"The climax came Saturday night.
when he arrived at the Murray Hill from
New York with 1900 worth OF fireworks
which he had bought at Pains. One OF
Pains men accompanied him TO give the
display.
1.-The fireworks were set off under his
orders. but before the display was fin
ished the hotel people became convinced
that he was insane.
"He had prepared himself to meet that
charge. perhaps because ne had heard II
from others. He had "a lot Of printed
placards reading William IL. Riker is not
insane. He has doctors certificate
These he posted up about the hotel and
then he left In high dudgeon and returned
20 New York.
His father telegraphed me and found
Riker here this morning sent for him
and on his way to my office ne was at.
tracted by q For Sale sign on Lee
wise's drug store. at III Broadway. II,
dropped In and bought out the place fol
$4,000. giving a check for $1,000 to bind tn,
bargain. I stopped payment on tn,
check"
FANCIES AS TO FLORIDA
The winding up of Riker's extraordinar,
ments which have been appearing 70
several days In the New York newspa
pers. OF which the following is a sam
pie:
ITO live OF not TO live
at
RIKER'S
Murray Hill
HOTEL.
Thousand Islands, n. Y.
or
THE BISCAYNE,"
at Miami Fla. winters, means
ONE LONG
Round OF
PLEASURE,
or the lost opportunity OF your life
From this II appears that Riker though
be owned hotel IN Florida. as we'll a
the Thousand Islands Among his actua
purchases were i50 pairs OF field glasse
for the use OF patrons of the Murray Hill
Riker's father and little daughter vii
arrive here today from the Thousand Isl
ands and arrangements will be made &
commit him to an institution.
Riker is IS years old The family 1--we
st 20 West One Hundred and Fourteenth
street