The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-07-09
Bankrupt Merchant Surprised
by Timely Present Of Funds.
NEIGHBORS CAN'T UNDERST AND
Daughter Received the Bills and Citizens
Counted and Bank Received Deposit
In Proper Shape.

Saratoga, N Y. July e.--There Is a
great deal OF comment both here and in
schuylerville IN regard to the gift OF
S11lo, received by Mr.. and Mrs. James
Mealy, OF the latter place. from an un-
Identified woman last Sunday night. The
facts. as narrated. are that at the time
OF the mysterious visit Mr.. Mealy was
absent from home.
Mrs. Mealy and her daughter Esther.
were seated I'm the dark on the front
piazza OF the Mealy cottage. The stranger
raped at the side door OF the dwelling,
walked round TO the front piazza and
again raped
Esther answered the summons. when
the woman. who was OF medium sta ture,
handed a package TO Esther. the cover
ing being OF coarse wrapping paper. On
presenting the package the mysterious
woman, in a well modula ted voice said:
Here is a little gift or present for Mr..
and Mrs Mealy." In order 20 ascertain
who the woman was or To learn the
source from whence the o-called gift or
present came. Esther asked: Who shall
| say sent it?r
WOULDN'T TELL WHO SHE WAS.
The woman replied. as she started to
darkness oh just tell Mr.. and Mrs.
Mealy that there is a little present for
them"
Esther carried the present into the
house and showed IL to her mother, say
ing as she tore aside the wrapper why.
IL appears 10 be a package OF money"
Acting under Mrs. Mealy's instructions.
the daughter Immediately found her
father and apprised him OF the facts.
IaI.- A. 49,.
ther seemed TO surprise both Mr. Mealy
and D. r. F. Cow. who accompanied the
young woman back 10 the Mealy cottage.
The two men counted the money and
found the amount already stated. There
was nothing about the package TO reveal
the identity Of the donor In order that
there might be no mistake about the
amount. Mr.. Mealy and Or. Cow sent for
Daniel Bullard. another leading citizen OF
Schuylerville. and asked him TO count The
money. He did 80 and his count tailed
with that Of the other men.
Interrogated by Messrs. Cow and Bull
lard. Mr. Mealy professed 10 be in alb
solute ignorance OF the identity OF the
donor or mysterious woman. Mrs. Mealy
and Miss Meay also declare that they
have no idea OF the Identity OF the bene-
factress. The fact that the Mealys had
received the gift in such a mysterious
the village and conJectures became as
numerous as the National bank bills IN
the package.
MEALY RECENTLY FAILED.
Mr.. Mealy early Monday morning pro
ceeded TO Greenwich, five miles east OF
and deposited the amount
10 his credit in the Greenwich National
bank. Mr.. Mealy who conducts a gen
eral country department store in Schuy-
lerville. recently failed for almost $4,000,
and when his property was sold under
proceedings 10 satisfy the
claims against II the creditors received
between 20 and 30 cents on the dollar.
He began mercantile life as a clerk there
30 years ago, and has been in business
for himself for about Is years. He Is
about IS years old and has always been
considered an upright and well-meaning
citizen
In regard to the possibility OF the
whole AFFAIR. being a bankruptcy trick.
a prominent citizen who processes 10 be
well posted In regard 10 Mr.. Mealy's af- !
fairs. having had dealings with him for
fully quarter OF century, said this
afternoon.
'If Mr. Mealy has perpetrated a bank
ruptcy trick he Is doing the best piece
Of acting l ever saw and much better
acting than ] believe him capable pf
doing"
Mr.. Mealy has two brothers who are |
prominent citizens of Greenwich Wash |
ngton county John II Mealy VINO
department store, was post |
master OF Greenwich under the Cleveland
The other brother Cor |
nelus Mealy Is the leading druggist or |
that village