Omaha daily bee., 1903-02-03
ROUND ABOUT NEW YORK.

ROUND ABOUT NEW YORK.
RippIes on the Current ot Life I'm the
Metropolis.
Unable to expand his talents in the
enervating environments Of st. Joe. a Mis-
souri, lad OF IS, answering to the name Of
Richard Murphy, blew into the big city
and cut a large swath until the police
took him in. THE special talent OF the young
Missourian was showing worthless checks
for cash, a business in which he displayed
the nerve Of a Missouri train robber. Muir
ply is a penman. His signature to a check
is a business looking one, and written in
an easy and apparently quick flowing hand.
The writing in the body Of the check is more
in keeping with that OF a boy OF 10. This
difference in writing led TO the belief that
the certificate contained the writings of
two persons. On the other hand. It lie said
that Murphy writes three hands"
Murphy was asked who originated his
check scheme. "Oh, I guess I'll say nothing
about that he replied, with a wave OF his
gloved right hand. Wen meet things as
they come. Keep still and then there's no
explaining afterward is the wiser way.
isn't it; now, truly?"
When all the worthless checks that Lat
tie Dick" has left in his trail are gathered
they will make a formidable pile for a
lengthy spindle. A bank oficial said that
he had heard OF several being held in New
York City, while there are a few in Phila-
delphia and additional ones in Washington.
The manner in which the people of New
York have fallen back upon gas as a fuel
harauaa NJ tho ararclNy ~ r0al Ia ah0Wn
in the annual report of the Consolidated
Gas company. The consumption of gas ran
at times up to so, 900 cubic feet per
day. The sales in the year amounted to
Is, 1858, AIS, 900 cubic feet, or increase OF
1915, 900, 900 cubic feet, or 11.65 per cent
over the previous year. The increase dur
ing the last three months Of 1902 ran as
high as 20 per cent, and in some districts
to 80 per cent over the corresponding
period of the previous year. The company
sold in the twelve months 1882 gas ranges,
stoves and heaters.
Forty-hve million dollars Of Uncle Sans
gold was in danger OF being melted down
in one solid lump by a fire in the United
States assay office, next door to the SUBJ
treasury, last Thursday. It cam from a
slight explosion of gases used in the labo>
ratory and created a dense and suffocatins
smoke. but the firemen got the blaze under
control in a short time.
The damage was small, mostly to the fur
niture and fittings Of the office. The S45,>
900, 900 was in gold bars. The building
being old and largely Of wood, was at one
time in danger OF destruction. The second
floor of the building and the attic above
we're entirely burned out. An entire new
roOf will hava N he mt m and 81 Ia aatl-
mated 5000 will hardly cover the damage.
Secretary Shaw a week ago recommended
to congress that $3.50. 900 be appropriated to
build a new assay office, as the building was
old and unfit for the use 1t was put to.
Mrs. Theresa Lynch. the queen of dia-
monds," is dead at her home, IS Central
park, west, having succumbed to a stroke
of paralysis. Her jewelry store at / Union
square has made her famous.
Mrs. Lynch was a thorough business
woman and died wealthy. 1t is said that
there was not better Judge OF precious
stones in America. She was the ignite
of a fruit seller in Dublin, but her eyes
often Toasted on the gems in the jewelers.
windows and with the first money she
could save out OF her small earnings she
bought a diamond. Her father reproved
her, but a few days afterward she sold the
stone for more than twice the price paid.
Coming to this country she married John
Lynch and their married life was unique.
Lynch spent his money as fast as 1t came
to him-often faster, while his wife was
prudent and frugal and her bank account
grew. The economic differences after a
time led to a disagreement. He still con-
tinued to live at their home, although for
fifteen years not a word passed between
them. This strange existence was finally
broken when Mrs. Lynch moved uptown.
He died shortly after.
Mrs. Lynch's jewelry store was reputed
to be the resort OF women OF fashion who
were in financial straits. She was said to
have served as a polite pawnbroker for
many aristocratic families when pressed
for funds. at times advancing thousands Of
dollars on family Jewels.
Every once in a while the newspapers
print stories about the devices adopted by
life insurance men, book canvassers and
others engaged in similar occupations to
gain and hold audience with their pros
pective victims. A ~favorite story tells OF
the life insurance agent who, when on the
point of being elected bn the ground that
his victims time was too valuable to waste
in listening to insurance schemes, bought
FIVE minutes OF the time at 81 a minute, the
price being set by the owner, of course.
At the end of the FIVE minutes the insur-
ance man had the victims signature to a
$40, 900 policy.
But for simplicity that does not compare
with the plan pursued with great success
by an insurance man reported by the Sun
to be working in New York. Admission to
the victim being gained. the conversation
runs something like this:
Insurance Man-Give me a dollar and I'll
tell you something of great interest to you.
Victim (cautiously)-Not 80 fast; why
should l give you a dollar in advance? Tell
me your scheme first Tor words to that eff
fect).
with an invitation such as that II is
plain sailing. This possesses the advantage
over the first scheme, that in case OF fail
ure, even II the agent is not a dollar In, he
is, at least, not IS out.