New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-10-18

He even once sneaked into confessional over
With his silk hat. his Prince Albert coat and his
fresh boutonnie-e one would never suspect him OF
being beggar It Is said OF him that he once at
tended a banquet given by Queen Victoria. repre-
sentins himself the correspondent OF Auaeri-
can paper. He often assumes the role OF 4 repor-
ter. and is noted for the OF information he
possesses regarding the four hundred" which IS
his Speciality. He would attend the big weddings
IN the guise OF reporter. and taking position
near TO the bridegroom and bride possible would
take notes Of such conversations a would be
valuable to him. At time he took lodgings In
place opposite DelmonicO's. in Fffth-ave- He be-
came a nuisance because. while the let
TO him for a couple OF dollars week. he demanded
as much attention as if it had been much more ex-
pensive As he did not pay. the proprietor was
compelled to eject him When his baggage was put
outside it proved 10 be a couple OF grips and
suitcase cranmed full OF newspapers He made a
great Of bringing suit for damages and served
a summons which he had had his name
placed as attorney for the plaintiff The proprietor
was somewhat alarmed over the suit" He was
told to pay attention TO it. and the advice
proved be Of value. for nothing CT il, as II
was only Of Cireer's games.
Once he served similar summons a wei
known woman He had wanted 10 write her biOg-
raphy. Writing biographies one OF the ways
he used to secure money. II was for the purpose
Of becoming familiar with the details OF family
history that he freGGented social gatherings Some
how in mis- way. ne able secure tie
attention Of well known persons with whose faces
he had become familiar in his peregrinatiOns- he
would accost a woman she about 10 enter
her carriage and sometimes manage to detain her
ten or fifteen minutes while he presented his case.
On Sundays. as the churches were pouring their
audiences OF well dressed persons into the street.
he would walk along Fifth-ave- the lookout for
game. He would watch for couples. especially
those who appeared be unmarried. and would
follow them their destination. whether IL
house or d hotel Before they could get away
from him he would relate hard luck story
about suddenly requiring money. offering his cane
for sale. Evidently he depended on the presence
OF the 10 make the appeal successful one.
a number OF years ago he went the Lexins
ton Opera House q certain Sunday even
ing Admission vas refused to him He had
been downstairs IN the dining room, and. BY way
Of revenge. he went Up a police officer and said
that the excise law was being violated there He
would not make a complaint. however. and when
the officer made inspection. his story was not
supported ~ the facts
Time and again detectives have tracked him
through streets occupied ~ the homes OF wealthy
persons. warning them TO have no dealings with
him and laying plans 10 capture him On one
occasion he was discovered making tour through
block OF Thirty third-st His first stop az the
door OF the home Of a millionaire. He insisted
having interview with the head OF the household
until the butler told him that the not at
home. Then he went across TO another house where
he tried 70 secure lELerV1eW
he had some important information 70 imparL The
detective who had followed him called az the hrst
house 10 discover the errand Of the suave and
debonair .fakir' and directed the butler. should
he call again. 70 receive him favorably and give
the detective an opportunity Overhear his con-
versation. But ne was not caught that time He
was arrested within three four months. how
ever at the Tax Office and charged with soliciting
aims from those who had called TO pay their taxes
He is ore Of the men the Police Department takes
49, Of Gala
| bration-
In this gallery also is the face Of a woman who
| ranks with Greer in knowledge OF the social life
| Of New-York- She is Annie Meyer. The testimony
| OF Detective Sergeant Hayes IS that her kno"I-
/ edge Of the inside connections OF the -Four Hun
/ sred is something wonderful Although IN ap-
pearance uliterate she Is one OF the most rotorl-
| Gus letter writer's in New-TOrk- She has been az
| her trade for al least twenty-five years Many OF
| her begging letters have been forwarded 70 the
Charity Organization Society for Investigation III
this neriod and II is estimated that there are more
/ than seven hundred Of them on file there Ihsse'
! doubtless are only small percentage or an she
has written With her knowledge OF the domestic
life o. those whom she desired 70 vlcllraize- she
would write letter 10 the mistress or the mousse
/ hold mentioning that a sister had once worked
/ for her. or that she herself had once been en-
ployed in the house for considerable 2erloo' ana
| recalling something relating 10 the househoId as
an evidence OF the veracity OF her statement 1hen
/ she would describe her need OF small sun say
! 81 10 pay rent a grocery bill Frequently a
| dispossess notice or rent bill Wold % MC4OseU
with the letter by way OF reinforcing the appeal
Il was not until 1902 that she brought 70 DOCK
She was arrested and served term OF SIX months
/ In May this year she released. ana N IAe
course OF = few weeks began writing letters again
L was difficult 70 get hold OF her the second uae
/ as she had no nome. but lodged IN the 10" prl-eo
! tenement lodging houses on the east ana west
| sides BY spending d little money at these places
| she would make herself solid" with the Land4ady
| Whenever the detectives called at one OF her odg-
ing places he would receive the Information that
| she has not been here FOR week or more We
| don't know where she is A registered letter
| was mailed 10 her last known address ms, as
| was expected was returned to the postot1ce IN
| delivered a card being left ar the address direct
| Ing her 10 call az the postoffce Ior registered
| letter The postofHce was watched. and "heh she
| called she was arrested and she Is no" on Hart
| Island
| In the collection also are the portraits OF Earl
| Ear,oton Williams who has been described as the
| king Of beggars." and Mamie Largo. the
| queen The latter has been called as a witness
| IN three OF four well known Cherry Hill murder
| ca ses One would never recognize n the clean
| shaven fellow resembling clerk. seated with a
| sprightly dog on his lap, or the young woman
| standing behind MS chair. two or the notorious
| beraars Of the city. Mamie" Largo was sent 70
| the Bedford Refornatory after she was captured
| .-i,b v-ulfan,s and a number OF other begsars in