Mexico weekly ledger., 1903-04-30
DIES IN NEW YORK OF HEART
DISEASE = FIRST THOUGHT
HE KILLED HIMSELF.
ONCE PROMINENT AT WASHINGTON.
For Many Years He Was Factor Of
the Lobby That Haunted the
Corridors Of the Capital
He Was a Native
of Iowa.

NEW Ohhi Apfli @O'-0Ol' Jooepu
X. Hickey, one of the best known
citizens Of the country, was found
dead in his apartments at the Hoffman
House. 1t was at first given out that
Hickey had committed suicide, using
carbolic acid, but the coroner says
death was due to heart disease,
Col. Hickey came from Galloway
county, Missouri. Moving to st.
Louis, he went to Washington, where
his extensive acquaintance was
widened and gradually he became a
national character. He was about so,
and the inventor Of the gin rickey.
Joe Hickey was not born in Mis-
souri,, but in Iowa. However, he has
lived at Fulton, Galloway county, as
long as the most intimate friends he
now has can remember. He married
a daughter or the.late DR.. Howard, OF
Fulton. Hickey studied law, but has
never been known to practice. Many
years ago he was known about the
halls Of the Missouri General Assem-
bly, as a promoter of legislation.
From Jefferson City to Washington
as a promoter of national legislation
was short step for Hickey.
When Hickey first went to Wash
ington to liye-after two of his three
children had married off-he purchas-
ed place known as "The Store, y
called by courtesy wholesale liquor
house, but really the favorite resort Of
a select coterie Of experienced old
fellows who liked a generous nip OF
first-cIass goods without any special
trimmings.
Hickey probably ordered more din
ners with greater skill and paid for
them with a more prodigal hand than
any other man In Washington. Much
OF his hospitality is unqueStionably Of
the professional order, but not all,
which accounts for the universally
high esteem in which he is held by
those who know him intimately.
From Washington Hickey drifted to
New York, and for years made the
Hoffman House his home.
A few years ago Gov. Francis and
Col. John II. Overall were standing II
the rotunda OF the Hoffman House
when they were approached by a gen
tleman who called them by name ant
asked pardon for addressing then
without an introduction. "But, . sale
he by way of explanation, "there is
young man playing poker upstairs whC
is from your State. He is nice younl
fellow, but he is in with crowd O
men who will fleece him Of every cent
They have already begun heavy bet
ting and your fellow-statesman is bet
ting money like it was dirt. l thought
perhaps you might know him, or, being
from his own State, you might taxi
the liberty of warning him."
"Certainly," said Gov. Francis. q
lsuppose he is some boy who is seeing
New York for the first time. II vol
will show us the way to the room w
will see what we can do for him."
The gentleman led the way to al
upstairs room, raped, was scrutinizeC
and then the trio were admitted. On
man at the table had his back so them
The others were all strangers to tn
governor and the colonel.
The man turned around to see VIII
had come in. Gov. Francis and Col
Overal saw his face. They looked a
each other and smiled, and then Col
lOverall turned to the stranger AM
lsaid:
"My friend, that young man ha
been playing cards for 40 years, and
the gentlemen who are with him ge
Iany of bis money every registers
voter in Missouri will say they are en-
titled to it,"
The "young man" was Joe Hickey
Taken all in all, as worldling, bor
vivant, social diplomat and soldier Q
fortune, Joe X. Hickey was oneof tn
most perfect types OF a numerous, bu
generally misunderstood, class of pee
pie whom nobody ardently loves Q
cordially hates; whom few sincerel
respect and none dare openly despisG
Col. Hickey was at one time in tn
brokerage business in st. Louis, hay
ing an Office on Third street.
The "gin Hickey was christened
the colonel's honor, was first made !
Washington, then popularized in Ne
York subsequently spreading through
! out the country and in all foreig
capitals where Americans congregat,
4 1t consists Of mixture OF gin an
: seltzer Tor soda) favored with a lim'
: 1t is we'll known in St. Louis. S
well known in fact, that st. Louisa
| who did not use gin developed
Y milder concoction, and called 1t "sar
a parilla rickey."
WAS IT SUICIDE?
!, An autopsy was held and the ph
slcians say that death was the resu
of taking carbolic acid. The funer
y will be in Fulton Friday at 2;30 p. I