The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-08-25

In an extremely interesting article on
Billy Edwards, ex-champion lightweight.
who died last week in New York, the
Herald, OF that city, says: David B. Hill.
Roscoe Conkling, John w. Mackay. Wright
Sanford. John A Cockrell, Amos Cum
mings. Steele Mackaye, Col. Thomas
p. OchnTee, and d score of others equally
Wei known In the days of the old Hoff-
man House, recognized "Billy's" unique
qualities. and they were his friends, but
so also were Circular Joe" Vendig. Gus
futile. 'Jere" Dunn, Larry" O'Brien,
and a hundred others who moved in quite
different political ard social spheres.
It is conservatively estimated that dur
ing the years when Billy" Edwards was
an attache Of the Hoffman House, charg-
ed with the preservation Of the peace in
its famous cafe or art gallery. no less
than 100000 Of trust funds passed
through his hands in the form Of wagers
intrusted to him as stakeholder by habit
ues OF the place. It is not recorded that
Of that large sum dollar ever went
wrong or that & bettor ever had occasion
10 seriously challenge ''Billys" steward
ship.
This in itself is no small tribute to the
integrity of the little pugilist, and when
It is considered that at least two-thirds Of
the men who placed money in Edwards
hands in the form of bets We're personally
strangers to him and knew him only by
reputation, the universal confidence felt
IN his honesty and judgment appears the
more remarkable.
There never were any kicks over the
way he did his part. The newspaper
writers Of the time helped 70 spread his
reputation. and finally the casual visitor
from Denver, Milwaukee or Oshkosh was
rs ready 70 bet his roll. provided ne could
intrust it to Billy EdWards. as was the
seasoned New Yorker WaO had been fire.
quenung the Hoffman House for years
Edwards well-k1oWn abstemiOusness
probably helped him to inspire and retain
popular confidence. lie was not precisely
a total abstatner from liquors and to-
bacco, but he INDUCED himself so seldom
that it almost amounted 10 that
While or duty in the Hoffman House
Edwards never appeared like an emplOye
CT the hotel. lie always Wore his hat
while about tho corridors or bar and
In dress and demeanOr affected the ap-
pearance Of those who frequented the
place for diversion or conviviality only.
Held Big Election Bets.
In the days preceding the Presidential
election Of 1883, Edwards held about $50,
000 in Wagers staked upon the result; and
In the Observation-Disclosures election Of 1882
he held nearly $4,000 in political bets
Betting was particularly brisk in 1892
and during the nights OF the week imme-
diately preceding the election Edwards
services were in demand, frequently in
half dozen places at once.
Edwards system OF taking bets was
simple. and apparently effective. He al
ways made three memoranda. Each cen
tanned, briefly stated, the conditions Of
the bet the amount wagered, and the
names 10 the parties Of the bet One of
these cards, sighed by the two bettors.
Edwards retained. The other two he
signed, and save one each as receipts to
the makers of the wager.
When election results were close OF. in
dispute it sometimes happened that large
sums Of money remained in the stake
holders hands for months When the
question at issue had been decided, Ed
wards paid upon surrender of the receipt
card signed by himself, which he had
given to the man who had the winning
side Of the wager. If that man happened
10 be unknown TO him, Edwards always
made him not only produce the receipt
card but also requested him 10 sign his
name. This signature the stakeholder
then compared with the one written upon
the memorandum and given TO him when
The bet was first recorded
Men sometimes refused 10 wait for the
Formally of memoranda or receipt. and,
they often had no voucher whatever,
though Edwards always preferred that
they should have one.
How did YOU manage to prevent pick
pockets in the crowd from getting your
money while YOU were busy writing?"
Edwards was once asked.
i am not positive that I did always
prevent il. ne replied. 7 may have lost
some bets in that way, because the
chances are that il a pickpOcket took
anything, he took the roll OF money with
the memorandum card attached to It,
All 1 could do 10 prevent pocket picking
was TO lean against the table. counter
or chair in such d way as TO prevent
anybody slipping hand into my pocket
without my feeling II.
hatchcu Tor F1ckpockefs.
Long experience has also enabled me
TO do two things at once in such an
emergency. I kept part Of my mind on
The memoranda I was writing and part
Of it on the money in my pocket. During
the week preceding election I put the
money into the hands Of a trust company
as soon as I could, on the day following
the making OF the bets, but during Sat
urday, Sunday, and Monday preceding
election in 1892 I was unable to make
any deposit, and had to carry about
$4,000 around with me. That is a good
deal of responsibility, and I would not
care 10 Go it as a steady thing
Il have never taken bets except on the
understanding that my Judgment is final, ="
Edwards continued Il make the best
decision I can, and once the money Is
handed over 1 consider myself through
with the bet So far I have never had
any serious trouble on that account.
In the Hoffman House for years by the
sheer force Of his tact, character, and
reputation he preserved the peace and
held within decent bounds the excuses
Of riotous college youth and the alcoholic
demonstrations of persons from the four
corners Of the earth who were prone
when in their cups TO become queruIous.
Less tactful men might have made an
awful mess OF il, but Billy" Edwards
never Haunted his proves in the faces
OF men infiamed with spurious courage.
A few soft-spoken words from him usually
suficed, or if that plan or a gentle escort
10 q waiting cab failed TO avail. Edwards