The sun., 1908-11-24
BEGGAR AND BEGGAR'S WIFE
IETTER DAILY TO JOHN H.
CHtSED CARNEGIE TO SKIM

'"' "e" VIC hbi CIOtheu and
children Hair starved Took n Rinr
From Man Who Had No More Money
Further disclosures yestarday reqard-
ing the begging operations of William
Abbott Foster, who went from the "rova,
suite" at the Clarendon Hotel las. sot,r-
dav night to cell as vagrant show
that they have sent one man to Sing Sing.
another 10 an insane asylum. caused the
death Of third, and brought about the
financial ruin Of more than one.
Foster told Mendicancy Officer James
Forbes Of the Charity Organization
Society that one of his victims was
Henry b. Hallett. a paper merchant,
who has an Office at East Seventeenth
street. THE Sun learned yesterday from
man who was Fosters secretary for
several months last year that it was while
trying to get together enough money to
satisfy Foster and with the hope OF get
ting back money that he had already
advanced to Foster that Hallett hy
pothecated bonds that did not belong 70
him, As result Hallett was conyioted
Of larceny nine months ago and was sent
to Sing Sing. The man who died was
believe dwas valuable mining claim
in Alaska, They advertised for a pur-
chaser and Foster, who read the advertis-
ing columns Of certain newspapers re-
igiously and never failed TO offer TO buy
such mining property, wrote TO Alaska
and told the brothers TO hurry on here
because he had the money in his pocket
and wanted to close the deal immediately,
The brothers came and waited several
months for Foster TO make good. They
finally became tired and went back. bur
one OF the brothers. who had loaned a
good deal OF money to Foster, returned
here with the hope of getting something
cut Of him. He died soon after he came
hack. ~
T.. j. Clark. a mining engineer from
Texas who had claims in Mexico had
a similar experience. Fosters letters
to him we're go encouraging that Clark
came here with his wife from Mexico
and waited He was finally reduced TO
the extremity Of pawning his overcoat
One day Fosters former secretary, who |
had learned the truth by that time, tod !
Clark that he was a dupe and explained |
why
Clark, who was six footer and the |
son OF Captain of the Texas Rangers.
jumped up and said, Come on, am
going over to prepare Foster for six
months in the hospital
Clark was then assured that he would
mercy get into more trouble himself
if he did such things in New York, where
upon the engineer said that he would
set work and earn money enough 10 pay !,
al ordinary fine and would then look
up Foster. When Clark got enough
money he went back home and didn't
bother Foster.
Foster has said that II. A. Widen.
q dairy lunch proprietor. was his victim
10 the extent of si,s00. but THE Suns
Informant said yesterday that Wilden's
osses were many times that. Foster
vent 10 Widen and told him he was lust
lie man to be the president OF a new .
mining company at a large salary and
inally induced him to sell out his lunch
'usiness and devote all his capital to the |
mining company. i
One day when Foster went to Widen
With further demand for money Widen
ec.ared that he hadn't cent left Let :
nc etV Noil Sdil OSter. When
Widen held out his hand Foster saw a
iamond ring on one Of the fingers. He
ipped the, ring of. went away with it !,
nd pawned it,.
The past year hasn't been a prosper- 8
Us one for Foster. and while he had neg 6
'eted his wife and family before they 4
ave been in want while living in the 1
larendon's best suite. Proprietor Law
On OF the Clarendon occasionally became e
0 eSasperated because the rent was a
ere prospect" that he denied Foster
ne use OF the dining room. and for such (
mergenoies Mrs. Foster had gas stove. I
n which she cooked such food as she 4
ould get for the children. although there b
ere frequent periods when there was b
othing TO eat and the mother endured z
luch moro suffering than did the chill d
rem. 81
The clothing Of the children-the Ii
oungest o months old and the oldest 6,
Rht years-was so scanty that nearly "
very night the mother washed enough p
,ings in the bathtub to let the children T
o about the next day. She was in such Il
aimed from going out in the daytime.
On February 13 last Mrs Foster wrote =.
lis letter TO the man who had been Fos-
r. secretary:
! trust that this will convince YOU, as It
as long convinced me, that this weary n
a'tirg IL of no avail whatsoever. This is =,
% work OF ten years After every letter r.
would sit around and wait and wait and ~
ait, To kill time he would go on boat n,
fes, automobile rides. train rides. would W
ait some large show houses. go on board a
cam yachts. visit the department stores, al
I'd this has been his great work. which in
oud cause him to come home tired and
H.
] have rot bravey over sympathiyinR .,
nh him. You noticed that when Mr.. Foster At
me home sick when you we're here 1 did NJ
= run and get him blanket. as 1 used to.
have become quite accustomed to these wi
: Of illness. They always come when
is Respondent and he knows he has po
omised TO get things in shape to go ahead. WI
have been married eight years last De- =.
nbcr, and Mr.. Foster was correspond ,c'
: With Mr.. Carnegie several years before
AZ. He dropped Mr.. Carnegie for q ~
OFT while and started in six months ago we
has been corresponding with John d. No
rKcfeller for eight years. every day
'er and sometimes four or Ave a day. sip
II hr. Foster knew / was telling you this err
would certainly choke me. as he has del
'ea'ened to do severa, times in the course
wear or more because I have plead ed ing
n HIM to give up this farce and take a va wa
't'ion aad support his family properly 90.
not live on other peoples money. =
. got TO listen TO his mean, horrid, dis. ON
sting language as my thanks for begging tab
h to go TO work. He has no right to con-
10 this way any longer. knowing how y
vie and babies have suffered for want 81