The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1908-08-19
TRYING TO RECOVER
FROM 2O-YEAR SPREE
Father Was One Of Boss
Tweed's Closest Friends and
Left Son a Fortune

Nov TJfk, Aug. 19.--"Look at the
,nml shouted a dozen small boys. as
hey pointed their fingers at a dirty
md ragged man who lay on the side
Walk under the elevated station at
.ifty-third street and Eighth avenue
The man made an effort to gain his
Get, but sank back and shook his
cad.
No, I'm a good fellow he NUT
lered.
And then the boys took up the cry
~ He's u good fellow," until Police
nan Daniel Sullivan arrived.
II required two policemen to carry
ne man TO the patrol wagon and lii
I'm in, where he sank down on Il
eat.
Ten years ago the bum OF to'daS
vas greeted thus: Hello, Ton
.ughesl Glad to see you
And Tom Hughes would dive int
is pocket, bring forth large roll
Il money and as long as the erowo
,anted Tom Hughes would buy wine.
\ Good "Spender."
"Hes a good fellow, the best spend
II i'm all New York. his friends woulo
ay.
over in the workhouse on Black
ellis Island the best spender in
ew YORK is trying to recover from
spree that has lasted nearly a
core OF years. The good fellow" is
charity patient, for it was on his
nj na n
lackwelrs Island to make one more
hort to regain his health and nerve,
ing since lost
Thomas Hughes fell heir to nearly
100000 when his father died. Thomas
hughes, sr., was a member OF the
ontrac,ing firm of Hughes e Cooney
nd was one of Boss" Tweed's clos
st friends Hughes gained many OF
he contracts for city improvements
ct by tho Tweed gang. and grew rich
rom the proceeds. When the elder
hughes died he left his fortune to his
oy Tom"
| nthe last SOS Tom Hughes, ir,
ould be seen every day driving what
e claimed to be the finest pair OF
orses IN New York City. He was
now nthroughout the Tenderloin dis
,ict as a man always ready 10 buy
+ loan friend money.
Hughes went often to Europe ana
is greatest joy seemed to be to take
long several friends and insist on
aging az the expenses.
letarns "Broke."
Five years ago Hughes drifted back
o New York without a dollar in his
Ocket. His old friends were gone
nd he was homeless. He obtained
} job as a laborer and his earnings
yent over the bar of the nearest sa.
con. Hughes was overcome by heat
m July e9 and when found by Police
nan Sullivan was in a serious condl
ion. Before Magistrate Breen, in the
West Side court, Hughes pleaded to
le sent to the workhouse II can al
east have he'd and get something
% eat there. he told the court.
Ponce Lieutenant William j. Ennis
knew Hughes when he was at the
leght u his fortune. At his request
tiughes was sent to Blackwen's. To
lay Hughes. who is AZ years OLD, Is
4 human wreck.
Il was good fellow" he explained
esterday. Guess some folks dom
anow what that means-being a good
elbow. Well, | was one of them and
nj in the jug today, because | was a
good fellow
Guess ! can't pat the blame up tC
eny one. all my own fault, suppose
had lot OF money. and | thought II
would never run out. can't just re
member how | thought of money Sc
many years ago. was young fel
DIV, and every fellow seemed to be
glad to see me. could walk alons
broadway and have a dozen fellow.
stop me in every block.
Guess must have known all tn,
socd fellows in New York. Ii was
ace music 10 my ears TO have a mar
Tap me on the back and call me {
goou fellow. And, sure. it's the wors
music a fellow ever heard. Made m,
p bum all right, for that's what an
today.
y wish ! could have another try.
pean, go away back aud start II al
over Sappose | would hang for an,
man thai called me a good fellow
Guess would XIII him. knowing wha
do today"