New-York tribune., 1910-04-27
GAMBLERS TREASURES co
And Charley" Reed. Smoking
His Cigar, Stands by Unmoved.
LAUGHS AT LOW PRICES
Despite His Eighty Years, Old
Gamester Is Cheerful at Dis
persal of His Collection.

Through the three sets of doors of the
old house at No. West oath street. which
has probably seen the highest play of any
gambling house in the city, and past two
striking Nubian busts of test stone, which
formerly greeted the eyes of many dls-
tinguished and unnamed visitors, there
drifted yesterday persons from many walks
Of ife-members of the sporting set. lovers
Of the beautiful. dealers I'm household ehects
and curious men and women-attracted by
the auction of the rare and valuable FUR
niture antiques and art objects which were
gathered from far corners of the earth by
Charley Reed. gambler. horse breeder
and owner and thoroughboing sportsman.
Most of the things went for song. the
total realized from the furnishings being
s. 500 although their cost had been reck-
oned in six figures. But through il all Mr..
Reed smoked hard on a black cigar, keenly
observant but silent. except for an oc-
casionaI comment, still a good sport IN
spite of his eighty years The most valu-
able furniture large pieces Of elaborately
carved Venetian nutwood, had been sold
for a fraction of their value. One side
hoard. for which Reed had been offered
$1,000 by a former president OF the .'enn-
syivania Railroad. went TO ]. J. Par for
reached, and Mr.. Reed explained that they
came to him from an Italian chateau.
'OnIv the dispersal of a famous estate"
observed .he auctioneer. made it possible
for hin to secure them. The opportunity
OF a lifetime"
Some one bid so.
Mr.. Reed will be disappointed" pleaded
the auctioneer. IF they don't bring more"
II won't he disappointed if they bring
only SO" remarked Mr.. Reed
Game to the last" murmured a man in
the crowd
The sacrifice went on. The rare Nuhian
b,;sts which a conloisseur once wished 10
buv and present TO the Metropolitan Mu-
scum of Art were knocked down to j. j.
Par at 800 each. johnny Mack. of Al
banv, then bought stained glass window
Of Reeds famous mare, Thora, the dam of
Croker's Dobbins. Another sideboard. OF
Venetian nutwood said to be worth thou
sands was sold to Mrs Hogan. of Mont
clair j. for s2s5, and three cabinets I'm
the same set went to NJ ]. Sinclair for
S17s SIS and 500. Sevres plates, several of
which were said to have belonged to Ma
poleon. brought from s. to SIS. despite the
auctioneer's best efforts.
A large and beautiful mosaic plaque.
mounted on copper. was sold for $50 Two
Australian emu eggs. a buhl clock and an
Ella borate bronze clock brought fair prices.
The highest bid Of the day was 500, for a
Gothic bed, which went TO J. F. Condor.
a lawyer. after spirited bidding against
J. J. Par and others.
After the auction was over Mr.. Reed said
he would buy a little house somewhere in
New York 50 as to he near the Bowery."
II is understood that he has had an offer of
sloocco for the house and lot in oath street
and that he will retire to enjoy his income.
The old gambler remarked yesterday that
he still followed racing. Il went to Aque-
duct the other day." he said. IF I see a
horse and like him. 1 bet him, and
don't consult the Governor, either"
one who knew intimately the history of
the house said yesterday that the biggest
stake he ever saw change hands was one OF
over s2onoco. I'm the 70s," he remarked.
Ben Wood put up The Evening News one
night and lost II to John Morrissev Wood
was game. but nervous. Before morning he
must have chewed up 800 worth of fine
cigars (he never lighted cigar. though he
paid over 81 apiece for them BY sunrise.
however. on another turn OF the wheel
Wood had won hack his paper. and nobody
outside the prou-d v-ac