The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1912-07-25
ENTIRE FORTUNE
LOST ON FIGHT

WASHINGTON, ID. c. Special
n stirring romance OF the business
worlc. the gaming table and the race
tracks might be written around the
as king Of the Alton Sportsmen.' -
who was busted by q prize fight
bet IA 1892, but according TO rela-
yves. LETT fortune Of 100000 when
ne died in Alton few DAYS ago.
About halt of this fortune Con-
iey's acquaintance say, was made by
real estate transactions. and the other
by ventures in the world OF sport and
from his saloon, 1.-The Turf" one Of
the most pretenuous i'm Alton. They
do not forget, however. that Conley
was glassblower, earning IS day.
until he retired "a few years ago.
When John l.. Sullivan and James
). Corbett signed up to fight for the
worlds championship in 1892. Conley.
according 10 his CrOnieS. bet his last
$500 that Sullivan would retain the
title. After Corbett. 10y his superior
skill, had made a "has-been" of "thc
greatest OF them ALL" Conley found
himself almost pCnnilcss.
The next day his son bought a rae
Ing mare which had a little colt
What shall 1 name this colt?" the
young man asked.
Named Race Horse "An Gone"
Name II All Gone" said the senior
Conley, thinking of the money that
mao been his. The suggestion was fol-
lowed, and "Au Gone" later boIiei
the name by winning the money that
was the nucleus Of the second fortune
IN 1899, COnlCN made 100000 bV
three deals on the Adam Volf prom
erty. in Alton. his fricn0s say Then
ne obtained options ou other real es-
tate, notably property adjoining the
Niaduct i'm East ST. Louis. ON which
he made another bic profit. At the.
time Of his death COnley was inter-
estcd in an East st. Louis thcater and
IN the ObCar-Nestor Glass Works. of
East st. Louis. besides having extern
sive holdings in Alton.
Conley. il is said. never lost 1nono,
IN business transaction, but dropped
several large sums through Eambiins-.
lie pet $500 that Blaine would beat
Cleveland. and was so chastencd bv m
result Of the election that he bet ON
cleveland at the next contest. 4 short
time before his death he was heard
TO say that this was Democratic wear
and he intended to risk some money on
Conley had a $1,000 diamond which
ne Wore only on special occasions. sew
99raL months ago, when coming to ST.
LOUIS 70 meet Tim sullivan. a political
boss of New York, he donned a SILK hat.
tOhS coat ana checked vest with tho
immense diamond to complete the pic
ture. His friends had SO much nm
with him about the costume that he
iaiu IT a way and never could be in
uuceu 10 wear IL again.
Represented Celia Concern
-, O1hleE i0rmeriN was a representative
saloon is decorated with dummy horse
heaus IN honor Of what "All Gone" and
other horses had done for him.
As long as anyone in Alton knew him
ConleN Stammered badly. and. althousrb
this a6liction sometimes annoyed him
greatly, IT was an advantage many
times, as 1t made his approach so un-
impressive that strangers did not sus-
pect the hidden shrewdness which made
him successful in gambling and in
business deals.
~, - left no will. and his estate, there
rore, VIII be disposed Of at the direc-
ion of the Edwardsville Probate Court.
mere are n widow and several heirs
one of whom is a minor.