New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-12
CANFlELD, NOTED
GAMBLER, KILLED
BY CHANCE FALL
Blow on Chin Believed
Trivial Until Death
Was Near.
SKULL FRACTURED BY
SUBWAY STUMBLE
GameSter Won Millions at
His Resort and Lost
Heavily in Wall St.

~ w ohh ~
Richard A. Garfield, last Of the
gambler princes of this city and Sara
toga, died in his home, 500 Madison
av., yesterday afternoon from a tract
ured skull, sustained when he fell,
striking his chin, in the 14th st. exit
of the subway on Thursday.
At the time of the accident DR..
Wagenhals, of Bellevue, asserted ;he
gambler might have fractured his skull,
but Garfield would not go to the hos
pital. Instead he sent for Clayton +.
Mckinley, of 81 Washington ST..
Brooklyn, who took MIN 20 his home in
a taXicab. At the house Canield re-
fused to have physician called, saying
he needed only cup of tea. He said
he was all right when Mckinley left
him at o'clock that night, an assertion
he repeated to Mrs. Virginia II.
Kelley, his housekeeper, as late as .
O'Clock yesterday morning.
At 8 o'clock yesterday morning she
again visited his room. He was sleep
ing, but she was unable to arouse him.
She telephoned for DR.. J. Clarence
Sharp, Of 62 West 46th ST., Canfed's
family physician. The earlier dag
nosis of the young ambulance surgeon
was confirmed when DR.. Sharp sum-
West 50th ST., and Dr. Isidor Fries
ner, of S14 Lexington av., brain spe-
cialists.
The doctors found that Canfield's in
jury was like that which has killed
many prizefighters, who. after being
knocked out by a stiff blow on the
chin, developed broken skull twelve
to twenty-four hours later. They ap-
piled every effort to bring him to con-
sciousness. but at 3:15 o'clock in the
afternoon he died.
Canfield's Daughter Notified.
Immediately the 'Coroners' office VA
notified. Coroner Steinberg called upon
Police Headquarters Tor aid, and Lieu
tenant Van Cott was assigned to the
case. Their joint inquiries established
the accident in the subway and the
ambulance call, and on the statement
Of the attending physicians the Coroner
issued a permit for burial without or
dering an autopsy.
Canfield's only known relative,
daughter. was notified by wire, as were
many old friends and associates, but
all information as to funeral plans was
refused at the house. In life Can
field never lost an opportunity to make
reporters work more difficult, and in
death his servants followed his orders.
In the hotels and clubs of the Ten
derloin there was much speculation last
night as TO the extent of the estate the
dead gambler left Persons familiar
with his affairs were inclined TO think
that the millions he was supposed to
have will be found non-eXistant.
"Wall Street got it," was the ex
planation. "The Wall Street crowd
gave him a lot of money at night, and
he gave a lot of it and more back TO
them the next day. Like all gamblers
Garfield was inclined to buck the
other fellows game
However it NAV work out, it is well
known that in the heyday OF his reign |
as the prince of gamblers Dick Can /
field was a heavy plunger IN Wall
Street. and was credited with large /
winnings and larger losses. One par /
ticularly disastrous deal was IN Read /
inc. the hoodoo for many another |
nl1nger. This pool, of which Garfield |
was a member, made money at first, 4
only to be severely squeezed when the I
";nsiders" decided to take matters into /
their own hands That deal alone was /
said TO have cost Garfield fortune.
Won Living by Cards.
Of late wears he had not been in the \
Street to any extent, and his energies,
II was said. were devoted to the manu-
featuring of glass shoppers. The name .
of the firm or its place OF business Is
,yitb held. but it was to that place he
was going on Thursday when he was
Garfield. who was the chief Of New
York gamblers until William Iravers
Jerome, then District Attorney, declared
war upon him, was born IN Providence
Gftv-nine wears ago. There he received
a. common school education ana as
younq man started to win his living
with cards. He was skilful, but Provi-
dence became too hot for him in 1885,
al nj
tence for gambling he quit and came to
New York as offering SAFER ana more
profitable field.
Ills first venture in New York was in
36th st. IL was not long before New
York learned that his place was quiet
and safe. and square" and that If one
was really insistent the limit could be
,aised Garfield was inclined to luxury,
Le had some taste for art and ceramics,
and his reputation in these lines was
recure when he decided 10 move up
town 10 the house in East 44th st. next
10 Delmonico's. This resort speedily
became the most famous gambling
house in New York.
From time TO time stories we're cur
rent in the clubs and hotels where men
gathered Of big winnings and losses in
Cantield's, but no action was taken Dy
the pclice, and the losers we're usually
TOO prominent to make any trouble.
occasionally, it was said. Garfield made
restitution, but these instances were
rare.
the law even against Caniield. To get the
necessary evidence he brought private
detective named Jacobs from the West
10 New York. Jacobs failed to get be-
vond the front vestibule of the house.
Finally Jerome decided to take the mat
Continued on page 4, column