The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-10-09
''WCKEDEST MAN
 IN CITY" DEAD OF
 BRIGHT'S DISEASE
James Jacques, Picturesque Character of Sums, Sue
 cumbs at 75.

James Jacques, for more than 60 years a public character in Bridge port, died late yesterday afternoon at
 his home, 115. Highland avenue. He had been i'll for about month with Bright's disease. Through the resort which he conducted for many years at Water street and Union avenue he gained a reputation that extended all over the state and at one time he was styled by city court judge the
 'tWickedest Man in Bridgeport" Jacques frequently was in trouble
 with the authorities through his dis regard for the liquor regulation and other laws. He paid fig fines in the
 city court and it was also said that he
 either directly, or indirectly paid high
 tribute for protection to politicians. At
 length the county commissioners re- fused to grant a renewal of his license
 and Jacques, convicted of selling with
 out license, was sent to the county
 jail for 30 days. This jail term broke the old mans spirit and from that time little was heard of him in the
 public prints and he devoted his time to little lunch room and to a fur nished rooming house which he estab- lished in what, he had once proudly called his ''hotel.'
 Although at one time he was re- puted to be we'll to do, at his death it was believed he was practically penniless. Jim Jacques was born at
 Barbados and came to New York with his mother when a lad of IA. This
 was before the Civil war. He never
 saw his father but often said that his
 father was white man. He believed his name was Landers. In Bridgeport l he found employees with the late Dr. A. J. Jacques whose office was then 1 in John street. Kle cared for the physicians horses and subsequently, 1 took the physicians name. Jacques
 was passionately fond of horses and at one time had a stable of speedy pacers. When Dr. Jacques removed to Waterbury he gave Jim several hundred dollars with which the latter started a cigar store in Bank street. Prior to this Jacques had worked as a porter in the grocery store of Willis and Lane, then situated in Main street just south of State street.
 Jacques had been one of the late
 John C.. Heenan's sparring partners and he began to take sparring lessons himself. Later he ran a restaurant | in Fairfield avenue, then known as Beaver street. In 1871 he procured the lease of the Wheeler Beers proper l ty at Water and Union street. Here he carried on business of various characters until his death.
 Two big furnaces located in the back room furnished the heat for the buildings and on winter nights Jac- ques would allow the Water street derelicts to sleep oS the floor there. During the days of the wide open town, Jacques is reputed to have made much money. He was married twice. both his wives being full blooded white women. At one time his hotel | was the headquarters for the colored
 Masons and many of their gatherings ! and ceremonials were held on the top floor there. In the days when "slum-
 ming was a popular pastime here Jacques resort was a favorite place | for sight seers.
 | Jacques had no children it is be | lieved has no surviving relatives.
 | All members of the F'raternal drum
 corps will meet at 149 Thompson street at 8:30 o'clock tonight, to take action l on the death of Jacques.