New-York tribune., 1919-04-05
ChalOner Arrives
And Enjoys Taxi
Ride Through City
''New York Certainly Has
Improved Since 1901"
Says Millionaire, Here
to Press Libel Suit

John Armstrong Chaloner, million
alre, is held to be insane by courts in
this state, although sane in others. ar
rived in New York from his home at
Cobhan, Va, at 1855 o'clock this morn
ing. He is here to testify in libel
suit he brought against the New York
Evening Post" in 1910. Special per-
mission was given him by the court
last week to return to the city.
Mr.. Chaloner was expected to reach
the city at l0:15 last night, and Fred
erck A. Ware and Marris Streusand,
his attorneys; Colonel Ernie Money, a
lifelong personal FRIEND and small
group of newspaper and camera men
were waiting at the Pennsylvania sta
tion for his arrival
When the train he was due to arrive
on and two others which followed
shortly after came in with no sign of
the millionaire, the lawyers concluded
their client would not arrive until this
morning and went to their homes
Consequently, only the newspaper men
met Mr.. Chaloner when he finally
reached the city
Mr.. Chaloner was accompanied by
John Grady, his negro valet, who has
been his constant attendant for years.
Their train had been so crowded that
they were forced to make the entire
journey in a day coach.
Mr.. Chaloner lost little time in
climbing into a taxicab and was whired
away to the Hotel Brcvoort, where he
had engaged accommo odations by tcle-
crap. There, although fatgued by his
long trip, he sent word to the reporters
that he would see them in his room
Aside from stating that he had been
told he would have difficulty in obtain
ing a jury which would not be proiu-
diced against him to hear the facts in
the libel case, Mr.. Chaloner har little
about New York as he saw it in the
hurried trip from the station to the
hotel.
Mr.. Chaloncr was insistent that this
was his first visit to the city since he
passed through it in 1901, when he was
making his escape from BIoomingdae lie
Insane Asylum. He asked that that
point be emphasized.
New York has certainly improved,
SAID Mr.. Chaloner. "All you have tc
do is to ride through the streets the
way did just now to know that. The
streets are smooth and ever so muck
better lighted.
"And as for the cab service-therc is
no comparison. Back in 1901 | rcmcm
Der getting into the Grand Central Sta
ton with only~a few dollars in my
pocket. The first sound that assaicl
my ears as stepped out of the station
was an awful roar, the burden of which
was 'Kcb, kcb-kcb, sir" Thank good
ness that's changed.
"Thcn ! know, wanted to go to thu
Twenty third Street ferry to get acros.
to Jersey. | asked cabman how mucf
he would charge and he said $3.50
offered him 81 and he finally took it
The ride took up about half an hour il
a dirty,old cab, that nearly broke you
back as you rode in it.
"Thc trip from the station to thi
hotel took about ten minutes and i
cost S1.20. 7 he car was easy riding
airy and just about as comfortable,
imagine, as any private limousine il
the city.
"Therc was one thing about my On
trance to the city this time that wa
surely different from that in 1901
Then ! kept my handkerchief to m
face all the time ] was on Manhattan
island. 1t helped to disguise me, yo,
know. This time, almost had an ova
ton"
Mr.. 'Chaloncr said he had no plan
for his stay in the city He expect
to spend the greater part of to-da
resting.