The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1922-05-30
CHINATOWN OF OLD
RECALLED IN SUIT
RELATIVES OF BART" CON
ROY, ONCE ITS MANDARIN,
SEEK TO BREAK WILL.

NEW YORK, n. Y.-Memories OF
the mysterious Chinatown OF old were
stirred when western relatives en-
tered surrogate's court in Brooklyn III
an effort TO break the 100000 will OF
Bart" Conroy, former saloonkeeper
OF Mott street, and once the mandarin
OF Manhattan's Oriental quarter
The will, which the relatives claim
is a forgery, bequeathed three-quarr-
tiers OF the estate to one Susan Lynch,
"also known as Bart Conroy's wife,
called in the Chinatown OF old The
Blue Bird" and identified at police
headquarters as Number Il 628.
The remaining quarter was lett to
the contestants-Miss Margaret Dyer
and Mrs. Mary Moran OF Cleveland
nieces. and Sister Mary Lima, superior
at St. Joseph's Convent, Milwaukee,
Wis. Conray's sister.
Bart" it is said, was not afraid OF
anything or anybody under the sun
law or outlaw, criminal or retormer-
and was both respected and feared by
the element with which he dealt He
knew when to talk and, still better,
he knew when to keep his tongue.
Retained Rule by Force.
A tall, square-shouldered lantern
iawed Irishman, he occupied elegantly
fitted quarters above his drab saloon
at Mott and Canal streets, and it was
here that he maintained his home and
his business by the strength OF his
good right arm. Bart" Conroy knew
he had gained his knowledge in
earlier dealings with the underworld
that if ever he permitted his will to
weaken or his arm o LOSE its power
he might as we'll sweep the sawdust
off the floors OF his saloon, sell the
Orienal trappings OF the rooms above
to a secondhand man and select a
resting place for himself in Gene
terry.
But it wasn't until he reached the
age Of 65 that Bart" decided his arm
was getting weak and, instead OF wait
ing for proof that it was, he decided
to quit, and as he himself termed it
live off the interest" Often Bart"
would say almost any business is
profitable to a man who sees the
rough spots ahead" And Bart" wasn't
blind.
Last Illness Brief.
Last November he fell i'll and was
taken to hospital, where his left leg
was amputated. He never returned to
Mott street, nor was he to live long
"off the interest" for last February
lst he suffered an apoplectic stroke
and 10 days later, in an apartment in
Brooklyn, he died
The Blue Bird" in deep black, and
Jack Ryan, who, it is said, answered to
No. 7010 at police headquarters, were
chief mourners at the funeral There
were others, too Some of them had
been befriended by Bart" in the old
admired him.
in which THE Blue Bird" was be-
queathed three-quarters OF his China
town earnings, was drawn, and it is
this instrument the nieces declare is
a forgery. The signature by Bart"
Conroy's mark proves it so, they say,
and offer medical evidence purporting
to show that Bart" could move Meth
er tongue nor limb, nor was able in
any way whatsoever to make any
wish or decision in his last 10 days
on earth.
Alleges Underworld Plot
Miss Dyer, who visited her uncle
Just before he died, stated in her affi-
davit that the apartment was under
the conrol of Susan Lynch" that 9TH
ers were there, too, and that she be-
lieved I'll ey contemplated a forgery"
One of the witnesses of the will was
Anna Lynch, said to be sister OF
Susan.
Jack Ryan who was seen in the
apartment where Conray died, and
. Richard Eley, another witness to the
will, are both we'll known in the un-
derworlds of New York and Chicago,
the affidavits of the contestants de-
clare.
Decision in the contest has been re-
served.