The New York herald., 1922-04-17
'Thomas L. Returns With His
New Name, 'Lorillard,' and
a Bullet Wound.
MANY THOUGHT HIM DEAD
Says 'ku Klux' Attack at Day
tona Sprang From Real
Estate Deal.

Lorillard Reynolds, at one time
known in New York as Senator
Thomas l.. Reynolds, and last heard
of as near death in the neighbortood
Of Daytona, Fla, as the result of hav-
ing been beaten and shot up by So
called Ku Klux Klansmen. is back in
this city as debonaire as ever. little
older but still, as one of his friends
put it yesterday, looking like certi-
fed check"
Reynolds astonished a few OF the
older habitues of tie Hotel Astor by
strolling into that hotel the other
night. passing through, the lobby, bow
Ing gravely to a few friends and then
disappearing. Some of them thought
they saw ghost, for they had be-
lieved Reynolds dead and they based
this belief on the most recent news
paper accounts of his whereabouts
which were to the effect that he was
dying.
Reynolds lately has dropped IN on one
or two of his old time fricr Js In this
city. much 70 their astor'snr,ent. and
has chattcd amiably OF his adventure In
Florida. but gave no dGbatis as to his
present place OF residence Or intended
activities. He has relatives who are we'll
on. and in years gone by he was known
as an exceptionally shrcwd real estate
operator. That. however. was pcfore he
became so much or a Broadway ciarac-
ter and was implicated In the activities
Of the gambling fraternity.
His Version OF shootiue.
The last heard OF Reynolds he had
been shot and beaten after his moyine
picture theater. the Sea Breeze Opera
House. near Daytona, had been burned
He was last reported in hospital with
only a fighting chance for his life
Reynolds, so the story ran. had been
seized by armed men and hustled into
an automobile while he was viewing the
ruins OF the theater. Three shots were
fired. only one taking effect 1t was said
and the car was run toward ormond
Reynolds being left by the roadside q
few miles out
To his friends here Reynolds has told
slightly different story. lie says Tho
trouble arose over a real estate deal. II
being the intention of one group Of
operators TO get desirable corner piece
OF property away from its owner. a
Jew. Reynolds. with his old time rcal
estate training. took a hand in the nghi
and was warned to lay OFF, but re-
fused to do so. This brought about the
kidnapping by the alleged Ku Klux peo-
pie, and so Reynolds says he was taken
out of town, stood up in a vacant loi
and told to swear to leave Florida
When he refused, he said. nc was shot
four times. thrown In an automobile anc
later left In the middle of another va
cant lot. where he was found by
passersby.
.Hts Exccl1ency.''
According 10 Reynolds he was carried
20 the home OF "A doctor and remained
there for months, his life being de-
| SPARED OF much OF the time. lie recov-
cred. however. but s;ill has ono bullet
in his lung. He came North as soon
az he got well. he told friends.
Politics and real estate used TO bt
Reynolds's chief concerns. lie was a
c,aptaln in the old Sixty-nlnth Regiment
and 4 member OF Tammany Hall. and
while he made quite little noise ir
noiitical circles lie never achieved anJ
abstraction or won any office. He never
was n Senator. lie had money. how
ever. and was sometimes mistaken fol
Senator William H. Reynolds.