The New York herald., 1922-04-25
BLUE BIRD CLAIMS
CONROY'S FORTUNE
Susan Lynch, Chinatown Ha-
-bitue, Asserts She Is Widow
of Rich Saloon Man.

The woman who used to be known
in Chinatown as "The Blue Bird" and
to the detectives of the old Central
Office as No. 2f,62S in the Rogues'
Gallery, has again come to official at
tention. this time as Susan Lynch Con-
roy, tho widow of Bartholomew Conroy
who Is the Bart Conroy that for many
years kept saloon at Mott and Canal
streets. and was something of power
in the days when Chinatown had its
tong wars. Is fantan games and it's
opium joints. This time the blue
Bird has appeared in the Surrogate's
Court in Brooklyn. where she is trying
to have Mrs Mary Moran of Cleveland
a niece of Bart Conroy. removed as the
Administrative OF Conroy's $4,000 estate.
The filing of the will by Susan Conroy
started the attorneys for Mrs. Moran
on search to discover who Susan Con-
roy might be. and what her past as
sociations and doings, because the will
bequeathed to her more than three
fourths of the estate, and referred to
her as Susan Lynch, also known as my
wife, Susan Conroy." And according to
torneys, Thomas M. Brasscll and
Thomas +. Rush, Susan Conroy is the
old time Blue Bird" of Chinatown also
known as May Mansell and Mary Brown
in the police records. and in the old days
q habipIe of Conroy's and other China
town and Chatham square saloons.
Under the will, one-quarter of the
Conroy personal estate goes to his re
latives. who include two sisters, Sister
II, s,,... - = -
Milwaukee. and Mrs James Gordon, of
Galway. Ireland: Mrs. Moran and James
and Margaret Dyer and Mrs. Mary Has
brook. all OF Cleveland The relatives
filed objections to the probate of the
will. alleging that the apartment in
which Conroy died on February II. at
76S Decatur street. Brooklyn, was under
the control ani influence Of susan
Lynch. and that he was not of sound
mind on February 3, when II Is al
legged he executed the will. Undue in
fiuences. the relatives declare, were ex-
erted to induce him to sign the docu-
ment.
one of the witnesses to the will is
Richard Eley of 81 Prince street Mr.,
Brassell declared that Investigation has
shown this number to be the headquar
ters of club which is alleged to be
a rendezvous for thugs and stickup men.
Another witness, Patrick u. hogan OF
1e3 Cherry street. Is declared by Bras
sell to have been sheetwriter at
race track, though more recently en-
ployed as clerk and messenger by Har-
old Norris Norris Is named in the will
az executor. He is described as being
an agent for the National Surety Com
pany with offices at IL Center street.
The third witness to the will Is Anna
Lynch Of sos West 114th street, said to
b. Susan Lyncirs sister.
An affidavit flied by Mr.. Rush for
the contestants calls the attention OF
the court to the fact that Jack Ryan
was chief mourner for Conroy and ar
ranged the funeral. Jack Ryan, Mr..
Rush declares, Is No. 7010 In the
Rogues' Gallery and Is sometimes known
as the husband Of the Blue Bird" The
police. according to the affidavit, know
Ryan as safe blower and yeggman
from Chicago
Mrs. Moran, who has obtained letters
from Surrogate Wingate authorizing her
TO administer the estate, said she first
met Susan Conroy at the funeral, where
she was Informed that the woman had
told a priest she had been married to
Conroy This was done, she understood,
in order to induce the priest TO adminis-
ter the last rites of the Catholic Church.