Year: 1875

xEf' cR.iRK--A MAN WHO HAD IN HIS WARD
| ROBE ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY FOUR
| PAIR OF PANTS.
From the Brooklyn Eagle.


That truth is stranger than fiction in fully
exemplifed in the case which couple of weeks
since was paraded before the public after the
entombnent in Greenwood Cemetery of the
subject of illustration. The revelation then
made was simply that young man who had
been in the employment of A. T. Stewart &
Co.'s wholesale establishment had died of rheu-
matism of the heart, and that as the corpse
was being borne to the hearse station, i in front
of the residence of the deceased, Serge INT Frost
of the Brooklyn Detective Squad, ste pped into
the dead mans house, and by virtue of bench
warrant, which he had, took possession of the
dead mans effects.


The funeral proceeded without interruption,
and while the minister of God was pronounc-
ing an eulogy over all that was earthly of Nc
Kirby, and the representatives of the mystic
tie were strewing green sprigs on his coffin, the
profane hands of the officers of the law were
rifing his apartments. They were rewarded
in their search by the recovery of some So 900
worth of the missing property. 1t consisted of
yalHablelsaes, silks and velvets.


McKirby was Scotchman by birth, at the
time Of his death was about thirty-fve years
of age. He had been for some seven or eight
yearsin the employment, but for some three
years prior to the sickness which resulted in
his death, in the Wholesale house where he
was chief man of the velvet department. His
employers had always unlimited confidence
in him. His salary during the last year they
raised to $4,000, and everything betokened his
early indenture to the merchantprice as a part
ner.


Though McKirby was noted among his friends
for his hospitality and good fellowship, he
boarded in a not over pretentious dwelling on
Orange street, opposite Plymouth Church.
There he frequently entertained hosts of visi-
tors, and RECALLED them with choice liquors,
wines, whiskes and fragrant cigars. The table
in his parlor when spread for these nightly re-
ceptions was simply gorgeous. Costly cut glass
decanters in silver stands, wine glasses and
goblets with nonograns 10 match, solid silver
salvers for cigar ashes, dainty finger bowls, a
silver mounted china hot water pitcher, silver
tOngs and spoons with golden Innings, and all
the etcetras which betoken wealth and refined
taste for such occasions, were at hand.


In personal appearance the beau ideal of
lady's man, although he cared more for the
company of gentlemen than for that Of the
gentler sex. Two years ago he cultivated the
oiufo nf a aofi q h1o
lyn lady and pledged himself to her, but put
off the ceremony from time to time en- the
ground that he had an old mother in Scotland
depending upon him and that he had solemnly
pleged himself not marry until after her death.
Whether his intentions were honorable or his
words true in this respect is unknown. His
secrets of this kind are buried with him.


On his death bed he made no reference to
his relative either in America or Scotland, and
consequently the Public Administrator Of
Brooklyn, Mr.. Cullen, took possession of the
deceased's effects, with the exception of jewel
ry, and caused them to be sold at public auc
ton.


That the sale was the most extraordinary one
that ever took place in this country, few will
deny when they learn that among his effects
sold were one hundred ond forty four pair of
pants, all of the latest pattern and style
kHS~n s pair Of these were Of the class
original cost of all of these could net have been
less than $12 each.


OF course it was necessary to have white vests
to correspond, but of these he had only eigh-
teen--each of which was tightened by different
kinds of buttons. They costs from So to Sc
each.


His dressing gowns were four in number.
One was purple silk with blue silk plated fac
ings and rich silk cord and tassels. Another
was of rich empress cloth and beautifully
trimmed. The last was dazzling yellow satin.


To correspond in texture and color with these
were rich and heavily embroidered smoking
caps.


The next lot set up by the auctoneer was
large bundle of shirt bosoms fresh from the
store. They were all beautifully embroidered
by hand, and could not have cost less than So
each, and Balbriggan hose and silk stockings,
undershirts and drawers, were sold in lump
at high price, and the lot consisted Of at least
$50 pieces.


Along with some twenty pairs of shoes and
boots (plain patent leather and rubber bound
cloth) with about fifty pair of cloth and linen
CATERS.


A large bundle of linen sheets and pillow
slips, the latter heavily fringed and initiated
with thread, brought their full value.


The next lot, or rather lots, were four costly
writing desks and paper mache glove box,
bound and interlaid with ivory.


Sixty-seven boxes of various colered note
paper and correspondence envelopes brought
low figure because of their being initiated.


McKirby's jewelry or diamonds were not Of
fered for sale, and remain in the hands of the
public administrator.


And the deceased left ne known heirs, the
proceeds of the sale of his property, unless
claimed within certain period by relatives,
will go to the county.


The WAY THE CABLE TALKs.-An operator
sits at table in room darkened by curtains.
On his desk stands little instrument named
the ''rehecting galvanometer,' the invention
of Sir William Thompson, without which At
lantic Telography would be slow process, not
exceeding tive or three words per minute, in
stead of eighteen or twenty, the present rate
Tbis delicate instrument consists of tiny
magnet and a small mirror swinging on silk
thread, the two together weighing but few
grains. The electric current, passing along the
wire from Valencia, defects the magnet to and
fro. The mirror reflects spot of light on to a
scale, in box placed at the operators right