Indiana daily times. [volume], February 11, 1922, Home Edition, Page 3, Image 3

About Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922

Image provided by: Indiana State Library

                
ABE LINCOLN
OBJECTED TO
FARMER’S LIFE
Disregarding His Father’s
Wishes, He Leaves Old
Cabin Home.
SOME UNTOLD STORIES
By WILUAJU F. SULLIVAN.
SPRINGFIELD, 111., Feb. 11.—Abra
ham Lincoln, the great emancipator,
would have been a farmer had he fol
lowed the Inclinations of his father and
had he been satisfied with the impover
ished surroundings of his boyhood days.
But the immortal Lincoln, whose 113th
birthday is being commemorated by the
nation and the world today, had loftier
ambitions and, further, a hatred for the
rustic life of a soil tiller.
Scarcely had the man who later became
one of the greatest figures in American
history becomes old enough to shift for
himself than he left the home of his fa
ther and stepmother, which was a small
cabin located on what was known as
Goose Nest Prairie, near Charleston, 111.,
In Coles County.
This was not the home in which Abe
was born, but where his father settled
after coming to Illinois. Lincoln was
born in a log cabin on a barren farm in
the backwoods of Kentucky, threej miles
west of a place called Hodgensvllle.
SPENT YOUTH
IN INDIANA.
When he was 7 years old his family
moved to a town called Gentryville, in
Spencer County, Indiana, where his
mother, Nancy Hanks Lincoln, died.
Shortly afterward Lincoln's father was
remarried to the widow Sarah Johns
ton, a Kentucky girl, and the family
moved over into Illinois, where his father
settled. The trip of the Lincolns from
Indiana to Illinois was made in a wagon
drawn by four oxen.
When Lincoln left his father’s country
home in Coles County he moved west
into Illinois and first settled at Salem,
near Springfield.
Lincoln's early life was one of many
struggles, hardships and of poverty. Al
ways a plain man, he was first of all a
“man of odd jobs," rail splitter, black
smith, store clerk and trader before he
practiced law. He later entered politics.
One of the most interesting books on
the early days of Lincoln, much of which
has been untouched upon by historians,
is in the possession of Dennis Hanks
Dowling, a blood-cousin of the Civil War
President, who now resides in Spring
field.
Downing’s “scrapbook,” upon which
be has spent more than forty years, con
tains a vast collection of interviews with
men who knew Lincoln personally, of pic
tures depicting the poverty of his sur
roundings and numerous other interest
ing facts of Lincoln's inner self. Among
the collection of pictures is the first
photograph ever taken of Lincoln.
Dowling’s mother, Sarah Jane Dowling,
was a second cousin of the great Presi
dent and spent many years near the fam
ily when Lincoln lived in Coles County.
She knew him personally and often cor
responded with him after he was elected
to the presidency.
In later years, Dowling said, his moth
er often held him on her lap and told
many interesting stories about “Uncle
Abe.” On the morning following the
night when Lincoln was shot she was
telling the family at the breakfast table
of a dream she had of the President,
when a neighbor brought news of the
assassination. Mrs. Dowling always
thought her dream was a premonition of
Lincoln’s death.
STEPMOTHER’S
OPINION.
Dowling’s book, which he terms “Lin
coln's Life from the Cradle to the Grave,"
contains a newspaper clipping of an in
terview with Lincoln's step-mother, in
which she says:
"I think the first time I saw Abe he
was the ugliest chap that ever ob
structed my view. But be was honest
to the core. He would not drink, blit at
times a highly-polished cuss word would
esi-ape his lips."
The face of Lincoln is often referred to
as having had the look of deepest sad
ness. Judge O. B. Fieklln, who lived at
Charlestown, and who served tn Con
gress with Lincoln, is quoted in another
clipping in the Dowling "reminiscences"
ns saying:
“He was naturally despondent and sad,
J'ke many another who has made mirth
for a merry company He could tell a
pfory to make a group roar with laugh
ter. but when his faee was unlit with
pleasantry it was dark, gloomy and pe
culiar.”
hated work
ON FARM.
Another clipping quotes Capt. John
Easton, a close friend of Lincoln, with
the following:
“Lincoln hated farm work and would
rather do odd jobs around town than
work on the farm. He was a great boy
for wrestling and, with his powerful
stature, could throw any one in the com
munity.
“After failing in business at Salem,
Lincoln tried for the Legislature, but
was defeated in fiis first attempt. He
was elected In bis second race and served
four terms in the Legislature, entering at
the age of 25, in 1834, and serving until
1842.
When nearly 33 years of age Lincoln
was married to Mary Todd of Springfield.
The wedding was held in a private
bouse on Nov. 4, 3842, and was an im
portant function, for it was the first
Episcopalian wedding that good society
in Springfield had witnessed.
During the wedding ceremony Lin
cidn is said to have startled old Judge
Brown of the Illinois Supreme Court
when, in lawyerlike terms, he is reported
to have turned to the bride and said:
“With this ring I thee endow with all
my goods, chattels, lands and tene
ments —”
The oM judge broke in impatiently and
exclaimed:
“God Almighty, Lincoln! The statute
fixes all that."
Lincoln was elected to Congress In
1847, where he served one term. Follow
ing his retirement from Congress Lin
coln practiced law diligently and re
mained away from politics. In 1854 he
became active in the new Republican
movement in Illinois and became promi
nent at political gatherings for several
years.
It was during these years of his po
litical activity that he engaged in the
famous debates with Douglas and during
which he was defeated for the Senate by
bis oratorical contemporary.
Lincoln became the foremont figure In
the country In 1861, when he was elected
to the presidency.
Chicago Theaters
Hard Hit; Chorus
Girls Penniless
CHICAGO, Feb. 31.—Fifteen hun
dred performers were "flat on the lot”
in Chicago, booking agents estimated.
Hnndreds of chorus girls sang
‘‘stack a wheat” in 6ide street restau
rants, while others said. "WhatTl
you have lady?” in department
stores. Many others unable to get
work, are penniless.
The call of the wild has made the
public desert the theaters, according
to Harry Armstrong of the Armstrong
Amusement Company.
“People won't pay 53.30 to see a
show when they can get in a dance
hall for 50 cents.” said Armstrong.
"The cabarets have emptied the bald
headed rows and put a serious crimp
in the show business.”
Judge Leathers, of This City Owns Court
Paper Inscribed by Hand of Abe Lincoln
BORN FEB. 12. 1809. DIED APRIL T 5, 1865.
Abraham Lincoln, whose birthda;
Y t V' /A ' J wiir be observed throughout the ns
\ y tion tomorrow, was a better penmni
\ * than llie avera & e business man of tc
V ' day, according to facsimiles of hi
\ IHr \ handwriting which are reproduce!
\ s4s ~| l below. The specimen of his penman
V jffSisL:.- •' ' ' ' V .- ship was obtained from an origina
V -%i ceO* .- > 11 document in the hands of James M
II i,i In, I
421 —-V.C fT"
- - —l--C- ~
' wiT
‘ 7 • • w . •-^
Among the treasures in Indifnapolis
associated with Abraham Lincoln is a
court paper which the Martyr President
prepared and tiled in a law suit at his
home in Springfield, 111. This is owned
by Judge James M Leathers and it ;
hangs, framed, in his law office in the j
Fletcher Trust building.
The document roads as follows:
“The replication of James 11. Matheny j
to the answer of \V. 11. Herndon, guar
dian ad litem of
Julia N. Wells,
Charles S. Wells,
... Mary E. Wells
%&£ " ''' % and Helen 8.
f Wells, infant de
fendauts, with
■gJSft: J-- others, in a
* suit In the Ban
gninon Conn tv |
Circuit Court,
wheyein said,
Matheny Is com-
plainant.
and Insufficient; ,
prove the same,
t repllant."
James M. Leathers. On the reverse
of this pleading is the Indorsement:
“James H. Matheny vs. Mary L. Wells.
Replication. Filed March 30, 1855. J. 11.
Matheny, clerk.”
PAPER PRESENTED
TO JUDGE LEATHERS.
This was presented to Judge Leathers
by Jesse W. Weik, an attorney at Green- i
castle. At one time Mr. Weik was the
law partner of William H. Herndon at
j Springfield, 11!., while the latter is fa
; mous for having been of the firm of
j Lincoln & Herndon, from 1843 'until the
: death of Lincoln. These two men vverv
| the authors of a work on Lincoln, pub
i lished by D. Appleton & Cos. in IRBB, en
j titled “Abraham Lincoln, The True Story
lof a Great Life.” Os course Herndon, as
Lincoln's partner for a number of years,
was best acquainted with him. Weik
was associated in a much less intimate
manner and he afterwards became a resi
dent of Indiana.
The replication In pleading followed
the answer and the form in this State
would be probably the reply in general
denial. That the paper is authentic is
vouched by its history and by the in
| scription which is the writing of Lln
j coin.
' LINCOLN AT
HIS ZENITH.
Just at the time of filing this pleading
| Lincoln was in his zenith as a lawyer, in
active court practice. He was indeed a
leading attorney in ail the courts of the
State and his standing in the profession
was high.
Contemporaneously with this date Lin
coln won his greatest case in the Illinois
Supreme Court, thereby saving the lili
i nois Central railroad, for which he was
j attorney, half a million dollars in taxes,
i McLain County sought to impose a cer
j tain levy nnd although hi lost In the
lower court, the Supreme Court sustained
Lincoln’s appeal. The road was saved
from bankruptcy and the attorneys re
ceived, after a suit for fees, $5,000.
CANNOT MEASURE
VALUE OF DOCUMENT.
In speaking of the paper Judge Leath
ers said:
“I cannot measure the value I place on
this ‘scrap of paper’ in dollars and cents.
I would not accept gold pieces enough to
cover it. in exchange, although I doubt
the worth of the writing itself from any
| standpoint excepting that It was by the
j ‘Man of Destiny' in the course of his
work as a lawyer. Lincoln was not a
i rich person; he was, in fact, poor, and
he did not leave many things which
| could serve as mementos. So anything
Ithat he actually prepared and wrote Is
valuable because of the association.
“It is evident jfrom the reading that
the souvenir was simply a formal plead
ing. it is Lincoln's reply to an answer
made by his partner, as a guard an ad
litem, or during the litigation, for cer
tain minor children. James H. Matheny
was plaintiff in the action, and was also
clerk of the court and I am sure If this
had been a contested case. Lincoln's part
tier would not have appeared against
I him. I surmise the paper was filed to
keep straight the title to some laud, prob
tdy sold for taxes or on a judgment.
LINCOLN BELONGS
TO THE WORLD.
“Since Lincoln has achieved immortal
ity in history—l believe David Lloyd
George recently said he belongs to the
world Instead of the United States—every
act of his life is noted and every associ
jatlon with it is valued. So it Is most
interesting to look Sntolth" events about
the time that this paper was written and
to note the important part Lincoln began
to take in them.
“In February 1855, Lincoln was defeated
in his race for tho United States Senate
by Lyman Trumbull. All historians
agree that for the next five years, while
he still had political aspirations, iie was
engaged very actively in the practice of
law in Illinois. J. 11. Matheny, the clerk
of tlie cour’, had been tils life long friend.
He was best man at Lincoln’s wedding
and association with the great president
is all the fame he ran claim.”
“I understand that one year after this
pleading, Lincoln's famous lost speech
was delivered at Bloomington, Everyone
became so interested that no notes were
taken even by those Intending lo do
so. so posterity does not know what
were the words of the orator. It is suffl
; eient, however, that they assisted in mak
j ing him jtresident.
I “This lawyer only practiced twenty
three years, but he bail 172 rases reported
in the Supreme Court alone, besides
those In the Federal courts and those
which were not appealed. Lincoln one
time was offered a salary of SIO,OOO per
year, but ts It would take him to New
York City, ho declined. Daniel Webster,
great orator and statesman, did not av
erage that sum. Had Lincoln not l>een
destined to greater .glory nnd a sublime
: usefulness to humanity, he might have
! been a very rich corporation lawyer.”
i “The defeat of Lincoln for the United
! States Senate reminds me of the history
iof Benjamin Harrison of our own city.
He lost the senatorshlp, but soon there
after achieved the presidency. In 1855
no one could foresee that Lincoln would
j lie President. Indeed, It is strange to
contemplate that thirty years ufter Lin
coln went to central Illinois as a deck
hand and a rall-splltter, he left it to be-
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PrfDIANA DAILY TIMES, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1922.
Abraham Lincoln, whose birthday
will' be observed throughout the na
tion tomorrow, was a better penman
than the average business man of to
day, according to facsimiles of his
handwriting which are reproduced
below. The specimen of his penman
ship was obtained from an original
document in the hands of James M.
Leathers of Indianapolis.
come ret only President of the United
■States, but the preserver of a nation and
tin liberator of a ru'e Ho achieved a
place in Amcft an history or really In
the world history which will be the
envy of future generations.
UOl NBEI.ED PEACE
BY BALLOTS.
; “It was Just about the time of the
filing of this little blue paper that the
; border warfare of Missouri nnd Kanaaa
[began to arrest public attention. Lincoln
attended a meeting In Springfield aud
J was . ailed on for a speech. The wisdom
: of his counsel and moderation can now be
j seen.
" You can. better succeed,’ said Lin
coln, “with the ballot. You can peaceably
then redeem the Government and preserve
! tue liberties of mankind through your
l votes and voice and moral influence. la>t
, there be peace. Revolutionize through the
j !.allot box, and restore the Government
j once more to the affections and hearts of
! men by making it express, as It was In
tended to do, the highest spirit of Justice
aud liberty.'
“This souvenir Is cherished by me be
cause I know It la from the hand of the
| kind hearted martyred president. When
I read the wonderful utterances of this
statesman and think of his humble be
ginning and great achievements I prize
it tho higher. Every year shows the
greatness of Lincoln with clearer vision.
Each generation appreciates him more
aud more, if such a thing is humanly
! possible. The nation, too, has grown
I to accept his wisdom as a necessary part
jof national existence. School children
! must learn his Gettysburg speech and
now all the world thinks of Government,
‘of the people, for the people and by the
people,’ as Lincoln expressed It.
“Not long after Lincoln prepared this
brief pleading, only a year or two at
most, lie deliverd bis famous ‘house
divided against itself speech. Some
predicted that its utterance would make
him president. It sounded Ihe keynote
of the momentous struggle which fol
lowed. And in all the viark years of toil
and suspense, of trial nnd discourage
ment, of suffering and martyrdom, the
great Lincoln never lost faith in the
ultimato triumph of right and in the
great common sense of the American
people. The life of Lincoln with Its
I ‘malice toward none and charity for
| all,’ with its faith nnd its triumph, even
i in death, makes the possession of this
j pleading written by him most extra
ordinary. If we feel that way so soon
after the work of Lincoln, what will be
the thoughts of future generations, when
passion dies wholly away and history
continues to vlridicale his utterances?”
WIFE CHARGES
HUSBAND WITH
MANY CRIMES
Mixup in Marital Affairs Re
sults in Strange Ac
cusations.
Edward Moran, alias Edward Shan
ley, Is held under arrest by the police
today on a vagrancy charge while a
■ story told by his wife implicating him
in a wide series of crimes Is investigated.
According to the wife’s story her hus
band, under the Influence of liquor, be
come abusive in their room In the Hotel
English last night and she left via the
fire escape and took up quarters at the
Brevort Hotel.
Moran later decamped and the hotel
management complained to the police to
day tiiat lie owed $29. Mrs. Moran was
then taken In custody and said that her
husband had "jumped” a parole by
which he had been released from prison
In Nebraska, where he was serving a
sentence for highway robbery and vehicle
taking.
She also said that he has been raising
one dollar bills to ten dollars and two
dollar hills to twenty dollars. She gave
the police paper and glue which she said
Moran used in “kiting" the bills.
Moran refused to discuss bis wife’s ac
cusations when he was arrested.
G. 0. P. LEAGUE
ORGANIZED BY
SHANK LEADERS
William H. Freeman Favored
for County Chairman,
Reiley for District.
Headquarters of the Marlon County Re
publican League, which was organized at
a meeting at the city ball last evening,
probably will be opened in Rooms 227
229 Indiana Trust Building Monday
morning. The quarters were the home of
the Shank for-Muyor Club during the
municipal campaign.
Tn organizing the league the 100 or
more workers in the Shank city organlza
tlon indorsed William H. Freeman, Re
publican member of the board of pub
lic works for Republican county chair
man and William E Reiley for Repub
lican chairman of the Seventh district.
All wards were represented at the gath
ering. William 11. Armltage. who an
nounced his candidacy fur county chair
man several weks ago, withdrew in fa
vor of Mr. Freeman.
HARMONY TRACED
IN FRONT RANK.
The purpose of the new organization is
set out in a resolution adopted as fol
lows:
“That the purpose if this organization
shall be to promote harmony and dis
sipate discord in all ranks of the Re
publican parry; to promote the general
welfare of that organization in the na
tion, State, county and township: to
silmnhite activity In precincts, wards,
county and State among Republican
workers and to encourage the highest
possible caliber of citizens to manifest
an active interest In their respective
sphere in the primary and ultimately to
elect a full republican ticket In town
ship, county and State in the fail elec
tions.
Active charge of headquarters probably
will be held by Mr. Armltage, appointed
chairman of the executive committee by
’ . Freeman, who was elected president
o the league. Mr. Rslley was elected
secretary and Jesse E. Miller, city pur
chasing agent, was mado treasurer. A
woman for vice president will be chosen
In ter.
GRONINOER WARNS AGAINST
“R( i.E OK Kl IN” POLICY.
other members of the executive coin
mltte are John F. Walker, Taylor E.
Gronlnger, Joseph L Hogue and William
11. Jackson. W. T. Bailey Is chairman of
rhe resolutions committee, with Earl Hel
ler, John McNulty, Paul Wetter and
oseph Broyles ns members. The com
mittee or. rules and regulations It '* i
posed of Mr. Broyles chairman; Hni%
<'ampbe 1!, Louis W. Carneflx, Charles
DuVall and Mr. Hogue.
Mr. Gronlnger as temporary chairman
of the meeting urged members of the
league to get behind whatever candi
dates are nominated by the party and
not sulk or adopt a "rule or-ruln" policy
as some groups have done in the past.
Woman Halts Mutiny
AJ A OCT O, Corsica, Feb, 11. —Mine. Co
lornba Ungglerl, wife of the local Jail
warden, will receive a medal and purse
of gold for quelling a mutiny of prison
ers after several guards had been beaten.
Dancing Goes Up
PARIS, Feb. 11.—Because of the tax of
25 per cent fixed on their charges, dance
hall proprietors have Increased their
prices.
"DEAD" MAN RETURNS.
GRIMSBY, Eng., Feb. 11— RReported
missing In a battle in German East Africa
in 1917 and mourned by his relatives as
dead, Harold Hooten has Just returned
here. He was taken prisoner by the Ger
mans and after his release made a voy
age around the world.
SECOND ROYAL ROMANCE.
LONDON, Feb. 11.—Soon after Princess
Mary is married it is reported that the
engagement of one of her royal brothers
to Lady Betty Butler, sister of the
Duchess of Sutherland, will be an
nounced.
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irritating cough or long standing cold,
the more your resisting power is low
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DON’T EXPERIMENT WITH COLDS
It is dangerous. Take Father John’s
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TAXI CABS
MAin OSOS
INDIANA TAXI CO. j
Receipt Printing Meters j
NEW STATE BANK
WILL OPEN SOON
ON NORTH SIDE
* . '.-it
¥ cSsSpS
Ahk Jh
EVANS WOOLLEN, ,JR.
Announcement by directors of the new
ly organized Sixteenth Street Bank that
the bank will open for business at 1541
North Illinois street, probably Saturday,
Mar. 18, was followed today by indica
tions that at an early meeting of the
board Hugh McK. Laudon, vice-president
and chairman of the executive commit
tee of the Fletcher Savings and Trust
Company, will be named president of the
new community bank. It is also under
stood that C. W. Scott, a drugist at Six
teenth aud Illinois street, who is a mem
ber of the board of directorate of the new
bank, is to be elected vice-president, and
that Evans Woollen, Jr., now manager
of the West Indianapolis branch of the
Fletcher Savings and Trust Company, is
to be named cashier and executive officer
of the bank.
Th< State charier board some months
ago approved a charter for the Sixteenth
stre*t institution.
IP sides Mr. London and Mr. Scott
other directors of the bank inrlud Evans
Woollen, president of the Fletcher Sav
ings and Trust Company; Albert E. Metz
ger. Hugh Dougherty and Vinson Carter,
vice presidents >f the Fletcher Trust;
Charles A. Greathouse of the Rook waiter-
Ball-Greathouse Printing Company; Da
v.d Shane, a Sixteenth street grover, aud
t. >rge B Wlegnnd. a florist
A complete bank it,g servb e. including
the making of personal, commercial and
mortgage loans, wiil be available at the
new bunk, as will such facilities as real
estate, bonds, insurance, rentals, trusts
savings, checking and certificates of de
posit accounts, domestic nnd foreign ex
change and travelers’ checks. Four tell
ers’ windows an and a cashier s office will
b installed hi the new room, to which
anew front is being constructed. The
latest bunk equipment has been ordered,
including the statement system of hand
ling commercial accounts.
It Is probable that Homer Bowers, as
sistant manager of the West Indianapolis
Brain h of the Fletcher Savings and Trust
Company w ill be named to succeed Evans
Woollen. Jr . as manager of that branch
in the event Mr. Woollen accepts the
cashiershlp of the State Bank, according
to officials of (lie trust company.
The Fletcher Savings and Trust Com
pauy today announced that because of the
growth of the business at Its East Tenth
Branch, 2122 East Tenth street, immedi- j
ate enlargement of the banking rooms
there is to be undertaken. Double the
hanking space now available is to be
prepared for the ase of patrons under
plans already drawn. A total expendl- :
turn of $20,000 is contemplated. The con
struction of a modern safe deposit vault,
equal in protection of depositors to any
downtown bank vault probably is to be
installed, officers of the company said.
Six windows for the service of the pub- !
lie are to be provided, about a central
lobby, in which checking stands, of un
usual design are to be placed. A modern
community room, for the use of the pub
lication on the East side of Indianapolis,
and complete coupon booths are to be in
stalled. 11. B. Tilmati ts manager of
tlie branch R. A. Bechtold is assist
ant manager. Members of the citizens
advisory board at the branch are Wil
liam E. Werner, W. F. Coyner and Wil
liam M. Shearer.
To the Public:
Today, February 11, 1922, we moved
our Eureka Vacuum Cleaner Depart
ment from Merchants Heat and Light
Company, and our store from 25 East
Market Street, to our new home,
115-17 East Ohio Street
“Just Back of Denison Hotel'
Where we will handle a complete line of Eureka Cleaners,
Electric Washers, Heating Appliances and Bulbs.
ELECTRIC GIFT SHOP
INCORPORATED
MAin 2455-2456
Marion County Home of
The Eureka Vacuum Cleaner
Highways and By-Ways
of LiF OF New York
(Copyright, 1922, by the Public Ledger Company.)
By RAYMOND CARROLL.
NEW YORK, Feb. 11—A little, sandy
man with roving blue eyes, attired In
evening clothes, sat alone In the grill
room of a fashionable New York hotel.
He was in a vantage position near the
door, where he had a full face close up
of every person who entered or left the
room.
Now ar_ then, this lone diner out
lifted his eyes, and writhout taming his
head sent them in the direction of an
other table at which were two fashion
ably gowmed, rouged women and
handsome young chap, the latter siighly
under the Influence of that which is car
ried on the hip.
When the three had finished dinner, and
the women pulled their expensive furs
over their shapely shoulders, I noticed
that the reddish-haired observer had
preceded them from the grill room.
A few minutes later a huge limousine
took the three away from the portico of
the hotel, and a taxicab that had started
simultaneously from the opposite side of
the street, fell in oehind the larger car.
“You know that boy?” said a voice in
my ear. I turned and looked squarely
into the face of Edward M. Bracken, a
most uncommon private detective and
none other than the lone diner from the
gril! room.
“But you have lost them?” I replied,
meeting his interrogation with another.
“Hardly that,” said Bracken. "My man
in that taxi will put him to bed."
“Divorce scandal?” I asked.
“Counter blackmail,” replied Bracken.
“I am protecting that Lay from what
might have happened in the near future.
I see that you don’t know him. It is
Just as well, for his father is one of the
important men downtown. The old man
Is where I head in. Strange case. Enough
has been said.’’
HERE’S WH AT MAKES
HIM SO UNUSUAL.
Bracken does not talk about his cases.
'1 hat is why he is such an unusual de
tective. (juiet, modest, extremely soft
voiced, his present is ever felt. The im
portant difference between Bracken and
such famous advertised sleuthing person
alities, as say, William J. Burns, is that
Bracken's features and his name are un
known to the public. His picture never
has been published in a newspaper. As
for the name. I venture that will be
much surprised when he reads this.
Yet there has not been a sensational
case in New York for a quarter of a
century back, from the Dodge-Morse
scandal down to the Stillman case, in
which “Eddie"—as he is known to his
Intimates—has not prominently figured
behind the scenes. I have met him in
all parts of the world—Cairo, Egypt;
Baris, Berlin aud London, and it was
only a comparatively short time ago
that I definitely established his profes
sion.
When he was younger most people took
him for some famous jockey on account
of his small size. Today, he has the
mein and manner of a successful business
man. To many of the biggest men In
the country be is known by the cabalis
tic signature at the bottom of his re
ports, "E. M. B.”
Bracken was born in Richard Croker's
ward, of Irish American fam
ily of five boys and one girl. He at
tended the Christian Brothers' School,
and his brightness attracted Archbishop
Farley, who seut him to Edward Flinn,
then managing editor of the Herald.
"Eddie” became a printers' devil, and
later a copyholder
One morning he read from the proofs
in his hands that lames Wilkinson, a
private detective, was seeking evidence
against members of the board of aider
men in connection with the granting of
a street railway franchise for Broadway
to Jacob Scharpe. Brackin had heard
some talk in his ward of a $20,000 bribe
being paid to a city father, and with
that information he called upon Wilkin
son, was hired to shadow the “boodle
aldernfen,” and thus began his career as
TRAVELERS’CHEQUES
Letters of Credit
Foreign Exchange
Tours and Cruises
Steamship Tickets
MAin 1576 FOREIGN DEPARTMENT MAin 1576
UNION TRUST COMPANY
120 East Market Street
a detective and ended his newspaper
career.
Soon afterward Police Inspector Tom
Byrnes sent for Bracken and told him
to fit his mind to the position of mana
ger of the billiard and poolroom of a
notorious hotel now the site of an office
building In Park Row, and then a ren
dezvous for burglars, confidence men and
crooks of all degrees. It appeared that
the son of Dr. J. Marion Sitils, the great
surgeon, whose statue Is in Bryan Park,
had been beaten up in that hotel and
robbed of money and a watch which came
from his famous father.
"Eddie” was the "police ear” opened
within the white-fronted colonial build
ing that sheltered snob denizens of ras
cality as Barney McGuire, the “green
goods king;” Ike Vail, Bat Riordan and
Jim Walls, confidence workers; Tom and
’ Davis, Jim Patterson, Jaok
Bridges and a lot of other crooks.
How well Bracken did his listening
which enabled him to restore the watch
to Its owner may be gathered from In
spector Byrnes’ next more in having De
tective Wilkinson put Bracken in a de
partment store to watch for shoplifters,
one of the first department store detec
tives.
After working in that capacity for
some time Bracken went to Wilkinson
and asked for different work.
The veterans of the Wilkinson agency
say Bracken was Immediately assigned to
a fatuous explosion mystery at Wilming
ton, Del. Four hundreds tons of pow
der had blown up, killing twelve work
ers. wounding scores and breaking win
dows in Philadelphia. Officials of the
powder company received threatening
letters warning them to cease investiga
tion on the pain of a secjnJ explosion.
1 hose letters proved the undoing of the
plotters, for they were traced to a family
into which Bracken entered as a boarder,
securing much of the evidence that con
victed those causing the explosion.
THEN HIS CAREER
BECOMES RIDDLE.
From here on the career of Bracken la
an absolute riddle, one of the mysteries
of the Metropolis, for he appears to have
become directly connected with several of
the largest law firms. He Is known to
have engineered the big moves in the
marital troubles of Charles W. Morse, the
ice king, who now is up against a Fed
eral prosecution for transactions with
the shipping board.
Ten years ago I met Bracken at Shep
heard’s, in Cairo. He was much In the
company of Fakhri Bey, aon of the
minister of Turkey. Some years after
ward, in Paris, I learned that a man
who corresyrnded In appearanace to
Bracken had been the factor in con
necting the agent of one Near East gov
ernment with Germany. Every time the
agent who was being followed met any
one they were photographed together,
and the dynamo back of this persistent
and absolutely convincing espionage was
the American sleuth.
On another occasion in London the for
eign representative of a mighty American
oil company told of “a little red headed
fellow” who had followed an engineer
of the concern to Tunis, then to Algiers,
down to Biskra and by caravan into the
Sahara desert. "He was evidently hired
by an opposition oil crowd to see It
we struck oil,” said the foreign repre
sentative. "He was there when our en
gineer failed, but we never suspected
his connection with the opposition, for
he had managed to install himself as per
sonal bodyguard to the engineer him
self.”
To sum up. the detectives who are im
portant in the great cases that develop
in O'Henryville and elsewhere are men
who make it the rule of their lives to
keep out of print. They are all about in
the big restaurants, hotels and clubs, and
their presence is unknown to the multi
tude. They never write their life stories
and most of thc*n, like Bracken, will
die with sealed lips.
3