MONEY FOR NOTHING.

Evening Post, Volume LXXII, Issue 149, 21 December 1906, Page 3

MONEY FOR NOTHING.

WHOLESALE GIFTS IN THE LONDON STREETS. A MYSTERIOUS BENEFACTOR. •A i recent cable message mentioned that much excitement had been caused by the liberal gifts of money made by a mysterious stranger in London. The Londofn Daily Mail, just to hand, supplies the 'following particulars of the man's eccentricities — to use a charitable term : — Handfuls of money have been literally scattered in the streets, £5 notes handed to porters, and newsboys, and large sums paid for trifles by an eccentric philanthropist in the streets of London. The man is registered at the Tavistock Hotel as "W. Yates, Weir Cottage, Sheffield." Since his arrival in Lo- ''vn his generosity has been almost labulous. From the extent of his gifts, ranging in sums from £100 to 6d, he appears to draw from an unlimited source. To one porter he gave £100, with instructions to distribute part of it among others. Ont of £3 paid for handkerchiefs he refused to accept any change. Some of the man's gifts are : — £100 to Georgo MulTins, porter for E. A. O'Kelly and Co., Covent Garden ; lives at 35, Johanna-street, Oakley-street, Lambeth. £fa to James O'Keefe, porter for W. Dennis and Sons, Covent Garden. £2 paid to a newsboy for newspapers. £3 paid to a street vendor for six handkerchiefs. £5 paid for a bunch of cheap flowers. 8s 6d to Jack Dunn, newsboy. 6d, the smallest sum given, to Joseph Sullivan, employee of Middlecross and Co., for saying "Good luck." £40 distributed in small sums to pedestrians. Mr. Yates's lavish charity began on Tuesday night, twenty-four hours after his arrival in London. Wearing a light check overcoat, and with his pockets filled with sovereigns and oank notes, he walked out of the hotel and immediately began looking for people suitable for his charity. HANDFUL OF BANK NOTES. "Say, my good fellow," he said to George Mullins, who was unloading boxes from a wagon, "how large a family havo you got ?" "I've got four children and a wife.' said Mullins. "Here, then, take this," said Mr. Yates, pressing four £25 notes into Mullins's hands. "You might give a little of it to some of the other fellows. Incredulous at first, Mullins consulted others, and found the money was good. A large crowd .gathered, and Mullins subsequently distributed £40 of his gift in half sovereigns. Meanwhile Mr. Yates was continuing his career of generosity. He stopped John Bolger, 1. Dnnstable-court, New North-street, a newsboy. , "How many papers have you there, my son ?" asked Mr. Yates. Belger, according to his own story, on relinquishing his- papers, found himself in possession of £5. Another boy received 8s 6d for papers. '"Now, I want some of those handkerchiefs," said the strange philanthropist to a vendor. "Six of them, please. Here's £3, and you may keep tho change." .Theodore Street and Thomas Slaymaker, two porters, each received £5. Then Mr. Yates approached a flower stand, where he bought a £5 bouquet. By this time the spectacle of a man giving money away had attracted a clamorous mob of men and boys, all frantic to share in the wholesale benevolence. Cries of "There he is ! That's him !" arose as the crowd tumbled and pushed to get closer. "There's tic man that's giving the money away !'• Then followed appeals for aid. "Say, mister, I'm poor I I've got a family, too. I ain't got no work. I can use £5." WILD RUSH FOR GOLD. But Mr. Yates showed an antipathy towards solicitations. "I asked him, said Joseph Sullivan, "but he wouldn't give me anything till I shouted 'Good luck !' Then ho gave me 6d, s which I think, was the smallest sum he gave anybody." Hundreds of men and boys loitered around the entrance to the hotel yesterday in the hope of being made beneficiaries. A. shout, "There he comes !" was sufficient to create a mad rush. Enquiry at the hotel elicited the information that Mr. Yates had gone out early in tho morning and haa not returned, although letters and cards awaited him. A rumour that he was giving away money in Tottenham Court-roaa led to an expedition being sent there without result. "Part of the money I got I'm going to 'bank,' and part I'm going to spent! on my children," said Mullins to a Daily Mail; representative. "I was astonished when he gave me the notes, or, rather, I didn't think it was real at first. I suppose no one ever had such good luck before." Who is the benefactor 1 Many guesses were offered, some of which were : — An American oil magnate. A rich miner. A doctor who expects to set up bustness in London. A man who ■ is carrying out some bet. A description of the philanthropist is : About fifty years old, clean-shaven except for a short grey moustache, rather tall, wears light clothes and a bowler hat. A letter was received at the hotel addressed to "William Yatos, Esq.," and contained tho printed words, "Lloyd's, Blackburn." Mr. Yates occupied room 124. On the door ho had pinned a paper, on which was written tho word "'Engaged." Employees of the hotel aaid that Mr. Yates had not brought much luggage with him, and he was usually out when performances «wero on at the theatres. They also asserted that the philanthropist had not been lavish with his money so for as the hotel employees wero concerned.