BEGGARS WITH BANK ACCOUNTS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XIV, Issue I, 5 January 1895, Page 6

BEGGARS WITH BANK ACCOUNTS.

The veritable legion of ingenious mendicants who live and thrive by the misplaced generosity of a gullible public would find its ranks considerably thinned if those who support them could know that the beggar is often the richer man of the two. That this, in numberless instances, is indeed the case, may be amply verified by the following interesting and authentic examples in proof, which are selected from a large number that have come under the writer’s notice:—

About thirty years ago a gentleman and his wife rented a large house on the confines of Blackheath. They kept up a good establishment, lived and dressed well, paid their bills regularly, and always seemed to have plenty of money. The gentleman went to the city every morning and returned at night. His profession there he declined to disclose—even to his own wife, who supposed him to be partner in some wealthy firm. In order to settle a bet about the matter, two of his friends followed him one morning. They traced him to a low honse in Clerkenwell, into which he entered attired in his usual faultless fashion, but presently emerged robed in rags, and dreadfully deformed. From thence he proceeded to a thronged city centre, took up his position, and was soon doing a very profitable business. It afterwards transpired that he had been thus engaged for many years, and bad by this means managed to amass a considerable fortune. Three years ago, in Dublin city, a remarkable looking woman was arrested for begging. She strenuously resisted tbe endeavour made to search her, but finally submitted under protest. The search led to the discovery of notes, securities, and gold, artfully concealed in and about her wearing apparel, the entire amonnt representing a sum of no less than £BOO. Some of this she had carried about with her on her begging excursions for years, being afraid to leave it at her lodgings. When arrested she was about to embark for Paris, where she said she had a brother in the same lucrative business.

According to a paper published in Rome, there has recently died at Tor a well-known mendicant who attained his hundreth year. In his chambers, hidden away in all kinds of cnrious recesses, were discovered sums of money amounting in all to 2,000,000 francs, or £40,000. His only heirs are two nephews, vho have for years been existing in a state of deplorable poverty. In the early part of last year there arrived by steamer at Queenstown a disreputable-looking old man, who gave his name as John Brown. He had shipped by the lowa from Liverpool. He could produce no ticket, but declared he had lost it on the journey. He was taken ashore, and handed over to the authorities, who promptly searched him, and found nearly £l.OOO in gold secreted in the linings of his coat and vest. He then reluctantly admitted that this amount represented the proceeds of ten years begging in Liverpool and other places. Two years since the Dewsbury magistrates had before them a stalwart man in the prime of life, who had been detected asking alms in the neighbourhood. He frankly admitted that this was his usual profession, and, judging by subsequent revelations, he must have derived a very respectable income therefrom, for upwards of £5 in loose cash was found upon bis person, together with a bank-book showing a balance of £270 to his credit at the West Riding Bank. A blind and deformed female, who was charged with soliciting alms in Oxford Street, London, a year ago, declared, with perfect composure, that she never received less than ten shillings a day as a beggar, and that with the proceeds of her profession she maintained her father, mother, and brothers, in addition to paying five shillings a week to a domestic servant.

In Aberdeenshire, a short time since, a beggar named Charles Glass died from exposure to the inclement weather. For years he had prosecuted his calling in that part of the country, and was generally supposed to be very poor, but an examination of the clothes he wore led to the discovery of two deposit receipts—one for £320 and the other for £5O. His pocke.s also contained several £5 notes, some gold, and loose silver. A London lawyer was recently interviewed by two sedate, shabbily-attired maiden ladies—sisters—who requested him to make out a will, which was to contain bequests of £lOO each to several city churches. To him they confided the intelligence that for years past they bad been in receipt of liberal charities from these churches, and from several societies for the aid of decayed gentlewomen, but were not really in need of these helps, as they had been living chiefly upon a legacy left them by a relative who had died abroad. While living thus, they contrived to amass a fortune of £3,730. We may fitly close these records with a story related by Southey, having reference to a beggar who stood for many years in Moorfields, London. He received a certain small sum daily from a merchant who passed there on his way to the Exchange. One morning the merchant passed without bestowing the usual alms, and with a troubled look upon hie face. This occurred for three days in succession, when the beggar could stand it no longer, and, stopping his benefactor, he ventured to inquire the cause of bis trouble. The merchant replied that two of his ships had foundered at sea, and the reverse of fortune bad landed him in liabilities that threatened bis ruin. * Will £5OO be of use to you as a loan for awhile ? ’ said the beggar, * for, if so, you shall have it to-morrow.’ *lt would save me from ruin,' responded the anxious merchant. Tbe beggar handed him a cheque next day for that amount, stating that, if required, another sum of similar magnitude was at his disposal. The loan was sufficient to re-establish the merchant’s credit, and he went on to amass a splendid fortune before hie death.