MYSTERIOUS BENEFACTOR

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 81, 30 December 1920, Page 5

MYSTERIOUS BENEFACTOR

SHABBILY DRESSED AND OPENHANDED. A mvsterious stranger of extremely shabby'appearance lately went about Loßdou giving to deserving institutions thousands of pounds' worth ot Bank Ot England notes. ... The story of his rambles, writes 0. "Daily Chronicle" representative, $ounut> more like a page of Dickens .than a series of facts. The mystery donor is more than 70 years of age —to one person lie declared he is is—and he was dressed in dark grey. His clothes were much the worse for wear, and he had a down-ht-heel". appearance. Sometimes he carried his bundles of bank notes in a canvas bag and sometimes in an old recoptsole of American cloth similar to those used by women going marketing. Each note in tho rolls was a new ono of tho same denomination, namely JiSOO, Unlike some anonymous donors, lift not only refused to give his initials, but declined even to tftko a receipt. Neither would h» accept any thanks. In fact, in some cases ho actually rushed out of the offices after giving what he doscribed an "his small donation."

At tha Royal National Orthopaedio Hospital in Great Portland Street he arrived with his canvas bag, and asked tho secretary if the place was in debt. Finding that it was, he solemnly produced his old bag, and, taking out a clean note for .£SOO, asked that it should bo used for the welfare of tho patients and hot spent on tho building. Then he wished the secretary "God-speed," and almost bolted out of the office.

He next appeared nt the Middlesex Hospital for Cancer, asked much the RMiio eort: of questions, aud remarked ..that he was getting nn old man and hadn't much uso for his money. Then out came the canvas bag, and, selooting a note from tho bundle, ho handed it to .the astonished official with the remark, "I won't wait for a receipt."

"He Tefusod to give his namo or aocept thanks," said 'the secretary, "and wo have nevor seen hiin sinco. It is not tho same old gentleman who came for years as an anonymous donor. That one used to leave a bank note for JCIOO and then walk out. When ho got too old, he used to send the note by post, cut in half. The only other caso I remember was a mystery stranger who was shown over the chapel one day and, finding we wanted money for tho organ, gent .£650." The Croesus in tho shabby clothes afterwards dropped info the Deaf and Dumb Institution in Oxford Street, and another nolo for £500 came out of the bag. "Itc made a few inquiries as to our work," says an official, "and said he would like to leave a small donation, lie was clean shaven and poorly dressed." Calling at the Shipwrecked Mariners and Fishermen's Society offices, the 'Daily Chronicle" representative was told by- the secretary, "Yes, wo have had the man hero. Ho camo in looking extremely shabby. His clothes were in places worn, shiny, and greasy. He looked as if he did not have half a crown to bless himself with. He told me ho was much in sympathy with the young orphans we care for, and that he knew Lowestoft woll. Then he took rolls of notes from a bag like poachers carry ferrets in, handed me one valued .£SOO, and disappeared. I havo never seen him before. He must have been carrying thousands of pounds about him in london streets in the bag, and he looked nearer go years of age than 70. About 19 years ago a well-drfessed itian enmo into the office and gave me an anonymous ifilOOO, and nine years ago the same perppn called and gave .£SOO, but I believe ho was a solicitor acting for the donnrl."

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