Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 11, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 January 1912 — Aged Newsie Leaves Hoard to Church [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Aged Newsie Leaves Hoard to Church

53?.; LOUlS.—Lawrence Ring, for years a familiar character in the vicinity of Third and Chestnut streets, where he sold papers, died at the City Hospital of. apoplexy. Recently his will was filed for probate, and after that tales of fortunes deposited in various banks were heard. “Larry” lived Xhe life of a recluse. ■His home Was a single room in the antiquated structure at 6 North Third street. There he came of an evening, cooked Ms modest Supper, smoked his pipe and pored for hours over the news of the world. He was believed to be about 75 years old. He was a veteran of the civil war and a pensioner. He was on the vessel which was blown up at Fort Fisher. Of this it was his greatest pride to tell. Often he declared that Admiral Gebrge Dewey, the hero of Manila, had been his captain. But he never told anyone he had ts bank account '■ •.■-'•■*- ' ~ In his will he leaves to the pastor of tbe old cathedral on Walnut street' |SO for masses for the repose of his soul and the rest to the church fund. He named the Mississippi Valley Trust Company executor. Just what

the “rest” will amount to no one knows. However, his deposit at the trust company was but SIOO. He also had a safety deposit box in his name at that institution, which has not been opened as the key could not be found. Father Eugene Coyle, pastor of the old cathedral, said Ring had been a. regular attendant at early mass Sundays as long as he could remember. An Italian grocer at Third and Chestnut streets said Ring was well to do and said the old man had told' of a saving of $4,000. p • , His room was modestly furnished and orderly, but there was nothing of value to be seen. Ring had been sick a week, and was taken to the City Hospital a few nlghto ago, friends having telephoned the dispensary that he was unconscious..