The Vault at Pfaff'sArthur Ledger was a fleeting but interesting figure in the Bohemian circle. Ledger was first introduced by Bob Gun in 1859 as a London detective and Bob Gun’s employer. Thomas Butler Gunn initially regarded the man as “pugilistic” due to Ledger’s attempted fight with George Arnold in front of Bob Gun and Frank Wood. Ledger soon began boarding in the Bleecker Street house, and his room was often the gathering place for many Bohemian men. Gunn often came home to parties consisting of Ledger, Nathaniel Graham Shepherd, Frank Cahill, Bob Gun, and James Willard Morris. Gunn described Ledger as “[a] curt, blunt, gross-speaking, sharp-thinking man, ordinarily straight-forward in expressing his opinions on little things, but quietly alert, wily and watchful” (vol. 12, p. 41).
There is little known record of Ledger’s early life except for what he supposedly shared with other Pfaffians. Based on his accounts, Ledger was born in 1820/1821 and raised by a good family. He eventually left to pursue international business, which led to his career in detective work. Ledger’s tenure in New York also introduced him to Frederick Rondel, Charles Damoreau, A. F. Banks, George Arnold, and George Boweryem. Ledger’s detective business eventually sent Bob Gun to Cuba for a classified assignment, and Ledger gave the farewell toast. It was not long until Ledger employed Cahill on similar detective business. Ledger also collaborated with Gunn on literary projects before he [Ledger] left New York for England. Ledger would confront Cahill, who had infamously fled with Levison’s money, while there. He soon lost credibility with Pfaffians like Cahill and Bob Gun over his [Ledger’s] poorly handled business proceedings. Ledger did not return to New York during the time of Gunn’s Diaries.