New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-08-09
THE ROMANCE OF CRIME.

| -G0iden Age.
THE ROMANCE OF CRIME.
Louis Macmillan Van Eeten is a name
that will be long remembe ed in the police
annals OF this cOuntry-sO prolific IN It's
record of forgeries, murders and criminal
adventures of every kind. He was man
OF marvellous powers; he possessed VOL
| derful personal magnetism; his brain de-
| lighted in com binations which should be-
long rather to the lovers of chess-Only he
used men as pawDs and knights, and not
| the ''graven ina ges" that should represent
the game. The world to him was a vast
checQuer-board in the game OF life. and
men and women merely players He
was born Of parents in the upper station of
life in Antwerp, Belgium, and it is the sad
dest commentary on his unlawful courses
that his old gray-haired father was ashamed
OF him. His education was VI the NEST
liberal character; all advantages OF tutors
| and governors were afforded him, and
when he outstripped the youth of Antwerp
| in his studies congratulations poured in
upon his parents, who little dreamed that
the brilliant youth would render himself
| famous only by his crimes. Alas! that such
| heaven-born genius should be buried IN a
dishonored grave!
At the age of twenty,ti five Louis Max Van
Eeten seemed to be the fayorte of fortune.
In the old cathedral city Of Antwerp no
| honor seemed too high for him 20 achieve,
| no mercan tile success too grand. But there
| was an odd humor al ways cherished by the
| brilliant adventurer and that was that
| ''pent-up Utica confined his powers" in the
| city of his birth, and SO he sailed for the FL
| Dorado of all bright spirits-New York.
| The New World TO him contained bound
| less opportunities for achievements IN
dreamed Of in the steady old city of his
| nativity; and so, bidding farewell TO old as
sOciatlOns and the conservative influences
of the Old World. he arrived ia The me-
trOpolis of this country about twenty wears
ago. Instead of devoring himself 10 legi-
innate mercantile operations he seemed,
from the commencement, to believe in the
power of chicane over that OF honest effort,
and we note the result. He brought
TO New York two cargoes of miscellaneous
goods and seemed to have made a success
tul venture. He was encased 10 the panoply
OF respectahi!ty in the shape Of letters
from the Oldest firms in Belgium and other
parts of Europe. the authenticity of which.
OF course, was not suspected, and at once
entered into the society of the elite of New
York, who were only TOO glad to welcome a
distinguished foreigner with utiiitarlan
ideas. He was bland of speech his man
ners betokeued a knowledge of polished
society-in fact, he was az fat in all those
delicate arts which WOO the senses and lull
suspicious to sleep. With the fair sex he
was an especial favOrite, and no distinque
reunion was complete without the presence
OF the lion Of the hour. He was not long
in discovering in the daughter of the
Schmidt famly-of the old knickerbocker
stock-an affinity; and although the young
girl mentioned was engaged TO very
worthy gentleman to be married. If WAS not
long before the destinations OF the young
Belgian supplaGted the older suitor. and
they were engaged to be married
The wedding took place With all the eclat
attending such celebrations IN The old
times. and the bride and groom sailed to
Europe, followed by the con gratulations of
all their friends and relatives save one
This gentleman. brother of the bride mad
his suspicious aroused as TO the character
of the hus band, and these terrible supicions
were confirmed by the knowledge Of some
fraudulent transactions which had come 10
his knowledge, and were directly tracesble
to the bridegroom, VINO had carried away
his sister in so triumphant a manner.
Armed with the proofs OF the young mans
criminality he followed the loving Twain
four days after their departure-;o the
steamer Arctic. Arriving in Europe he dis
covered that every credential, every letter
of recommendation Van Eeten had brought
to America was forged. Sick at hearr. he
knew not what TO do, but at length resolved
to go to Antwerp to discover, if possible.
the status and surroundings OF the toryer's
family. Here he was met by the father of
the culprlt-a hne Old man, with many sor-
rows whitening his hairs-who confessed TO
him that his son-this same Louis Maximi-
liam Van Eeten-had ruined him, and well
nigh brought his gray hairs in sorrow to
the grave.
Tracing the welded couple from point TO
point, this brother at length found them in
London, where tine man was living under
an assumed name. Concealment is the first
sign of guilt. How this brothers heart was
wlung when he discovered his pet sister to
be the life companion OF a man who had for |
feited all claim to the mercy of men can
only be known to him. He persuaded Van
Eeten 10 come back to New York, and as
sured him If he meant to lead an honest
life that he would assist him to dc so. The
welded pair returned to this city: the |
relatives held a sort Of family counsel-a |
gathering common enough in Europe, |
where affairs OF social import are discussed: |
but such was the craft of Van Eeten that |
before the brother arrived he tine culurirl !
had persuaded the family that he was a |
prosecuted man and that the chIyalrous |
brother was bounding him without cause, |
Now comes the second act in the drama.
1t was not long before an establishment |
was started IN bowling Green. Offices were |
fitted I'D. with ivan Eeten Il |
Co., bankers, Van Eeten & Co., European
agents" Vessels wanted etc, upon the |
plate glass windows. proclaimed 10 the
passers by that another great firm had con.
;ented TO open an agency in New York, to
their business with Europe Own.
ers of ve>sels-it was a dull tine-were
anxious 10 charter their ships TO sail to
Hong Kong, Liverpool or Cape of Good
Hope. Van Eeten was ready to charter
hem all. One day commission merchant
,alled on an old South street shipowner and
aid:
do you know Van Eeten g. Co 2"
..Why?" was the response Of the willy old
hipper, who was looking out himself for
nance to employ his idle vessels
because have just chartered ship to
hem to go to South America"