Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1883-12-09
A GAMBLERS END.
The Winner of a Vast Fortune at
Monte Carlo,
He is Pursued by Msn Who Rob
Him Of His All.
Misfortune Upon Misfortune Leaves
Him PenniIsss,
And He Ends Mis- Misspent Life ~
Suicide. rs

young petroleum broker OF this city, Ehk
wac, at one time, member of the frIn OF
Brodt & Co., committed suicide in room
in the Colonade Hotel Philadelphia. Vari.
Gus reasons have been assigned for the ac',
but recently the real facts in the case be.
came known to his friends. 1t was known
that he was an inveteTate gambler, but the
extent OF his losses was only guessed at.
Detective Pryor, Of the Fifth Avenue
Hotel, in the course OF conversation with
8 reporter, said to-day: II knew Charley
Matthews well, and lad known him for
years before his death. He was as foully
murdered as if the pistol had been held in
anothers hand and another's finger had
pulled the trigger. Charlie was al
ways an inveterate gambler, and having
AlwhS EpjOy cd Plenty Of Money
ae used ~ play for enormously high
stakes. He would 60 into one OF the hells
here before they were cl Jsed, and, asking
The limit, would play in single stake Just
ss much ss the rules of the house woulc
permit. Well ne was always crossing over
TO the other side for short trips, and about
twol ears sgo he brought up at Monte
Carlo. rs as you know, the centre OF
the European gambling fraternity, and, in
fact the OILY place where q public game Is
run. Young Matthews, | need hardly say,
began 10 play, and played with such sue.
cess that III very few days he had broken
he bank twice, or ar euy rate, caused them
10 stop playing for that day. He eyentu-
ally left there with SIPS, 800 OF the banks
moley in his POCKET and started for home.
Full OF Good Intentions
as to forswearing play for the future.
"But a man can not win a sum Of money
such as he had, at a public table, without
attracting good deal OF attention. Mat
thews was accordingly marked as their
own by few New York Crooks who hap
pened to be at Monte Carlo, seeking what
they might deyour. They followed him,
step by step, from Nice to Paris, from Paris
TO Lrndou, from London to Liverpool
till al last they had him safe on board OF
one OF the Atlantic steamships. Once
there. the res; was easy. A chance intro
du2tiUn, a bottle OF wine, friendly chat,
and d subsequent proposal OF friendly
gsme; the cropping into the smokinS-room
of other members Of the gang, tho natural
joining in the little game and then
The Trap Closed with a SNAP,
When he arrived at Sandy HOOK Mat
thews had parted with $4,000 cash, and
two notes of Sl0u 100 each. He had made
up his mind by that time that he had beet
swindleG, and eXpPCted the ROBBERS would
be content with their large haul IN money,
and would let the two notes 20. But they
were too in'puu"Ht Tor that, and not Only
brought suit hUt ATTACHED his baggage a.
the hotel.
Then he came to NE and asked me to
I. I l. a,ls u. .fl IN ID q
.,ur men, but as sOGn as lie described thcg
10 me knew who they were snd knew
that II was only question OF time. When
found them | had comparatively easy
task. | advised them to drop the thing
right there, and be thankful with what
they already had.
They Accepted Wy Advice.
Matthews, however, Was TOO rich priG'
to be allowed to escape. Others Of the
gang were let loose on him, aud never lost
sight of him liii they had siee2td him dry
On the very next Trip he made 10 Europr
they we're on board. aud tGis time be
dropped, | Was told Oh good authority,
Sl5,W". lie owned up to 5000 himself to
me; hut know that WAS btcauSe he fell
ashamed of having maGe such tO)l Of
himself ngsin. BY tais time he was mar
ried, nut even his marriage did not cur,
him Of What had bee inc a positive diSelse
Qniet little parties in his rooms at the
hotel, and reckless piunglng at public
'ab!es, soon ran away with all
His Monte Carlo Winning.
and with the greater part of his own for.
tune besides.
AT last, only few months ago, he
found himself here almost ruined. His
f,Imer friends began to get cold, and to
fight shy Of him, aud when last saw him
ne was in a pitiablv depressed frams OF
mind. 'rll 60 10 Philadelphia said he,
fer all the rooms are closed here, and /
can get a tolersbly honest game there. I'll
go 10 Philadelphia and either make or
break myself
TO Philadelphia he accordingly went,
hut before going he made purchase IN
Broadway. from the Winchester Repeating
Arms Company. 1t vas revolver. II
STAYED at tue CulonnaGe Hotel while in
Philadelphia, and risyed nearly the wLoit
time while he was there.
The Record Was SopotOnOuS;
his old luck had altogether deserted him,
and Ole night he went TO his room at I'll.
hotel ard put bullet through his brain.
That's The story OF Charles Matthews
des,b, and l claim he was as fouilv mur-
dpred by those gentemsnly, we'll dressed
scoundfels, who cheated him out OF his
money, as if they had shot him first and
robbed him afterwsrd."