New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-12-08
CHARLES MATTHEW'S DEATH
WHY HE SHOT HIMSELF IN PHILADELPHIA
r,RrcFp OUT OF HIS WINNINGS AT THE GANlNO
TABLE-LosING HIS LUCK.

rrRrcFp OUT OF HIS WINNINGS AT THE "AMiN"
TABLE-LosING HIS LUCK.
About month ago, on November ., Cnarles A.
Matthews a young petroleum broker vi .I1 p SloAA,
who was at one time member OF the nr H. VI Coion
q Co committed uitide in room in the Colon
made Hotel, Philadelphia Various REASONS nav naI
been assigned for his act; but recently the re4l
facts in the case became known TO ms nlenus' ~
To- known that he was an inveterate gambler, but
The extent of his losses was only guessed at; ~ ~
fective Pryor of the Fifth Avenue no.eI, III tae
course of a conversation with TRIBUNE reporter,
q knew Charlie Matthews we'll, and had known ,ll
him for years before his death lie was as ioutiy
murdered as If the pistol had been held IN another
hand aud anOther's finger had pulled tne Trigger
Charlie was always inveterate gambler, and nav
ing always enjoyed plenty OF money ne used 10 pay
for enormously high stakes. He would go into one
of the bells here before they were closed ana after
asking the limit would play in single stake inst as
much as the rules of the house would permit: well
he was always crossing over TO the other side for
short trips and about two years ago he brought up
at Monte Carlo. II is, as you know, tne centre on
the European gambling fraternity, and IN fact the
only place where public game is run. Young Mat,
thews need hav1iu say, began to play, and played
with such oHtcess that in very few days ne t naa
broken the bank twice. or at any rate caused then
10 stop playing for that day. He eventually leiC
there with $125, 900 of the banks money III MS
pocket and started for home full of good intentions
as to forswearing play for the future. put man
cannot win sum of money such as ne ha9 at u
public table without attracting go9d aeal oL a." a
tentiOn. Matthews was accordingly marked as
their own by a few NewYOTk crooks who happened
70 he at Monte Carlo seeking what they might
devour They followed INN up steP 10y SUP nII
to Liverpool till at last they had HIM safe on board
one of the Atlantic steamships. once mere mere tnS
wine a friendly chat and subsequent proposal Oh
friendly game the dropping into the smoklng-ro0m
OF other members OF the gang their natural loning
snap When he arrived at Sandy HOOK Matthew's
had parted with $4,000 cash and two notes tor
go 600 each. He had made up his mind by that
hat p had SWinQled
robbers would be content with their large haul III
money and would let the two notes go. Put lhey
were too impudent for that, and not only brought
suit but attached his baggage at the MOTEL linen
ne came TO me and asked ine to do what could.
:" 1t took us a week TO find our men, but as soon
rs ne described them 60 me knew who they were
and knew that it was only question OF time.
When found them l had comparatively easy
task i advised them to drop the thing rlght ther9
and be thankful with what they already had, ana
they accepted my advice. Matthews, however was
too rich prize to be allowed TO escape OtneIs 01
the gang were let loose on him and never lost sight
OF him till they had squeezed him dry On the very
next trip he made to Europe they were on board
and this time he dropped, / was told on g0Od au-
thOrity $4,000; he owned up to $4,000, himself;
to me. hut know that was because he felt ashamed
at having made such a fool OF himself again. by
this time he was married, but even his marriage
did not cure him of what had become positive
disease. Quiet little parties in his rooms at the
hotel and reckless P1Sgng at ehe RHS WINNINGS
and with the greater part OF his own fortune
besides.
Al last, only lew InVuths usO' nG lo1''u a..
here almost ruined. His former friends began 10
saw him he was in a pitably depressed frame of
mind III go to Philadelphia said he, for all the
rooms are closed here and can get a tOieraDly
honest game there. I'll go TO Philadelphia and
either make or break myself To Philadelphia he
accordingly went, but before going he made
purchase in Broadway from the winchester Re
beating Arms Company. 1t was a revolver He
STAYED at the Colonnade Hotel while in Philadel
phia and played nearly the whole tlmc ne was
There The record was mOnOtOnOus his old luck
had altogether deserted him. and one night he went
to his room at the hotel and put bullet through
his BRAIN That's the story of Charles Matthew's
death and clam he was truly murdered by
those gentlemanly, well-dressed scoundTels who
cheated him out of his money as if they had shot
him first and rlfed his body S6terward."