The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1883-12-12

Brodt d Co.. committed suicide in a room in the
colonnade Hotel Philadelphia. Various reasons
have been assigned for the act but recently the
real facts in the case became known TO his friends
II was known that he was ifveterate gambler,
but the extent of his losses was only guessed at.
Detective Pryor. OF the Fifth Avenue Hotel, in the
course of conversation with a porter, said to-
day: II knew Charley. Matthews well, and had
fonly murdered as II the pistol had been held in
anGthsr's hand and another finger had
ways an inveierate gambler, and having
for enofmo1sly high stakes. He would go into one
asking the limit would play in single stake just
as much as the rules of the house would permit.
for short trips and about two years ago nc brought
up at Monte Carlo. ltis, as you know, the center
OF the European gambling fraternity, and, in fact,
Matthews. ! need hardly say. began TO play and
PLAYED with such success that In very few days
ee bad S.ensn 10 the SDs cs or S any rate
eventually left there WITH $4,000 OF the banks
money In his pocket aud started home, full OF good
''Bui a man can not win a sum of:money. such as
he fad, nc public table, without attracting
who happened to be az Monte Carlo. seeking " nat
they might 6evour. They followed him. step b.
step, from Nice 70 Paris from Paris TO London,
from London 10 Liverpool, Till at last they had
him safe ON board one of the Atlantic steamships.
duction, O bottle OF wine. friendly chat and sub
sequent proposal of friendly game: the drop
ping into the smoking room OF other members
OF the gang the natural joining in the little game
and then the trap closed with snap.
When he arrived Of Sandy Hook Matthews had
parted with $4,000 cash. and two notes for Sl0VO0
each. He had made up his mind by that time that
he had been swindlrd. and expected the robbers
wonld be content with their large haul in money.
and would let the two notes 20. But they were
100 impudent for that, and not only brought suit.
Lut attached his baggage at the hotel
Then he came 10 me and asked me TO do what
could. IL took us week 10 find our men, but as
soon as he described them To me knew VINO they
were and knew that IL was only question OF time.
task. advised them TO drop the thing right there.
and be thankful with what they already had.
They accepted my advice
Matthews, however, was too rich prize 10 be
allowed 10 escape. Others OF the gang were let
loose on him and never lost sight OF him till they
had squeezed him dry. On the very next triD he
made 10 Europe they were on board and this time
he dropped was told on good authority, $4,000.
He owned mp to 5000 himself to me; but know
That was because he felt ashamed of having made
such fool of himself again. BY this time he was
married. but even his marriage did not cure him
OF what had become n positive disease. Quiet
plunging at public tables soon ran away with all
his Monte Carlo winnings, and with the greater
part of his own fortune besides.
self here almost ruined. His former friends began
10 get cold. and TO fight shy of him, aud when l
last saw him he was in ptiably depressed fr lrne
Of mind. I'll go TO PHILADELPHIA said he, Tor all
the rooms are closed here and can get tolerably
honest game there. III 60 10 Philadelphia and
either make or break myself
TO Philadelphia he accordingly went, but be-
fore going he made purchase in Broadway, fr1m
the Winchester Repeating Arms Company. IL was
while in Philadelphia, and played nearly the
whole time he was there The record was mono
tonous his old luck had altogether deserted him,
and one night he went to his room at the hotel aud
put a bullet through his brain.