Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-08-01
WAITE AND FATE'S IRONY
HELD IN JAIL AS A WITNESS
WHILE OTHERS ARE FREE.

merJAunt-rh Pedigree of the Main
stay of the Prosecution in the Coming
Surface Road Trials.
NEW YORK, July Saskatchewan
Charles Burritt Waite, the mainstay OF
the prosecution against the Broadway
railroad ring, is beating his head against
the bars OF the House OF Detention, ana
the District Attorney is summerlng at
Richfield Springs. The implicated Alder
men, meantime, are attending morse races
and gambling at club houses by the sea.
Waite's history has never been fully tOld.
He came OF rare New England stock. HIS
great ancestor was Thomas Waite, men,
toned in the records OF New Ipswich IN
1879. The descendants, with the Cmei JUS
tice ofthe United States at their head, held
a family reunion on the banks of the Con-
necticut river some years ago. Old time
records spell the name Wayt and wait,
with such given names as Jabez, CANA
liel. Prudence and Pietv, In modern days
the final .e'' has been added TO the sur
name. associated with fashionable Chris
aan pretiXes.
The father Of the Aldermanic informer
was a Nermonter. One of his uncles died
Il
Vermont State prison for Tobbing the
bank OF Brattleboro. Charles c., the
father, began his career as a conductor on
she New Haven railroad. He next APP
peared in Chicago as an lnnkeeper. FROM
there he came to this city, where ne under
took the management OF the Breyoort
House in cOpartnership with one clark.
He quickly ingratiated himself with the
aristocratic element Of society, and made
H. fnt III q q
entertaining. Conductors and sea cap
talns were free and welcome guests at his
table. They had the best the market AT
fOrded, and train of customers naturally
followed In their wake. Waite knew that
the art of the cook was the strongest OF
all inn-keeping arts. his kitchen was
deservedly in high repute. tie placed his
oldest son, Charles B., there and kept MIN
ahere for three years Charles Is. gradual
Aed with eclat, and IS probably one of the
nnest cooks in the country. tie speaks
french fluently and he has acquired some
bad French habits. About fifteen years
ago he became an assistant in the ONCE of
the hotel, and was afterwards promoted
10 the responsible station of steward. On
one of his vacations he went abroad. He
WAS passenger on the Inflated Vile de
Hayre. His brother, the favorite son,
was drowned before his eyes. While
county. She was of q gay and hayward
disposition, and petite. Her manners
were free and bold and she spoke French
eXquisitely. Waite was completely fas-
cinated. He finally married and brought
her to the Brevoort House.
NOT LONG AFTERWARDS
bis father and Hawke Il Wetherbee took
hold of the Windsor Hotel. Wetherbee
lent his name, and Waite and Hawke put
in $3.50, 600 apiece. Waite did more-he
put in his son Charles as steward. 1t
was young WaIte's first release from the
parental leash. The hotel was more
SNOWY and the fittings were more gor-
geous than either the st. Nicholas or the
Brevoort. The table was more lavish.
Wetherbee was living in retirement.
Hawke, succumbing 10 the trouble that
sent him to the grave, went abroad.
Waite, ST., was occupied at his own inn,
and Waite the younger had tull control
of the Windsor. 1t was at this time that
he began the career which has made him
as notorious in New York Is is sir Charles
Dixie in England. and which would have
made him a tit companion tor Belops
Madame de Blangy. With a trus ed en-
plOye OF the hotel he maintained an es-
tablishment that in time might have
rivalled the home of Cora Pearl. For
tunately, however, be was detected in
supplying it with some OF the rare old
wines OF the Windsor. His wings were
promptly clipped. For his fathers sake
he was dropped easily, and was finally
withdrawn altogether.
waite, ST., died in 1880. He was then
sole proprietor of the Brevoort House,
and was well known on both continents.
He left no debts. His hotel, with its rare
good will, was turning in a fortune OF
$4,000 year. Among his assets were
1900 shares OF Pullman stock, worth at
market rates S23, 200; 200 shares of paper
car wheel stock, then at a premium, and
a life insurance policy for $4,000. The
equipment of the Brevoort House was a
fortune in itself. The furniture was
worth at least 100000. Under the terms
OF the Windsor partnership, the repre-
septatlVes OF the deceased could hold on
or withdraw. Charles b., as eXecu-
tor, received $4,000 for the snare,
and withdrew. Thus, besides an annual
fortune from the established business, the
heirs had 100000 TO fall back upon and
Buudry reserves unknown to TINS day.
The heirs We're the widow, Charles
B. and four minor children-two sons
and two daughters. The income OF the
estate was TO 20 to the widow under the
terms Of the Will. All was to remain In
tact until after her death. George Pull
man, Trenor ". Park and Frederick c.
Billings were named as executors, with
Mrs. Waite and her eldest son. The eld-
est son wished no adjunct in the manage
ment, and the mother was easily per-
suaded to eVince a wish that no one
should intrude in the family affairs.
Neither Pullman, Park nor Billings quail
iIied.
SIX WEEKS AFTER THE FUNERAL
the widow, her daughters and her second
son went abroad, leaving Charles power
Of attorney. Then began a career of dis
sipation unparalleled in this country.
Waite bought splendid country place,
and kept eight or ten horses. lie bought
sailing and steam yacht. ne set up
expensive establishments and filled them
Win actresses, danseuses and ngurantes.
he WAS credited at this time with keep
Ing score Of mistresees. The pace of
the noted Col. James Fisk, Jr., was dis
tanced. Orgies that surpassed those once
oeld in the old Barreda mansion, fronting
Madison square, were given night alter
night. One OF his prime tavOrites was a
noted actress at the Casino. she held
card parties at her house IN West For
tieth street, and while under the lufu-
ence OF wine Waite is said TO have lost
immense sums. The notorious House OF
Nations, kept by Madame Charles, was a
favorlte resort. Scores ot It's lrequenters
have been sent TO the grave by paresis.
and II looks as though " aiLe would
prove no exception. Never did a great
fortune disappear with more rapidity.
waite developed new fancles that
ETnacked Of lnsAnitV He had a proot