The evening world., 1888-01-03
A DECOY CHRISTMAS GIFT.
CHARLES KNOwLTON CAUGHT BY A CLEVER
DETECTIVE Of BROOKLYN.
He 10 Accused OF EmbezziinG Funds which
He Held in Trust-His Large but Unfor-
tunate Real Estate Transactions in
Brooklyn-A Friend In the Custom-Houso
An Athol story of Interest Here.
ESPECIAL TO THE woRLp.l


ESPECIAL TO THE woRLD.l
ATHoI, Jan. 3.-Charles Walter Knowlton,
real estate broker, of Brooklyn, N. Y. was
to-day arraigned before Judge Fields. of the
District Court, charged with embezzlement
and was placed under S5, 900 bonds for his
appearance before the Grand Jury, and in
default he was committed to the House of
Correction at Worcester.
Here is q very interesting notwithstanding
on account Of the former good standing of
the accused; interesting on account of the
prominence of those who are connected with
the case interesting AZ it shows marked de-
tective skill and sagacity on the part Of the
officials to locate their man, who had been
lost sight of for months.
Stillman Knowlton was a substantial citi-
zen and farmer of Athol who ut his decease
left considerable property. He left three chill
dren, Mrs. Emma Symonds, Mrs. Josie Barber
and Charles Walter Knowlton. The daugh-
tiers died subsequent to the fathers decease,
Mrs. Symonds leaving three children and
Mrs. Barber two. Charles was to settle his
fathers estate and was appointed guardian of
the Symonds children, his bondsmen in the
latter case being Adolphus Bangs and DIR. j.
=. Lynde.
When Knowlton had, as was thought, set
tied up his fathers estate he left these parts
and it was supposed he had left the country,
as no trace of him could be found. In time
it was learned that there was crookedness in
his management of his trust and that he had
not made his reports in accordance with legal
provisions.
Judge Adm Thayer, of the Probate Court,
discharged Knowlton rs guardian of the
Symonds children, appointing another in his
place. The newly. appointed guardian, who
is brother to the father of the children, at
once sued Knowlton's bondsmen for his
wards share of the estate Of Stillman Knowl-
ton, which had been bequeathed Mrs.
Symonds. The estates of the bondsmen were
attached in the sum of $4,000 each. DR..
Lynde claimed to have no property, and SO
couldn't meet his part of the obligation. Then
Bondsman Bangs was called upon to make
good the amount which Charles W. Knowlton
was said to have embezZled, about SO, 900.
Subsequently Bangs learned that Lynde
had an interest in certain real estate here and
in Gardner which had been left the heirs of
the DOCTORS father, and he attached in both
cases.
Mr.. Bangs then determined if possible to
find the man upon whose bond he went. A
short time ago he learned that Knowlton was
in and around New York, but he could not
be located. The necessary requisition papers
We're obtained and placed in the hands of
Detective Hayter.
Last Wednesday the detective and irate
bondsman went to New York. There they
met A. G. Brown, q lawyer, VIC was formerly
q resident of this town, The trio were rein
forced by sergt. Heilberg, and q plan was
mapped out by which it was hoped Knowlton
could be apprehended:
1t was known that he had very intimate
friends in Brooklyn, who. it was thought
would know where he was, but it would not
do to have them suspect he was wanted.
which was addressed to Knowlton, care of
his Brooklyn friends, which was sent to their
house bya messenger.
The present was done up to look like a
valuable package. The messenger was in
structed not to deliver the present " unless
he should get q receipt signed by the person
to whom it was addressed. That person was
not in, and those at the house offered to sign,
but the messenger wouldn't, have it, and he
returned with the package, having left word
where it conld be found.
Then the Office where the present ~ could
be obtained was - piped;" so was the house
where the messenger called. About 7 o'clock
Friday night the head of the household, who
is an employee in the New York Custom
House, left his home and boarded a horse
car. 1t was thought among the watchers that
when this man got home and learned that a
valuable package had come for his friend
that he would naturally acquaint him of the
fact, and it was decided that if he left his
home that he must be Swallowed, and he was.
He was followed to New York, up the Bow
cry to Gleason's bllllard-room, where Lawyer
Brown, looking into the window, discovered
the man who was wanted busy locking over
stock quotations that had been registered by
the ticker. A p%atrolman was called, who
was ordered to detain Knowlton until Police
Headquarters could be heard from. Then
Knowlton was taken into custody brought
here and a%rraigned as stated.
For about twenty years Knowlton has
acted rs real estate broker and agent for
large estates in Brooklyn. He has projected
great building enterprises which, through
lack of funds, he could not carry through.
What brought about his fnancial collapse
was the erection of a block of brown stone
fronts on Washington avenue, which repre-
sented a cost of 1915. 900. His speculative
calculations failed to materialize, and in
order to carry himself rs far as possible in
connection with sums that he could borrow,
he used, it is charged, money which he held
as guardian. and then was unable to square
his accounts. He has wealthy and willing
friends, who will undoubtedly come to his
aid.