The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-05-22
WHERE Is CHRISTIE?
The Question Asked By M
merous Victims.
a oeFAuLTER AND EMsEzzLER.
To Kx-Keal Estate Agent. Altar FIeee
Ing Trusting Investors, = . FaSf-
tive xron Justice.

A warrant for the arrest Of Clarence J..
Christie, the weli-known and rather eccer-
tric real estate dealer. for embezxsing 5000.
has been issued and Is nov in the hands OF
the sheriff Christie has fied from the city
to avoid arrest. bot his apprehension is al
most certain TO follow within twenty-four
hours. The money was embezzsed from
Frank Z Ware. with Struve. Haines &
McMicken, and the information against
Christie xas lodged by him.
The transaction in question dates back
for nearly year. About the time of the
fire Christie engaged in the real estate bus
mess, and at divers times up to October
last, when the crime charged against him
was committed. acted IN the capacity OF
agent for Ware in several different real es-
tate transactions. At the time mentioned
Christie went to Ware and Informed him
that be had two good real estate buys
and advised him to take them. Ware de.
cided to and advanced Christie 5000, tell
ing him to go ahead and close up the bar
gains. Ware had confidence in Christie
and thought no more of the transaction.
Early in December Christie suddenly dis
appeared from the city, and his failure to
return within reasonable time
excited Wares suspicious. He
proceeded to investigate matters,
only to find that his agent had failed to
purchase the property at all, and had
pocketed the money. Christie reappeared
in the city about four weeks ago, and was
seen few days later by Ware. When the
subject Of the two good buys" was
brought up Christie promised to rectify
matters within few days. The few days
came and went, and he did nothing. Early
last week Ware again saw Christie and told
him that he would have to come to time
Immediately. He still failed TO do any
thing toward restoring the money, and
Ware went before Prosecuting Attorney
Carr and had q criminal information,
charging him with embezzlement. drawn
up, upon which . warrant was issued.
Christie spent last Sunday in the city.
and Monday ct Ballard with his wife. The
warrant was placed in the hands of Deputy
Sheriff woolery Monday. He was in
formed by private detectives. who had
been shadowing Christie. that the latter
would be at Ballard Monday night. Dur
ing Monday Christie gave the detective
who was watching him the 'slip." and
came to Seattle, and when Deputy Sheriff
Woolery went to Ballard to arrest him
Monday night he could not be found. 1t
is almost certain that Christie left for the
East over the Northern Pacific railroad
Tuesday morning, and dispatches have
been sent out along the line to head him of.
Christie's course since he arrived in Sc
attic from Portland. nearly two years ago,
has been decidedly cratic. to say the least.
He came here. claiming to have just left
the employ of William s. Ladd, the Port
land banker. and being smooth talker
readily made friends, and having the
energy Of Napoleon found no difficulty In
obtaining footing in commercial circles.
He went to work for Crawford
4 Conover, the well known
real estate brokers. and did splendid
work for them. He left their employ
shortly after the fire and went into ousi-
ness for himself, taking IN Office on Col
umbis street back Of the Shorey building.
Up to this time Christie had been thor
oughiy honest and upright, out here his
"peculiarities" began to manifest them
selves. He organized the Cardmoor Stone
Company, in which he interested w. E.
Bailey, p. d. Hughes. T. r. Shepard. J. P.
Lyon and Frederick Ware. . brother of
Frank Ware. The Cardmoor quarry was
not successful venture and the company
dissolved.
About this time Christie claimed to have
received $4,000. part Of an inheritance
from deceased relative in Ireland, and
began specializing heavily. During the
Valentine scrip excitement he purchased
forty acres OF the scrip and placed it on
forty acres of the tide flats near the head
OF the harbor. He sold five acres of it to
Edward C. Cheasty for $625 and
three acres to Colonel John G. Esan,
and then assigned the entire forty acres to
w. E. Bailey, in satisfaction of q claim, he
asserted ct the time. Later Mr. Bailey
stated that Christie bought the scrip for
him with money advanced, and Edward
Cheasty began suit to recover $625 be paid
for his scrip This suit is now pending.
During all Of this time Christie was the
agent for . number of investors in
property in different parts OF the
city and county, and large
sums OF money were intrusted TO his care.
With this he speculated. sometimes sue
cessfuliy. but oftener unsuccessfully. To
retrieve his fortunes he sought the gamb.
ling table and lost heavily. He continued
to play cards and lost more. December |
found him bankrupt. with large obliga-
ton TO meet II was too late
then to reform, and early in
December he fed from the
city. deserving his wife. For weeks moth.
ing was heard of him. Then he wrote to
his wife. The letter was posted at The
Dalles, Or. The next letter came from San
Francisco. He claimed TO have been sick
for weeks with brain fever and promised 70
return home immediately He next teie.
| graphed TO his wife from Northern Cali.
fornia saying he was tied up in the snow
hiockades. Then for weeks during the
early part OF the year he failed ia
write. He finally came up into Oregon
and was at Corvallis for quite a time.
| Nothing further was beard of him until
four weeks ago, when he appeared on the
streets hardly a semh!ance OF his forme,
/ self. He was thin and weak-lookirS. his
beard Was long and his hair hung 10 his
shoulders in curis- He joined his wife
who had all this time been living with
/ friends st Ballard. and for few day. wa,
about as usual Those who had elaine
/ against him learned OF his return ard
hunted him UP TO present them. This chi.
minated as detailed above
Regarding Christies antecedenss very
little is known. Ii is understood thar hs
comes OF very good family in Ire and O,
which country he is . native. He lived in
/ Canada for time and it is said he married
there. His wife Is an excellent LADY and j,
/ so pronounced by ali who have ever me,
her. Christie is Of medium height And
build. has dark hair. fair skin. bright blne
/ eyes and wear short cropped BEARD. n,