Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-08-20
A STYLISH THIEF.
He Cuts a Big 6wath in Chi
cago Society.
SOME INCIDENTS OF HIS CAREER

His Fiance Presented with Stolen
l. Brooch, His LandIady Nearly Roped in
by a Forged Check and Numerous Ac-
quaintances Mulcted in Various Sums
of Money Loaned-A Brilliant Rascal
Found Out After He Has Gone.
CHICAGO, Aug. 2O.-Charles z. Bruce is
the romantic name of dashing young
man from Brooklyn, who, during resi-
dence Of less than a year in Chicago, con-
trived to introduce himself into the exclu-
sive social circles of wealth and fashion:
to engage himself to marry the petted and
attractive daughter of an aristocratic
Prairie avenue household; to rob his land
lady of her diamonds and jewelry; to
forge the name of his employer and to
swindle his chums and associates out of
various sums of money. Young Mr. Bruce
even went so tar in his career Of crime
and deception as to present to tbs young
lady who became his affiancsd wife a val
liable brooch which he had stolen from his
landlady, aud left that innocent and trust
full person to suffer the modification of
discovery and shame. Bruce's family in
Brooklyn is said to be one of wealth and
responsibility.
Had First Glass References.
When he came to Chicago little less
than year ago, Bruce brought letters
signed by influential business men of
Brookly~ and New York. With the aid
| of these he soon obtained employment in
| the offices of the Western Freight associa-
ton in the Rookery building, of which j..
~ Faithorn is general manager. In the
fashionable boarding house of Mrs. Jennie
Bethel, 1854 Lake avenue. the dashing
young Brooklynite found congenial
/, home. He dressed stylishiy and had the
airs of person of good breeding. This
| not only made him speedily popular with
everybody in the house, but soon won for
him the confidence and good opinion of
| his landlady.
| Begins Getting I'm His Work.
Within month after Bruce's advent
at Mrs. Betzel's one of the boarders
missed gold watch and chain. The rob
/ berry naturally caused small sensation
| at the table, and Bruce vehemently de-
nounced the thief. He even volunteered
his services to report the loss to the po-
lice. He was not suspected. He was. in
| fact, so popular that he was not even
| thought of in connection with the theft.
| Frequently after this episode other ar
ticles of jewelry and choice pieces of brio
a-brac belonging to boarders and to tue
house began to disappear mysteriously.
Forgery That Was Partly Vain.
| Saturday, Aug. g. when Mr.. Bruce's in
debtedness at his boarding house amount
ed to s35. he presented 10 Mrs. Bethel a
$50 check, purporting to be signed by Mr..
| fa1l H.
check was returned from the bank
marked worthless; Mr.. Faithorn's alleged
| signature was forgery Luckily Mrs..
Bethel did not have the money on hand,
or she would have paid the petty swim
der the SIS difference between the amount
of the forged check and his bill.
Deserted Maiden.
| Next he stole his landlady's diamond
| earrings. worth sean and present from
her deceased husband. and then skipped.
| Four days later his Prairie avenue fiauce
| called AT the Beizel boarding house, seek
ing and not finding him. When she
| learned the truth about Bruce she was
| much downcast- She said she was en-
| gagged to marry him During the CONVEX
sation Mrs. Bethel noticed that the young
| lady's brooch had a familiar appearance.
| Where Did You Get That Brooch?
| Where did You get that broochyn she
| asked
| Why. it was present from Mr. Bruce.
| He gave 1T to me about the first of Au.
| gust, l think"
| Well that is my brooch, and no mis-
take Just to think what thief bad in
my house, III never get over it. and I'll
never trust another man -
How His Chums Suffered.
| a number OF chuni> and acquaintance
of Bruce in the office - the Western
Freight association are mourning the loss
of greenbacks which they loaned him on
| divers occasions, the denominations rang
ing from s. to so. Altogether there are
quite number of persons in this town
| who would be glad to see the youthful and
dashng Mr.. Bruce