Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-04-06
fIFTY-FoUR YEARS \ CRIMINAL.
Notorious Charlie Ward About to Come
Ont of the Ohio Prison.

COLUMBUS, OHIO, April 5.-Charlie
Ward, one OF the most notorious Grim
inals of the United States, will be re-
leased from the Ohio State prison April
Is. He is over seventy years OF age,
and according TO his own story, which Is
corroborated by the prison annals, he
had not enjoyed two years OF continu-
Gus liberty since he was sixteen years
old He was born in Scotland and
claims To be the son of Presbyterian
preacher, He has been an inmate OF
nearly all the State prisons from Ms
souri, to the New England States. He
is well known as an expert forger, safe
blower, confidence man, kidnapper and
hotel thief. gHe has been the companion
of such notorious criminals as "Blinky'
Morgan, BLACK Hank" dutch
George" and other stars In crime.
Inspector ByrneS, of New York city,
has his criminal record in his great his
tory OF the noted crooks of the present
day. Wards striking face. with its
long white beard is conspicuous in the
principal rogue's galleries of this coun-
try and Europe.
Ward started out as thief in st.
Louis when he was sixteen years old,
and soon afterward he committed rob-
berry. His youth would have saved him
from a penitentiary sentence had he not
attempted to escape. He was recap
tured and the law was then allowed to
take its course When his term in the
Missouri State prison expired he went
TO Tennessee, where he committed a
4 M
Then he went to Georgia, where he
served sentence for robbery. Subse-
quently he served term in Joliet and
one in the Maryland State prison.
After that he went TO Virginia, where
he was arrested and convicted OF rob-
berry and imprisoned at Richmond, but
be managed 10 escape after serving
eight months.
He was sent to Sing Sing for rob-
berry committed at the Astor House.
From there he came to Ohio, and at
Cincinnati met woman whom he after
wards married and took TO New York.
Soon afterwards he was sent 10 Auburn
for robbery, but through the efforts of
his wife he was pardoned. Then he
went to Pennsylvania, and soon earned
a long sentence to Cherry Hill prison.
His wife was again successful in procur-
ing a pardon after he had served sew
eral years.
One of his schemes was TO stop at
frst-class hotel and register as minis
ter, secure the confidence OF the guests
and rob them, leaving the hotel bills
unpaid. Not infrequently he paid his
bills with forged checks OF high face
value, upon which he secured a balance
in cash.
After his discharge from Cherry Hill
his wife died and he came 10 Cincinnati.
lie was Immediately arrested on sns-
picion. but. no State calling for him, he
was allowed to 60. A phiianthropic
society got employment for him 10
publishing house, and he seemed TO live
a reformed life for few months, but a
lIttle over three years ago he quarrelled
with a woman with whom he was infat-
uated and assaulted her with knife.
For this he was convicted Of manslaugh-
ter and sentenced for four years. This
sentence he will soon have finished.
His conduct in the prison here has
been most peculiar. AT times he seems
TO be a devOut Christian, and again
scoffer OF the most pronounced type.
He isa little over medium height, OF
compact build, has a striking cOunte-
nance and marks of benevolence in his
face. His general appearance is well
adapted to working confidence games.