The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-10-17

of an iiOnorcd Man
Ngw YonE, Oct. 16.-Tottering and
grey haired consul general Domiso j.
Ruiz, OF the republic Ecuador, was ar
rested on two charges OF forgery yester-
day and was taken to Jefferson Market
police court to-day by detective sergeant
Hickey. Tho prisoners son was pres
ent in court with the lawyer Price, who
had been engaged to defend him. Dur
ing tho proceedings before Justice Ryan
the fac. was disclosed that Mr.. Ruiz,
vino is in his old ago has been for some
time in the hands OF band OF conspira-
tors who have fleeced him out oil $4,000
and in their greed for more money in
duced him to endorse the two 81 600
notes bearing the forged signature OF
Consul Gustave Preston. The princi-
nal in tho conspiracy which has led TO
Tho downfall Of the venerable consul
General is said 10 he Mrs Bertha Laws,
hig adopted daughter. A warrant has
been issued and she was arrested TO-
day.
The friends OF Mr.. Ruiz say the old
man has fallen completely under the
influence OF this woman, and has blind
lv obeycd her bidding for some years
past, while she lived in luxury at his
exrcnse. Ho first became acquainted
with her through an advertisement.
His wife was in the country aud his
daughter in Europe, and he advertised
fora housckeeper. Mrs. Laws answered
the advertisement and she was engaged.
She was then known as Miss Bertha
Kruudslat, OF Stockholm; Swenden. She
soon got into the consul generals good
CraCes, and in the course Of few weeks
made him believe that she was his
daughter by woman other than his
wife. She seemed to rejoice at her dis
coyGry OF her long lost father, and was
very ailectionate to him. Mr.. Ruiz,
who is seventy.ono years old and in his
second childhood, finally adopted Bertha
as his daughter. This led to an estrange-
ment with his wife and children and he
went to live with the woman.
A short time later Bertha introduced
her husband to her "iather" who is
William Laws, who is bookmaker and
general sporting man, who is said to be
now in st. Louis. The "father" was
delighted that his daughter had
married SO well and readily furgave her
deception in representing herself as un-
married. Fle continued to lavish
money on her until he had expended
$4,000, nearly all he possessed. Bertha
needed more money and the old con-
sui general, acting under guidance,
went to Boston and called on Consul
Preston. He told the consul that he
needed $1,000 to make up sum OF Sl6,-
coo he was obliged to pay. Mr.. Pres
ton did not have that amount of money
at hand, but he gave him his note for
5000 as MIR. Ruiz was friend OF his
and had secured his appointment
as consul for Ecuador at Boston.
Then Mr.. Ruiz and Mrs. Laws,
who had accompanied him to Boston,
returned hero and she proceeded TO
spend the $1,000. She had introduced
him to Simon Epstein, q man who is
well known to the police here, and he
had advanced cash on the note. But
$1,000 did not last her long and in 4 few
weeks she needed more money. As Mr..
Ruiz did not know where TO get any
the Conspirators concocted n scheme TO
raise it, believing that ii the truth
came out the consul generals friends
would protect them to save them from
disgrace But in this they were mis-
taken. Mr.. Ruiz's son and his lawyer
stated in court to-day that they are
cognlzant OF the conspiracy, know all
concerned in it, and intend to have
them punished. Mr.. Ruiz states that
in August last his adopted daughter
came to him with $1,000 forged notes
and said that "Mr. Preston was real
nice man." that knowing the consul
general to be financially embarrassed
he had sent him by mail two notes MIR.
Ruiz was only too happy to get the
notes, which he never suspected to be
forgeries, and at once, at her desire,
endorsed thom. One OF the notes was
cashed by Epstein, who protected him
self by taking n chattel mortgage on
the house the consul general had iur-
nishcd for Mrs. Laws. The second note
was negotiated by man named Il.
Mile, who died on Friday last ami was
buried TODAY. Before the notes reached
Consul Preston, they passed through
the hands OF Herman lsrael, the owner
OF the burned Hotel ROYAL; Henry
Pohatsk, and the National Butchers
and Drovcrs Bank. When the note
was pronounced forgery he foreclosed
the mortgage on tho furniture in Mrs.
Laws house and caused the consul gem
erals arrest on the charge OF forgery.
Owing to Mr.. Miles death and the
absence OF important witnesses at his
funeral, the hearing in the case was
adjourned until Wednesday and bail
was fixed at $1,000.
The consul generals son offered 81
0OO in cash as security, but the justice
could not receive it. Tomorrow the
money will be deposited with Mr. Cham
berlaiu and Mr.. Ruiz will then be re-
leased, His counsel admits that tho
notes are iorGeries, but denies that his
client committed tho forgery or wa4
cogrizant OF it.