Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-10-09
MODERN MUNCHAUSBN.
The Visit Of Charles Oscar Keller to
St. Louis.
A STRANGE, REMARKABLE STORY.
An Embezzler Who Victimized
the Kings Of China and Japan,
and Swindled the Emperors OF
Russia and Siam, and Did Many
More Astonishing Things.

ST. LOUIS, October s.-Charles Oscar
Keller, . modern Baron Muuchausen,
who, like that illustrious adventurer,
halls Germany as his birthplace, bathed
st. Louis with the sunshine OF his pres
ence yesterday.
Mr.. Keller did not frittter away his
valuable time In trying to scatter his
| person oIer the whole area OF the city,
but confined himself to the narrow lin
its of a cell at the Four Courts. Here
he fingered for four hours, Willing the
feeting seconds away with the easy
conversational grace Of the travelled
man of the world. With imperturhable
nonchaence be told the story OF his
life as wonderful as that OF Aladdin
| and the Genii OF the Lamp. As
for truth, he ignored and avoided 1t as
daintily as the most winsome belle
would lightly trip over muddy cross
ing. The travels of Gulliver were as
nothing in omparison. Only 33 years
of age, he has circled the globe, not
once, but many times. AS the self-con-
fessed king of confidence men, he VIC
timized not only ordinary men, but, as
| became his rank in the profession, he
bunkoed the scions Of royalty, number
ing among his prey the imperial house
of China, the family Of the autocrat OF
all the Russias, the occupants OF the
royal palaces OF the King OF Siam and
the Nizam OF Hyderabad.
This smooth-spoken, medlum-sized
young man is wanted at Chattanooga,
Tenn, on the charge OF embezzlement
The Chattanooga Brewery Company
charges that Kellar, who was the gem
eral travelling agent OF the company,
disappeared with undue and unan-
nounced suddenness about year ago,
leaving behind vacancy and short
| age of $4,000.
No trace of Keller could be found un-
til a month ago, when be was located in
Sacramento, CAL, by Detective Ben +.
True of the Southern Pacific Railway,
where he has been living under the
alias of Chas. NJ. Lester. His arrest
followed. After q delay of two weeks
the work Of taking him back to Chatta-
day afternoon Detective True arrived
at the Union kepot and few minutes
later lodged his prisoner in the Four
Courts to wait for south bound train.
AT o'clock last night the journey was
resumed.
KELLER's YOUTH.
Keller was born in Hamburg, Ger
! many. His family was wel-to-do. All
the advantages that wealth affords
were bestowed upon him. He was sent
TO Heidelberg to be educated and when
graduated, shortly after his twenty
first birthday, Keller was an accom-
plisbed man, able to converse fuently
int seven languages besides his own.
Owing 10 the wealth and standing OF
his parents the graduate escaped mill
tary service. His father made him
present Of $4,000 and bade him TO go
out into the world and become acquaint-
ed with it, The glories OF Paris at
tracted the youth to that city. There
be fell In with men OF his own age, who,
like himself were not compelled TO work
for living. Between pretty women,
rich wine and the gay gambling hell at
ly dissipated. BE drew on his father
for more and received it The life OF
ease was continued Several times in
the next two years Keller was obliged
TO draw on his father, only TO receive
handsome sum at each call. Finally
the calls for money became so numer-
Gus that Keler's father, unable to
stand the drain, notified his son TO re-
duce his expenses or go penniless. But
the young man continued his fast life.
When his money gave out he circulated
| forged drafts on his father. When the
drafts became due Keller, fearing the
exposure that would follow, and the
wrath OF his sire, fed.
Reaching England he took the name
of William Allen. Poverty compelled
him to seek employment. He went to
work for matchmaker and In year
masterey that trade. But his love Of
adventure soon caused him to give up
his quiet life. From London he started
East with party of Englishmen who
had been sent out to collect curiosities
for the Royal Museum Of England. The
three years that followed Keller roved
in the Mediterranean Sea and through
the Suez Canal into the Indian Ocean.
After several desperate battles with
pirates, in which, of course, Keller and
his comrades were the victors, they
reached the Chinese seas. The curiosi-
ties, specimens all of the rarest kind.
we're shipped to London, netting the
party over $50, 900. Keller's share was
about Sl0,0
Seven or eight years ago Keller found
himself in Africa. Forming the ac-
ouaintauce of Stanley, he went up the
Congo with that explorer thousand
miles, meeting with daily hairbreadth
escapes from the savage, and wild
beasts. Finally Keller became sick
and to save mis- life it was found neces-
sary to ship him back 10 the coast.
When be regained his health he went
into the ivory trading business, and In
q short time it netted him several thous-
and dollars.
MET GENERAL GORDON.
About eight years ago when the ma
tiyes of Soudan reyolted against Eng
| lish rule Keller found himself in the
heart OF Egypt with General Gordon.
A month before the Kartouhm massa-
ere, in which General Gordon lost his
life, Keller concluded that the interior
of Africa was getting too warm, and
with & party of others made his way
down the Nile. OF course narrow es-
capes at the hands Of natives who had
arisen against the English followed.
A year later Keller found himself on
the Russian frontier In the employ OF
the Car surveying roads and building
fortifcatlons, having mastered civil en-
Rineering while roaming around the
world. he cleared thousands OF dollars
hv bfs contracts. When the work WAS