The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-04-29
QUITE AN ADVENTURE.
James O'NeilI OF Lincoln. Nebraska, sits
Wichita and Meets an Old Friend.

-
of Lincoln, Neb. was in the city yesterday
| and met with something which might DE
considered an adventure. Mr.. O'Neill is a
man of wide acquaintance in CONNER cial
circles, and among the other noted firms
| in the country with which he is acquainted
is the Gibson company, a Very wealthy
firm of Cincinnati, o.
On the Goth day of March last he was
sitting in the private Office of his CONNER
ciai house at Lincoln, when a gentle
man approached him and introduced
himself as Chares. L. Bruner, sup
plementing his introduction with the
statement that he was the nephew of Mr.
Carlisle. prominent member of the Glib.
son company. Mr.. O'NeiIl knew Mr.. Car
Isle very well, IN fact they were intimate
friends. and he was decidedly glad TO meet
Mr.. Bruner and offered him all the hos
FATALITIES Of his inherited Hibernan ma
ture. The alleged Mr.. Bruner told him
that he was returning from the coast,
where he had been swiudled in some real
estate operations; that he took sick at
kearney, where he laid off two DAYS; that
when he arrived at Lincoln the limit of
his ticket had expired; that the conductor
refused to carry him any farther, and that
he had no money in his possession. He
courteously asked Mr.. O'Neill to loan
him 65 cents to pay for a telegram
to bis uncle Mr.. Carlisle. and Mr.. O'Neill
gave him 10 cents and expressed his desire
10 accommodate him still further if he
desired it. Mr.. Bruner thanked him and
said he really desired no more. Bruner
evidently knew Carlisle for lie actually
felgned his style of gait and his accent to
such likeness that Mr.. O'Neill saw at
once the striking family resemblance
Later AIR. Bruner came back, refunded
the % cents TO Mr.. O'Neill, saying that he
had secured little money that answered
his present desires. The next day Bruner
entered Mr.. O'Neilrs store, said he ex-
pected draft from friend at North
Bend, and asked Mr.. O'Neill to accom-
pany him to the postofIice. Mr.. O'Neill
did so with pleasure, and upon arriv-
ing there the alleged Bruner walked
up to the general delivery, asked whether
there was any mail for Charles f. Bruner,
received a letter, tore it open and took
from the envelope draft on the Omaha
National bank amounting to So, in favor
of Charles +. Bruner. Late that evening
he met Mr.. O'Neill again, told him that
he needed little more money and asked
him to cash the draft. 1t was long after
banking hours and Mr.. O'Neill had not
So in his possession, but gave him $3f and
a due bill for the balance. stating at the
same time that he would forward the
amount of the due bill to him at
Cincinnati in care of his uncle.
oft
draft TO Cincinnati equivalent to the due
bill. Two more days went by and Mr.
O'Neill was occupying seat in the legis- |
lsture attending to some business matters |
he had in that body when word was |
brought to him that Burners draft was a !
forgery, or rather, his endorsement of it. |
He nearly laughed himself sick at the |
idea that the name of the nephew of Mr.. /
Carlisle should be questioned by any bank |
and paid no attention to it, thinking of |
course, that the bank was mistaken. The |
next day he went to the bank and there |
found an affidavit from the genuine |
Charles t. Bruner stating that the en-
iorsement on the draft was a forgery and
hat it was either stolen from his
iesk or from the mail sack.
Mr.. O'Neill telegraphed at once to Gin
,innati and had the letter containing the
iraft in payment of the due bill returned
% him. He afterwards found out to his
satisfaction that he had been swindled,
md that Mr.. Carlisle had no nephew
named Charles +. Bruner.
The swlndling was done in the ceverest
way possible and particularly the scene at
,he postoffice where the swindler actually
,alled for Il letter addressed to Charles f.
Bruner, received it and took therefrom
he draft in question. The supposition is
hat he robbed some postoffice, found this
iraft, remailed it to himself at Lincoln
md Mr.. O'Neill his intended victim wit
less its reception in due form He could
lave obtained the sum of $500 from Mr.
Nelll in the same manner under the
anne circumstances the thing was planned
o very cleverly all the way through, for
lr O'Neiil was very DESTROYS of obligiug
nephew of his old friend Mr.. Carlisle.
his is the first chapter of the story. The
econd is still more interesting
When Mr.. O'Neill found that he
Tas swindled he took the matter
and thanked his lucky
tar that the amount was not more He I
a.
hat he should ever again see the face of
he alleged Charles L. Bruner. Yesterday
however, he arrived in this city, |
n a business trip, and circulated around
nong the plumbing and gas fitting
ouses. While he was in the plumbing
ouse on South Lawrence avenue, talking
18th one of the proprietors, a man ap-
reached the door and looked in. Mr..
'Neill saw at glance that he was Bru- {
er, and Bruner in moment recognized /
WE'LL, and walked on, not seeming to
office his victim. O'Neill walked out i
Ito the street and followed Bruner, and S
re latter turned into an alley c
llking TO some imaginary person. O'Neill 5
)llowed him ana Bruner entered through /
lie back door of Dermody's store. O'Neili t
eaded him off on Douglas avenue and [
ladowed him till he ran across a police a
ian. Officer" said he, arrest that man /
hurry and 1 will explain mat t
rs afterwards The officer followed i
ut when the alleged Bruuer saw him he t
ficer caught up with him and placed him e
nder arrest. He is now in the city bas- {
le The sheriff of Lincoln was at once 6
,tified and last night Mr.. O'Neill received
message saying that he (the sheriff. |
al started with requisition papers and
Guild be here at o'clock this afternoon
Fortunately Mr.. O'Neill he had the Y
rged draft in bis possession together
it'll the affidavit of the genuine Mr. y
runer so that he had no difficulty in hav-
z the police hold him. b
The indications are that the alleged c.
runer is "A noted swindler and that he is
anted in other places, possibly by the II
uited States government. W