The evening times., 1895-08-08
ROBBED | TRUSTING GIRL
Douglass Deserted His Bride
After Getting Her Money.
LEFT HEB IN BALTIMORE
Her Father Had Been One of the
vlctims In the Ford Theater Dis.
aster ana She Had Received Few
Hundred Dollars From the Govern
ment-Others Also victimized.

Headquarters detectives are searching fol
Samuel Douglass, q shrewd and fashionably
attired young man, who, it appears, has
victimizsd number Of merchants and
others in the Immediate vicinity OF the
government printing office. Douglass is
q handsome fellow and q good talker and
therefore did not have much difficulty in
working his crooked schemes.
The most despicable piece of work was
that perpetratod upon the daughter of Mrs.
Sophia L. Bussius, widow of John Bussius,
one OF the unfortunates who went down to
his death in the crash at tho Ford's Theater
disaster. The amount obtained by Doug
lass In this transaction can be aptly termed
graveyard money, for It came from the
allowance made by the government for the
Bussius family after the death OF the father
and husband in the old structure on Tenth
street.
Douglass peculatjon covers period of
over one month, but 1T is not yet known
how much the total amount will foot up.
One of his victims, Mr.. Thomas Rover, the
grocer, suffered a loss Of $50.
TREACHEROUs AND CUNNING.
The story Of Charles Douglass brief ca
reer in this city is an interesting one
1t is interviewer with treachery and cum
ming He came here nearly two months
ago from Indiana. and his actions since
all tend TO show that he is an adventurer,
with strong criminal procllvities. Soon
after his arrival In Washington he became
acquainted with the Bussius family, who
reside at No. IT II street northwest, and are
highly respected In the neighborhood.
Mrs. Bassius has two daughters, one Of
whom was single when she met Douglass
Her name is Minnie, and she is pretty and
of trUstful nature. The acquaintance
between Douglass and the young Lady n
pened. Finally be learned she had in
bank the amount received from the govern
nent as indemnity for the tragic death OF
her father. Then, 1t appears, he at once
started in, by hQokttr by crook, TO get this
money. She ipfosmed him that it was
ON deposit in Baltimore bank.
Douglass was. not long in proposing to
pretty Minnie Bussius, and she, flattered
aud deceived by his words. accepted him
Instead OF getting married in the regu-
lar way they eloped aud went to Balti-
more. Doaglass had o double purpose
in doing this.
OF COURSE SHE TRUSTED HIM.
Upon reaching the City of Monuments
the first suggestion Douglass made to his
bride after the marriage was that she
draw from the <bank the s4OO. This she
did and trustingiy turned 1t over to her
husband. Then they visited the big dry
goods houses , ed made some purchases.
Douglass also obtained for himself from
his wiees money a handsome suit OF
clothes. After remaining in baltimore
several days the couple returned to Wash
fpgtop and stopped two days at the
American House. Later they went to
the home OF her mother at No. II II street
north west.
In the meantime he Informed hiswife that
he had deposited the 5000 remaining from
the original amount with the Washington
Loan and Trust Company. 1t has now
developed that Douglass deceived her
aud spent the money for drink, gambling
and with other women, it is said.
Last Saturday Douglass tried to pass
a forged and worthless check upon his
mother-inIa ", Mrs. Bussius. He in
formed her that his father was dying in
Indiana, and he wanted 10 go to his old
home and take his wife with him.
Failing to secure this amount from the
old lady, Douglass induced his wife to
draw up and sign a check for $50 on her
supposed deposit in the bank of the Wash
ington Loan and Trust Company. The
check was cashed by Mr.. over, the grocer,
corner of North Capitol and H streets,
who knew that Minnie had received $400
from the government, and who also knew
f,r tlxy1 10, Is, md
right people, as they had dealt with him
for long time
DESERTED IN BALTIMORE.
After receiving this money Douglass and
his wife started presumably for his home
in Indiana, bat they only got as far as Bal
timore There he gave her 81 bill and
deserted her The young woman was al
most broken hearted when she learned that
she had been deceived and fOrsaken in a
strange city, and quickly communicated
the facts to her mother.
The latter, accompanied by Mrs. Doug
lass sister, went to Baltimore and brought
back the young wife, and she is now in
stalled at the home of her mother, while
Inspector HoIIinberger's detectives are
trying hard TO locate Douglass.
Mrs. Douglass raid yesterday she sigued
the check for S5o in good faith, honestly
believing her fathers indemnity was on
deposit in bank
After deserting his wife in Baltimore,
Douglass came quietly back to Washing
ION. collected a number of bills belonging
10 Mr. ]. W searle, the publisher, at
No. $50 street northwest, pocketed the
money, and, it is believed, decamped.
Last evening Times reporter called on
Mrs. Bussius and learned more of Doug
ASS career in this city. He attempted to
pass worthless check for 5000, made
payable to Samuel Douglass and en-
iorsed by George, Latchford, a mythical
parsonage.
He also tried tpI get possession of all
the furniture of Miss Chase, who resides
at No. 40 / street northwest, by means
If forged check and c.la.tei mortgage to
me of the shylock money brokers. In
addition to this, aes pcsed from time to
time of all of his wffe's jowelry, including
/ gold watch, diamond ring, and several
,ther rings. Wye in Washington he
secured number o : ans and made himself
;olid with busiress .eople by representing
himself as member of the Associated
Press staff.