Evening journal., 1897-09-06
HEROBBEDCHARITTES'
Chicago Church Treasurer Proves
a Defaulter.
HE HAS MADE A FULL CONFESSION
Charles M. CharnIey Pecuiated About
100000 For the Purpose of Spec
uIating, but His Ventures All
Proved Unlucky.

4lOO,OOO For the purpose OF Spec
ulating, but His Ventures All
Proved Unlucky.
Chicago, Sept. 6.-Charles NJ. Charm
ley, for Is years n member of the Fourth
Presbyterian church. Superior and Rush
streets, is a self confessed defaulter and
is now badly wanted for mlsappropria-
ton OF the funds intrusted TO his care
as treasurer of the Presbyterian board |
of aid for colleges and academies and |
in his capacity as comptroller of the |
parish benevolent society. Charnley has |
been missing since last Monday.
The extent Of his defalcation Is vari |
ously estimated from 100000 to Sl25,OO0. !
To this may be added the loss Of Charm
ley's bond, which was guaranteed by
the American Surety company of New
York for $500 but is represented by
members of the company to have been
nullified as 1t ceased to be In effect aft
er June /.
Elder Charnley's whereabouts still re-
mains a mystery, and all efforts to
find him have been fruitless since his
disappearance. Detectives hired by the
American Surety company were on his
trail and shadowing his movements
closely up to "a hours Of that time. but
their man eluded them and left not the
slightest clew.
1t Is believed by many that he has
drowned himself in the lake Others
think that he is in hiding, and one Of
the many rumOrs places him in the
Manhattan Beach hotel New York
However detectives admit themselves
to be wholly at sea.
Many Colleges Robbed.
Many Presbyterian colleges and acad-
emies in different parts of the country
are largely dependent on the board of
aid which Charnley robbed, and 1t is
feared that some of them will be seri-
ously embarrassed. Following are the
institutions affected by the defalca-
tions:
Albany, Oregon; Albert Lea (for wo-
mem, Minnesota; Alma. Michigan; Bel
vue, Nebraska; Coates (for women),
Terre Haute. Ind; German Theological
seminary. Dubuque, Ia. Hastings, Ne
braska; Highland, Kansas; Montana,
| Deer Lodge, Mon; Occidental, Los An
geles; Oswego (for women). Kansas;
Pierre, South Dakota; Southwest, Del
Norte, Colo. Whitworth, Sumner,
Wash; Buena Vista, Storm Lake, Ia;
Columbia High school, Lebanon, KY;
Corning, Iowa; Geneseo, Illinois; Glen
Rose, Texas; Grassy Cove. Tennessee;
Huntsville, Tennessee; Caldwell, Idaho;
Lewis, Wichita, Kan; New Market
Tennessee; Pendleton, Oregon; Poy-
nette, Wisconsin,; Princeton, Kentucky;
Salt Lake, Utah; Scotland, South Da-
kota, and Union, Anna Ills
Charnley was not content With
bringing ruin upon the struggling little
colleges and academies of the church
He went further and took $4,000 on
Of the suffering hand of charity al
treasurer of the Fourth Presbyterian
Church Benevolent association. Th
money given to charity and which h
was supposed to have devoted TO il
purpose went instead to Wild specula
ton Not only this but money held IN
trust for personal friends and from
others in the church. who put thei
silver in the hands of Mr. Charnley
with a faith that was sublime, is gone
Broke Down and Confessed.
1t was something over a month agl
: that the first knowledge Of Charnley'
misdoings came to the ears Of any o
the multitude of people connected di
rectly or indirectly with either of tn
two institutions which are now lef
with looted eXchequers.
During July some suspicion wa
aroused among the officials and mem
bers Of the board Of control of the al
for colleges and academies. An investi
CATION was instituted. and startling ir
t | regularities were disclosed in the man
/ agement of the society's funds.
Charniey was confronted by the evi
dence in the hands of the committee o
, Investigation. The proof Of his gull
=, was too clear for him to escape II
broke down and made a confession
which. he said, was complete and unre
s served, telling them that the funds ha
e been lost in unfortunate speculation
Q and that his thefts had extended owe
e a greater part Of his term of Office q
+ treasurer Of the society.
The matter was laid Immediately b'
, fore the board of control, and Charnle
was called upon to make a report Of II
existing condition of the society's e'
]. chcquer and of the funds remaining
t his hands. This report was made at
r. meeting Of the board held July %. an
3. at that time he maintained that he W,
n short $5S,O0O. 1t is now learned, how
= ever, that nearly the whole amount
. the aid society's funds-S97, ,00O-h'
: been swept away.
- Mr.. Charnley was not a man Of e.
l travagant tastes. For some time
l. has lived with his family in an unpr
tentious two-story house at 300 Schill
d street In comparison with the impo
Y ing mansion of his brother, Jam
" Charnley. across the street, it seems
mere cottage. Fer two or three weel
il has been vacant He himself hi
been known as a thriving dealer In re
estate. having offices in the Montai
IL building 1ll5 Monroe street. The
g were adjoining the offices occupied
?! the aid society. Of which he was trea
S urer. He surrendered these offices al
IS closed ont his business about the tin
: his defalcations we're discovered Al
p, when his resignation was summari
!. demanded.
Speculation caused Charnley's rui
1t was learned that the broke
through whom the defaulter transact
his business are New York fin
e. which has n branch here. In his co
as fession to Secretary Ray the missi