El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1898-08-11
c. }. Christie Released.

her identity and presence in the city a
secret for the present. Mrs. Christie
came in yesterday afternoon on the
Southern Pacificssnd was met by Rev.
M. Cabell Martin of the Episcopal
church. Mr.. Martin has all along tax
en- great interest in the case Of the
Englishman imprisoned here q few
days ago under the name of
Courtney on the charge of James
Clifford and James Conklin that
he had obtained money from them on
false pretenses. He has exerted him
self in the unfortunate mans behalf in
every possible way, because he believ-
ed that there was something in the
case that had not been brought out in
the examinations.
Accordingly when Courtney wished
to communicate with his family he con-
fded to Mr.. Martin certain facts con-
corning himself and asked him to tele-
graph to his wife. Mrs. G. j. Christie.
at Portland, Oregon, telling her where
she might leave their two children
while she came to Ell Paso at once,
o. ole. During u S she time ne WHICH od
has elapsed since this telegram was
sent, Mr.. Martin has used every pos
sible means &c clear the matter up. He
is naturally much disinclined to talk
oOOut VIC WdbtcT ob dill, duu has UFl0u
to have the matter suppressed as far as
possible. He still thinks that there
are good many things to be cleared
up, and has no intention of deserving
the unfortunate people in their dis
tress.
The story that is here printed has
been obtained from various sources,
but is believed to be substantially cor
rect. About eleven years ago G. j.
Christie, as he called himself, met in
this this w i0untry 10 young English
ried. Since then Mr.. and Mrs.
Christie have made Portland, Oregon.
their home. Mr.. Christie is D
civil engineer and mining expert. He
has had a good practice, and has
been enabled to live in very good style.
The family were highly respected in
Portland, and Mr.. Christie was held in
very high estimation. Mr.. and Mrs.
Christie have two fine young boys, the
Oldest 81 years old.
Last summer Mr.. Christie went to
the KlOndike gold fields, as he says on q
special mission for the British govern
ment, hunting up improved trails.
When he returned last fall be left his
wife and children in Portland, where
they had u happy and comfor table
home, and started back to
England on Il visit. And
here new chapter begins
a chapter that in time precedes what
has just been told. At the time Chris
tie was married he represented himself
to bs an Euglishman who had left his
country On account of some family diff
fculty. Mrs. Christie never suspected
for a moment that there was any thing
wrong with him in any way.
She always understood that
he had been an officer in the
British army, and that his parents
still lived in England. When they
were married he iutimated that there
were some things he didn't think it
best to tell, and simply asked her to
it. She promised, and has faithfully
kept her promise. Her husband has
been most affectionate and kind to her
and to the children in every possible
way, and during eleven years she has
never had cause to regret her promise.
She didn't knOw-she didn't care to
more than he chose to tell
her. She speaks so fondly of her hus-
band and her dear children and the
many happy years they have spent to-
gether.
When Mr.. Christie left to go back to
England, she understood that while
the visit was partly on business
matters connected with his govern
ment mission, it was very largely in
order to effect reconciliation with
his parents. When he reached Eng
land his father came down to
see him. There the two |
went over the matter and all was salts !
adjusted. There was a COM |
plete reconciliation and reunion with |
his family. His mother wanted him |
ho. II tn hn Cot T., e.,
and family, and return to England to |
live with her.
He started back to til is country. He |
seems to have got in bad com any and |
TO have lost his money in gambling. |
He borrowed some small sums from |
friends in this city, failed to repay,
and was arrested. The prosecution |
has now Withdrawn its charge, and |
Courtney has been released.
Christie started back to this country.
When be left England he had eight |
thousand dollars in his possession. He
must have got into some sort of trouble |
IN shipboard, for when he left New
\ Ork on his way to Hot Springs he had |
)nly half that amount. He has kept up
/ regular correspondence with his wife |
I'll the time he has been away, and has
Kept her in formed at all times of his
" Whereabouts. When he was at Hot
opr. ngS she sent him four hundred dol
ars on Geographic request from him.
When he reached this city he start
ID in to lead pretty lively life. 1t
vas noticed that he was drinking pref
y hard, and gambling far more than
vas good for him. He borrowed var
Gus sums of money, and promised to re
Jay his friends when he received re.
nittances from his agent in New York
The money did not come, his sunny
sy friends became suspicious, and had
i'm arrested.
Christie, alias Courtney, claims that
e has all sorts of claims in New York
mining claims, timber claims, land ,
laims, and everything. He says the ,
ian Gage has seemingly not treated ,
i'm JUST right, and he doesn't quite I'M
erssand what the matter is. He is
Ire the matter will all be straighten-
j out in time. ,
1t is strange case indeed. Mrs
hristie says she knows nothing of
er husbands history prior to the
Ist eleven years. But she seems to ,
ave known or suspected that he was
DING under an assumed name. When 7
I'D upon her arrival here that her =
usband was going under the name of
aptain Courtney, OF the British royal