The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-03-13
DAVID c. BRYAN AGAIN
ST. LOUIS DIAMOND ROBBERY
BRINGS HIM BEFORE THE PUBLIC.
"Chappie" Moran, a Crook, Met an Ac-
tress Through the Doctors
tally.

public attention in St. Louis this time figur-
/ Ing in a sensational case. IL was only a few
months ago that his plans to marry a rich
woman IN that city while he had a wife Hv-
| Ing In this city were nipped in the bud The
| newspapers Of st. Louis aired his preten-
| sions at the time, delving bit into his past
| history. Now he appears in connection with
| the arrest OF "Chapple" Moran, a noted
| crook. whose speciality has been swindling
| the poolrooms and poolrooom frequenters
on q "wire-tapplng' scheme. Moran wa:
arrested few days ago for robbing s. L.
| Highleyman. an official OF the Missouri Pa
cifc Railroad. boarding at the Beers Hotel
or $3.50 worth OF diamonds. Subjected to
the detectives customary sweating
process. Moran dropped an incidental re-
mark which led the police to believe that
Moran had been baked in an attempt to
steal the diamonds of Miss Minnie Seligman,
the leading woman Of the Grand Opera
House stock company OF that city. Bryan
introduced one Vallandingham to Miss Selig-
man, she says. and Vallandingham in turn
brought in his friend, the crook, passing
him off the wealthy Mr.. Ames. of Bos-
ton. as man who would be willing to back
Miss Seligman in an elaborate theatrical
venture. The story Miss Seligman tells of
the apparent purpose to rob her is an in
teresting one.
MISS SELIGMAN'S STORY.
DR.. David Clarendon Bryan, who still has
the effrontery to deny that he is the In
annapolis man whose wife obtained d.
vorce from him a few weeks ago, insisting
that the Indianapolis mans name is Dr.
David Cardwell Bryan. has been the house
physician of the Linden Hotel, where Miss
Sedgman has been staying.
Dr. Bryan came to me-" said Miss Selig-
man. and asked that he might present an
influential friend He said his friend was
himself wealthy, and, having been impressed
with my work in the theater. would be will
ing 10 do what he could TO advance me pro-
fessiC rally. 1 accepted the Introduction. 1t
was TO Mr.. Vallandingham / had dinner
with Mr.. Vallandingham, who one evening
conhded to me that his friend Mr.. Ames,
"a Boston, would, II he gave the word, back
me as a star in my own company. He re-
quested to introduce Mr.. Ames, assuring me
mat he was one OF the Boston millionaires
or that name.
This MIR. Ames was presented. Mr.. VAL
iandlnSnam suggested that We buy the En-
gIlsh rights to produce the drama tization Of
Hall Gaines novel The Christian We had
several conferences on the subject. All the
while l believed the men were honest and
ing bera 10 be was al only 19e last
buying me diamonds at the same time re-
questins to see those which l already pos
seSsed. L showed them a sunburSt and some
other jewels. i left the gems on my dresser
and then they proposed drinking a bottle
or Prepared cocktail 1 declined and held
nave not seen them since"
Moran, alias Ames, IL seems, had been
arrested after this meeting for the High
Ieyman robbery just as he was boarding
a train at East st. Louis for Chicago. He
was not suspected Of the robbery at first,
SO much confidence did the Hotel Beers
N he xrpll -H-n al
put the detectives who dropped in the hotel
spied Moran and Immediately recognized
him. They kept him under surveillance, but
he got his trunk down to the Union Station
and had it checked for Chicago. Then he
went to East st. Louis, but the detectives
caught him there. VaIlandingham, whom
with Moran on the train when "Chappie'
was arrested. The detectives failed TO ar
rest him, however. He left a hotel bill at
the Planters unpaid.
"CHAPPIE'S" STORY OF BRYAN.
"Chappie" Moran corroborates Miss Selig-
mans story in the main, denying only that
there was any intention to give her drink
and rob her.
Il met Vallandingham at Hot Springs.
Ark, two months ago." he said. He came
10 st. Louis and fell in love with Miss
Seligman. When 1 came here he asked me
to help him make himself strong with
her by being introduced as sucker from
Boston with money j helped him out,
that's all. That diamond flash in Miss
Seligman's room was a bluff Vallanding-
ham wouldn't have asked me to play this
game IL he hadn't gone sore on this DIR.
Bryan at the Lindell. Bryan didn't like VAL
landingham's attention to her and began TO
knock; Then Vallandingham asked me to
play the stool pigeon and help him get
even with the Doctor"
Bryan vehemently denied that he had in
troduced Nallandingham to Miss Seligman.
although the actress fatty contradicts him.
Bryan is son OF a. respectable family
in this city. He has figured I'm a number
or questionable affairs. Several years ago
Chicago officers came down here and tried
city, but Bryan went down In Shelby
county, had himself indicted for carrying
concealed weapons, and thus prevented the
officers from taking him from out the juris-
diction OF the Indiana law. He has been
in indianapolis within the last ten days and
was here when his wife secured a divorce,
although he did not appear at the trial St
Louis papers publish an excellent likeness
OF him.
WHO "CTIAPPIE" is.
"Chappie' Moran is native of Liverpool,
England. His proper name is Charles. He
is about twenty-seven years old, well
dressed and worldly. His first experience
In st. Louis was about six years ago, when
he went there with a string of race horses
He had some fast ones in his stable, includ-
DR.. Wilcox, a full brother to Dr. Hasbrook.
Luck went against him eventually and the
high roller had TO bethink himself to live in
his accustomed luxury. He turned wire
Taper. The term is joke when applied
TO the Moranesque methods. He merely
called himself wiretapper, and made all
his money, so those who know him we'll say
by representing himself as a bold criminal
who stole from the telegraph valuable in
formation pertaining TO the race track. To
the real wiretapper and out-and-out crook
Chappie Moran Is a counterfeit.
"Chappies s. game was always successful
and profitable. lnasmuch as his victim be-
came as much a criminal himself, he
has never been arrested for separating peO-
Chappie worked prominent ST. Louis fur
niture dealer for $50 and made $3.50 as easily
as Vanderbilt can sign a check.
lie showed the furniture man his set OF
Geographic Instruments representing him.
self as an expert operator.
II will tap the wire said Chappie, and
get the name of the winner of a certain
race in Chicago before IL reaches the book
maker. Then I'll give you the winning
horse and you go bet on him and Wen
divide the profits"
IL seemed an easy thing The only risk
being taken was by Chappie. and the furni-
tuTe man volunteered to make the killing
u 500 one. Chappie pretended to get his
was playing double. He went 10 q book
maker OF his acquaintance and offered for
half the money TO steer bet of 500 to the
book which was sure 10 lose. The poolroom
keeper Joined the game and agreed not TO
call the result or the race until Chappie
was posted. When the returns came in
Chappie went TO his victim and gave him
as the winner the name OF a horse which
had finished about NTH or sixth. The fur
niture man tubI4ant AT doing a poOlrOorn
lott Iaxx- Nhaf lies