Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1899-06-02
An EXTRAORDINARY MAN
Sketch of the Life of Charles
Wells, Who Broke the
Bank of Monte Carlo.
HIS PHENOMENAL GAINS.
Broke the Bank Five Times One
Night in November and Pocket
ed $4,000.

and Lived Like n Prince Until Arrest
ed for Swindiing-Convicted of obj ain
ing $4,000 Under False Pretenses-
Kept the Money.
The man who broke the bank at
Monte Carlo, the man about whom the
once familiar song was written, has re-
Gently been released from jail His
name is Charles Wells.
He is one of the most extraordinary
characters in Europe. With money
coined out of airy promises he went to
Monte Carlo and won a great fortune.
Wells phenomenal winning began
in 1891. In July of that year he is
said to have won 100000. and in the
following November $4,000 more
On one night in November he broke
the bank five times and won $4,000.
Casino frequenters gave him the name
of "BonneChance" Wells. Good
Luck" Wells that means.
He bought a magnificent steam yacht
of 1000 tons, the Palais Royal, for
100000. This was much less than it's
original cost He was in full enjoy
ment of his lightly earned fortune when
he was arrested for swndling and sent
to Portland Prison. He is siXty-two
years old, but looks much younger.
He neither smokes nor drinks.
Wells only friend at the present mo-
ment is young niece, upon whom he
is entirely dependent, and who was
very faithful to him during his impris-
onment He appeared deeply grateful
to her. He has improved greatly in
appearance since his Imprisonment.
Wells was convicted of obtaining
nearly Sl50,C00 by false pretences. IN
GLIDING the sum of 100000 from a
certain Miss Philimore. His method
was to insert advertisements stating
that a substantial yearly income would
be guaranteed to the person who assist
ed him to purchase patents for certain
inventions. He always pocketed what
ever sums were sent him. Some sent
small amounts. but in many instances
he obtained thousands of dollars.
According to the statements he issued
he had applied for provisional protec-
ton for almost every conceivable OBJ
Ject under the sun. Among other
things he said he wished to patent were
an apparatus for utilizing the power
and heat of waste steam, another for
detecting bad coin, hot air engines. va
por engines, petroleum engines, air mo-
tors and large number of steam en-
gines.
With part of the money he received
he bought the yacht Palais Royal, and
with the rest of it he broke the bank
at Monte Carlo. He had a great time
in Paris walking up and down the Bois
de Boulogne, and entertained hosts of
actresses and hangeYs-on. Then he re-
turned to London and found he was far
from popular with those who had con-
tributed to his success. Henry La
bouchere exposed him.
One day he ordered a cabman to
drive him with all possible speed to his
yacht which was then lying at Ply
mouth. He proposed to go to Portugal
because he understood he could not be
eXtradited from that country on the
charge of obtaining money by false pre-
fences in England. Unfortunately for
him. he made a brief stop at Havre. in
France. The Scotland Yard detectives
were already on his track, and one of
them was waiting for him just as he
was about to leave Havre for Portugal .
He was arrested, eXtradited and taken
back to England. There he was SEN
fenced to eight years penal servitude
ana sent to Portland Prison. This
term he reduced to six years by his
good conduct.
He remains under police surveillance
for the next two years, and for any
misconduct is liable to be taken back
to serve out his sentence. People who
intrust him with money will therefore
have certain additional guarantee
that he will not misappropriate it.
Among other things he is expected to
refrain from criticism of the prison dis
cipliHe, but he declared that he had
been unjustly convicted and harshly
treated.
When first put in prison he was set
to work at breaking stone, the usual
occupation Of the Portland cOiVicts.
but after while ne was made a book
Ee-i er. lie spent his spare time in
mathematical calculations designed to
assist him in breaking the bank once
more. He also INDUCED in instrument
tai music lie WAS Organist in the Ro-
man Catholic chapel at the prison.
His behavior was excellent with one
exec option. when his offence was an act
Of generosity. For giving a ten-ounce
! LOAF OF bread to a fellow convict he was
condemned hy the governor to two
days solitary confinement in the pun
| ishment cell en- Nc. l diet, and fined
foriy-two marks ard a months class
! "Fctty-tWo marks means seven days
| deduction from th. rebate of sentence
to which good conduct entities every
! convict. and months class" entails
the substitution of sruei for tea at sup
| per time. and the prohibition Of letters
and visitors.
During Wells trial he was made a
bankrupt. The Liabilities were heavy
| and the assets con sisted only of the
yacht palais ROYAL. which was sold for
"A trife, compared with the 100000
Wells paid for it. and the 100000 he
alleges it was worth.
| Ilr>' D. ga .trihh statue.
The first equestrian statue erected ~