The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-04-21
always charmed me. I should certainly
get more justice there than here.

Wells 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 $4,000, and in the following Novem-
bers140 900 more. On one night in Novem-
Der he broke the bank five times and won
$4,000. Casino frequenters gave him the
name of ''Bonne-Chance" Wells. Good
Luck Wells that means.
He bought a ma gnificent steam yacht Of
1900 tons. the Palais Royal, for 100000
This was much less than its original cost.
He was in fl enjoyment of his lightly
earned fortune when ne was arrested for
swindlng and sent to Portland Prison.
Wells only friend at the present moment
is young neice, upon whom he is entirely
dependent, and who was very faithful to
him during his Imprisonment. He appear
ed deeply grateful to her. He has improv-
ed greatly in appearance since his i'm
prisonment. Owing to the rich living in
which he INDUCED Immediately after
breaking the bank he became very corpu-
lent and unhealthy looking. He was also
round shouldered and of ungainly appear
ance. T he physical exercise he was made
to undergo while in prison has made him
perfectly upright, while the diet has re-
duced his obesity. Immediately after
leaving prison he changed the color of his
beard from gray 10 brown by means Of
dye and he now looks barely over forty
years of age.
zLA .,;1 ao-Is-
$4,000 by false pretenses, including the
sum of 800, 900 from a certain Miss Philli-
more. His method was to insert adver-
tisements stating that a substantial yearly
income would be guaranteed to the person
who assisted him to purchase patents for
certain inventions. He always pocketed
whatever sums were sent him. Some sent
small accounts, but in many instances he
obtained many thousands of dollar.
According to the statements he issued
he had applied for provisional protection
for almost every conceivable object under
the sun. Among other things he said he
wished to patent wree an apparatus for
utilizing the power and heat of waste
steam, another for detecting bad coin, hot
air engines air motars and a large number
of steam engines.
With part of the money he received he
bought the yacht Palais Royal, and with
the rest OF it he broke the bank Of Monte
Carlo. He had a great time in Paris walk
ing up and down the Bots de Boulogne,
and entertained hosts of actresses and
hangers-on. Then he returned to London
and found he was far from popular with
those who had contributed to his success.
Henry Labouchere exposed him.
One day ne ordered a cabman to drive
him with all possible speed to his yacht,
which was then lyinf1 at Plymouth. He
proposed to go to Portugal, because he
understood he could not be extradited from
that country on the charge Of obtaining
money under false pretenses in England.
Unfortunately for him, he made a brief
stop at Havre France. The Scotland yard
detectives were already on his track, and
one of them was waitinf for him just as
ne was about to leave Havre for Portugal.
He was arrested. extradited and taken
back to England. There ne was sentenced
to eight years penal 'servitude and sent
to Portland Prison. This term he reduced
to six years by MS good conduct.