The Jersey City news., 1902-05-31
RIxTON vANISHES
Wealthy Passaic Jeweler
Missing Now Six
Days.
especial q ssThe Jersey city News.'')

Especial to The Jersey City News.')
PASSAIC, May 81 1902.-Passaic has a
mystery in the unexplained absence Of
Charles Rixfon, jeweler and leading
business man. 1t is also talking Of the
departure on the same day Of Miss Eliza
beth G. Vreeland Rixton left his wife
and child and sacrificed a business that
had yielded an income of $4,000 year. 1t
is alleged that valuable property is MISS
ing from the store which he had con-
Quoted for nine years and on which he
had given a bill of sale. and committed
his wife's brothers to obligations amount
ling to $3.50. He is supposed now to be
in Canada.
Rixton was thrown from his bicycle two
years ago while speeding through the
main street Of Passaic. Mortally injured
as it was thought. he was restored to
health under the ministrations Of Miss
Vreeland. at that time head nurse in the
General Hospital Members of the family
say that Rixton was never quite himself
after that episode
Rixton is thirty-five years old, and for
many years was employed by the Erie
Railroad as telegraph operator, and IL
confidential capacities. For the last nine
years he has been the Official timekeeper
Of the railroad. From his establishment
in Lexington avenue, opposite the. Erie
station, timepieees were set by wire, and
there clocks and watches were brought
fro mremote points along the line to be
regulated or mended. In addition the
townspeople gave him their patronage and
the jeweller built upa lucrative business.
This good fortune, it is said, was due in
no small measure to the influence Of Mrs.
Rixton, whose father and brothers are
merchants and property owners in Pas
sale Rixton's brother-in-law. Frederick
Hardifer. financed the jewelry business,
and the disappearance of his relative is a
hard blow TO him. The young wife is
prostrated at the home of her mother an
was unable yesterday to offer any ex-
PLANTATION of her husbands conduct.
Rixton informed his wife two weeks ago
that he intended to sell out and remove
to Elizabeth The following day an auc-
tioneer took possession of his store. The
sale, however Jagged, and in order to
make it attractive Rixton obtained from
Rubenstein Brothers, jewelers., of Maiden
lane, additional stock valued at $500.
Frederick Hardifer indorsed the note
given to insure the New York firm against
loss, with the understanding that his
brother-sn-law would settle with Ruben
stein Brothers from the proceeds of the
sale. Instead of carrying out the original
programme, Rixton went to New York
a week ago today, gave bill of sale tc
! his creditors and entered into an agree
ment with them by which. he was to be-
| come the manager of a branch store OF
/ Rubenstein Brothers In Elizabeth. It il
! said that he received substantial
! amount in settlement.
! While Mrs. Ftixton and her daughter
were at church last Sunday. the husband
! and father went away, taking with hin
! two valises filled with clothing and hi:
| personal effects No word in explanation
was left, but in the afternoon Mrs. Rtx-
ton received a telegram from her HUSBAND
! dated New York. saying he had gone tc
| Elizabeth and would be home for sup
! per. Since then no tidings of him have
| been received by the family. Personals
| promising forgiveness have been unan-
swered.
Notice was sent to Rubensteir
Brothers. and on Monday last a represen-
| tative of the firm took possession Of the
| jewelry store in Passaic. It is asserted
i that costly plate and money, amounting
/ in all to 81, 900 were missing.
Inquiry in Passaic revealed the fact that
4 a few hours after Rixton started for New
/ York Miss Vreeland, who lived with hel
sister in a cottage near Rixton's store
J had left the city Two trunks preceded
her: She announced that she was going
to Port Dram, eoaling station on the
Delaware, Lackawanna and Western
Railroad. in response to call for nurse
transmitted through Mr.. Rixton.
There is no doubt in my miSd. sait
Mrs Hardifer, the mother of Mrs. Rixton
THAT my son-in-law has been led away
/ We are naturally shocked at his protract
ed absence and the financial entanglemen
in which ne has left his family. My
daughter was a good and true wife t.
him His flight has nearly killed her ano
has unsettled the business affairs Of botf
/ of my sons.
Miss Treeland is a brunette, twenty-five
years OLD, and is said to be very attrac-
tive. She formerly resided in Ridgeweod
She resigned her position in the hesptta
about a year ago.