The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-06-06
ABSCONDER
COMES BACK
Charles Stern, Tired Of EvadIng
Justice, Will Surrender.
HAS MADE A WORLD TOUR
Ne Conducted Two Small Banks In New
York and Ran Away With the De-
poslfpr's Money.
HAS MADE A WORLD TOUR

New York June 6.--After wandering all
over the globe for seven years. Charles
Stern. wearled and penniless. has re-
turned to this city to face any charge of
crime that may be brought against him
and TO accept his punishment meekly.
1T grew unbearable.' he said to re-
porter yesterday The thought that
was fugitive was with me always-on
the veldt OF South Africa, the gold fields
OF South Australia. in India, China-ev-
erywhere / went-morning. noon and
night In my dreams. l can be happier
even IL my return means a long term OF
imprisonment I am ready to take that"
Stern. just past 30. was a bright boy,
brought TO this country from Poland and
before he was 2l was the owner OF two
small banks and money brokerage Off
ces, one at No. 66 Canal street and the
other at No. 30 State street. Not salts
fed with the money he was making In
his business he tried speculation.
He lost. and in March, 1896, he was in
desperate financial straits He vanished
on March 8, and on the following day It
was charged that he had obtained S10l7
from Knauth. Nachod & kuhne on a
check on the Merchants National bank.
which proved to be worthless. on the
same day II was asserted he had obtained
81 fol IS from c. b Richards e. Co. by the
same process and $500 from Clark Broth
ers, of No. 81 Nassau street AT the mo-
ment his DISAPPEARANCE became generally
known his banking houses were besieged
by poor persons, who mourned the loss
OF money they declared they had in
trusted 10 the young banker.
Capt Stephen j. OBrien WAS then in
charge of the detective bureau. and little
more than a week ago IL was reported
10 him that Stern had been arrested as
he was going aboard the steamship
Stockholm at Halifax, y. s.. bound for
Bremen. Stern was arrested, locked up
In Halifax and afterward taken to Mon
tresl and released
IL had some money when I left New
York. said Stern frankly There was
5000 in my pocket. was caught in Hal
flax. II was taken In charge by the po-
lice. What has become OF IL do not
know. but | understand IL was brought
back TO New York and used I'm paying of
many OF the claims against me.
Knowing I could not return 20 New
York. ! went first TO Moncton. Canada,
where / worked for a few months. and
then visited Great Britain. / landed first
In ireland. went TO Londonderry. where
lived some time, and afterward went TO
England. I worked In London, but what
can man do who wants 10 be honest
when they ask him about his past?
could never rise.
"This was I'm the latter part OF 1897. and
South Africa was on the tongue Of every
one In England. ! scraped enough TO get
out there and struck across 20 the gold
territory ] was IN johannesburg. Pre-
toria. and Kimberly. for several months
and had little success trading I'm miners
supplies. The war then threatened every
thing and. knowing II would ruin the
country. I left and managed to reach
Australia by way OF India and afterward
China 7 spent nearly three years IN Aus
tralia. New Zealand and South Australia.
Finally, ] grew tired OF II all and here
am
Stern said he had no friends or rela-
tives left In the city and probably would
give himself up today.
In the papers OF March 6. 1895. there are
accounts Of Sterns arrest I'm Halifax and
n description OF the charges against him.
They are exactly as he describes them.
II could not be learned II charges are stu
pending