The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-11-07
EMBEzzLER is
UNDER ARREST
Charles Goven, Ascending Secre-
tary Of the Produce Dealers
Dispatch, Jailed.
Man Robbed His Benefactor Whom
He Met When Living in
South Dakota.
A Poker Fiend and Faro Sharp, He
Lost Fortune at Gaming
Table.
Special to The Journal.


Chicago. Nov. Charles G. Goven,
absconding secretary of the Produce
Dealers Dispatch, is under arrest at
Portland, Ore. A detective Will leave
to bring him back to Chicago. where
he will have to answer the charge of
having embezzled S25,0O0 OF ms en-
ployers' money.
Goyen disappeared just one year
ago. Since then he has gained fame
In Central America, where he led one
of the many instructions In Nlcara-
qua. Fleeing from there. he returned
to Chicago. drawn by the longing to
see again the wife and child he had
deserted. He found them gone. Learn
ing that they had gone to San Fran
cisco, where Mrs. Goven has relatives,
he turned westward. AT Portland he
was arrested.
Governs career in Chicago was me-
teoric. From a penniless young man,
whose illness awakened the sympa-
thies of Henry Botsford, millionaire
board of trade operator he rose to the
secretaryship of the Produce Dealers
Dispatch and was the confidential man
and close friend of it's president.
A Poker 'Plunger."
Then the allurements of the gam
bling table overcame the young man.
known as "plunger" at poker, he
also was known as a steady and con-
SlSlGllI lOSeI. lit lul lieu Ii ollL ~ q w
poker to faro. At the Sherman house
game he is said to have lost several
thousand dollars. In an attempt to
recoup, he ventured into bookmak-
ing at a local race track. In this VEN
ture he lost $4,000.
On the evening of Nov. Z, 1902,
Goven sought the faro game then op-
Grated in the Sherman house by Ed
ward Wagner and Harry Hoffman.
I've got to make a killing or else
disappear" he said as he drew up a
chair to the table.
: We'll, We'll give you square
deal" said the unctuous dealer, land
may the best man VIM
It was a challenge. All of the other
players drew back from the game, and
the young man, nervous and evidently
under an intense nervous strain, be-
gan play. For nearly nine hours the
game continued. When it ended Goven
did not have the price of a car fare
to his home, at 3714 Sheridan drive
The next morning he sought a.
friend who owed him money.
81 wish you would let me have that
$500" he said. I'm going. away for
q few days. &
Then he Disappeared.
Bonds Were Missing.
The following day Mr.. Botsford dis
covered that a number of government
A further search revealed the fact that
the books and papers of the Produce
Dealers Dispatch had been destroyed.
The government bonds, it was learned
later. had been hypothecated with a
gambler for funds with which to
"buck the tiger"
The story of Governs downfall is one
of ingratitude to his one-time friend.
Henry Botsford. Botsford met Goven
In South Dakota six years ago, ac-
cordiug to stories told by acquaint-
ances of the two men, and befriended
him almost from the first. For five
years, it Is said, he kept Goven in a
good position, finally getting the
young man into the secretaryship OF
the Provision Dealers Dispatch, in
which Botsford was a director.
Then came Governs losses at faro
his embezzlement of funds Entrusted
to him, and his destruction, not only
of the business papers of the Provi.
sion Dealers Dispatch but also of his
benefactor's private papers, to which
as his private secretary, he had access