The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-12-31

tempt at getting divorce last summer
had been kept secret and very few
persons were aware Of the last chap
ter in the millionaire's marital affairs.
At the Grigsby home On Park avenue,
a negro butler said that Miss Grigsby
was not in, and that he did not know
where she was. ''She may make a
statement to the press later the man
volunteered. . ,%@'' ass =: s...a
~. Yerkes' Strange, Career. 49, -.
il Yerkes' career WIS one of strange
turns, marked by strange relations
with society. Thirty years ago he was
preparing, to leave a public prison,
stamped with the; stigma of convict.
At 20 Yerkes was a broker clerk
at 20 he was q member of the firm, and
/ in 1871 he had become one Of Philadel-
phia's leading, brokers. Among his
many customers was the city treasurer,
Marcer,. who speeulated with city
funds. He was called upon for an
accounting, and the truth came out.
Yerkes Sent to Prison.
Then came the startling statement
that Yerkes knew that the money Mar
Ger had given to him for investment
had been drawn wrongfully from the
lublic Golfer! This statement finally
found foundation strong enough to
secure the indictment Of the city treas
urer Is broker as well as the city treas
urer. Both were declared guilty.
In the office Of the district attorney
in Philadelphia Is city hall exists this
condensed record Of the end Of Yerkes
prominent life in that town. It tells
Of his trial for embezzlement and lar.
ceny, conviction and sentence to two
ears and nine months in the eastern
penitentiary in Philadelphia and 5000
fine. This was Feb. 10, 1872. IN =.
In this prison for the next seven
months was Charles T. Yerkes' home
With his occupancy Of it began pref
sty little drama which bis friends
watched with pleasure and approval
fully appreciating its pathos, and
afte1ward it's se1nitragedy. : - =.
The Conyict's Wife.
! Yerkes' wife was young and it il
said that she was very pretty. She wa
| also credited with broad culture ant
brilliant conversational powers. During
his trial she scarcely left his side AM
after he had been locked up sh'
doubled her devotion. There was littl
or nothing left Of the fortune whicl
had been theiers before the wreck, 81
she took cheap rooms. These room
were near the prison, and as often a
the prison rules allowed she went from
them to her husbands cell to cheer hin
in his misfortune. She kept him con
stantly supplied with little delicacie
to brighten prison fare and added man.
pleasing comforts to the rough furn
ishings of his cell. This was the on
pleasing feature Of the episode thi
faithful wife's devotion. @
At the end Of seven months, Sept
81, 1872, Mr. Yerkes protestations o
innocence were seemingly accepted b,
the Pennsylvania authorities, for o.
! that date he was granted full pardon
and discharged from custody. But wit
this agreeable event came what locke
like the tragedy Of the domestic pic
| ture. Charles T. Yerkes disappeare
completely from Philadelphia and tn
1 devoted wife was left behind withou
knowledge Of her husband IS where
about. People who knew her then sa
4 she was almost heartbroken.
Buried in the West.
i For several years thereafter nothin
was heard in Philadelphia of the fnar
cial genius and pardoned prisoner. H
had buried himself in the west and,
is said, had temporarily abandoned th
name Of Yerkes until he should recove
4 from The blow.
i The story goes that no one in Phils
4 delphia heard Of Charles Z. Yerke
again until, several years afterwar.
| he appeared, determined but smiling, j
4 Chicago. BY this time he had take
4 again the old name, and it at once b
came evident that if the story that /
j had abandoned it were true, he had nj
I Fase ~ e -