Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 6, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 September 1897 — BETRAYED HIS TRUST. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

BETRAYED HIS TRUST.

His Greed for Gain Caused Him to Lose SIOO,OOO of Church Money. Charles M. Charnley has been known in church circles of Chicago for thirty years as a gentleman of sterling character and exemplary life. His record fop truth and honesty had led his friends to repose implicit confidence in him and be was appointed treasurer of two or three of the funds of the Fourth Presbyterian Church. Mature in years, firm in the faith, stalwart in the service of the church, and one of its faithful stewards, he was too well trusted to be asked for a bond commensurate with the amount of money he handled. His last report showed $95,000 in assets and cash on hand. Secretary E. C. Ray, not being satisfied with his report, went quietly to work to investigate the books. He found that where $20,000 in the bank was claimed, the bank showed only $163. Charnley confessed that he had lost $58,000 of the church funds, but

subsequent examinations of the account) show that the amount lost will probably exceed SIOO,OO. As a result of his embezzlement sixty schools and academies, which were supported by the funds of the church, will have to be closed. After the discovery of his enormous defalcations he walked the streets of Chicago a free man for nearly five weeks. During this time he was shadowed almost continually by detectives, but a few days ago he escaped surveillance and has not been seen since. It is thought that he has sought suicide as a refuge from his crime.

CHARLES M. CHARNLEY.