Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-03-19

Dead.beat-A Whole Raft of Victimized
Females,
From the Louisville Courier Journal
Count Bernard Leo Berendes, who
married young lady of this city in New
Albany short time ago, and who was
heralded as Prussian of noble blood,
was quietly arrested in this city last week
and taken to Dayton, Ohio, to answer q
charge of grand larceny. The Dayton
Journal of Monday has the following
highly interesting account Of his opera
tons:
Bernard Leo Berendes is a native Of
Prussia, and is of noble birth Owing to
some irregularities at home, he suddenly
left for this country with q woman whom
he says was not his wife, arriving here in
the summer of 1867. He deserted the
woman few days after he landed in New
York, and proceeded to Hanover, Ind,
where he had relatives. At Hanover he
married young woman, and, after stay
ing short time with her, got possession
of all her ready money, and soon after.
ward turned up in this city--about the
lst of December, 1867. Here Berendes
assumed to be a nobleman and land
buyer, and there are few pieces of prop.
erty in this vicinity that he didn't talk OF
purchasing. He boarded at two or three
places, and put on good deal of style,
and seemed to have plenty of money.
He was very popular with the women,
and at one time was engaged to marry
three females at the same time. One oi
these lived out on the hill; another was a
young woman who lived with Mr.. WE'LL,
corner of Warren and Dock streets,
where B. boarded when he went off; the
third was the daughter of Nicholas Stsd.
feldt, whose saloon and match manufac'
tory are at 23S Main street. Berendes
| succeeded in raising small sums from
several persons here, dnring the winter,
among them Casper Zugelder, who in
formed us that the Count stuck him
pretty sharply
Mr.. Stadfeldt did not take liking to
Berendes, snd he got q notion that, in
stead of waiting on his daughter, he was
trying to steal his money, and he sewed
a package Of six hundred dollars in the
lining of his vest. However, Berendes
had his nuptials announced in church,
and, believing from that his intentions
honest, s. took the money from his vest
and returned it to the accustomed place
10 bureau drawer. This was about the
latter part of March, 1868. The last
night Berendes spent in the city was at
Stadfeldt's saloon, where he was drink
ing beer with Casper Zugelder and some
friends; and he retired about midnight,
after bidding adieu to his intended. Soon
after he left, and the family had gone to
he'd. some one knocked at the door, and
il proved to be Berendes, who stated that
he couldn't get in his boarding
and asked if he couldn't stay there. Mr..
Stadfeldt gave him permission to sleep
on lounge in the room, and he accord
ingly retired. In the morning Berendes
was missing, and so was the six hundred
dollars. The drawer had been unlocked
and the money carried off On making
in uuiry early next morning, it was found
tbas Berendes had left the city on the
early train. The girl at WELLS had
helped him carry his baggage to the de-
not and she was to follow him to Gin
cinnati during the day. She went there,
bnt was unable to find him, and returned
hroken.hearted. The wife of Berendes
soon afte-ward came here, and, in com
nanv with a member of Mr, Stadfeldt's
family, went id pursuit OF her husband
hut their efforts were fruitless. AZ va
rious times tidings reached us OF Beren-
dss' operations. At Fisdericktown, Md,
Il was alleged, be got into trouble with
hia landlord by trying to run away with
his daughter and his money. He also
rnr short careers in Baltimore, Wash
ton, Pittsburg, Cleveland, Chicago, St.
Louis, etc. :,
Sometime ago United States Marshal
Hale was employed 10y Mr.. Stadieldt to
effect the arrest of Berendes, if possible;
and he has been on the track OF the fugi-
tive for some time. Last Tuesday the
Marshal learned from gentleman, with
whom be had been corresponding, that q
man exactly answering the description
of Count Berendes, was in LOUISVILLE,
where be had just been getting married.
and be was preparing to leave the place.
Marshal Hale telegraphed his corre-
gnondent to have q lawyer to bring
an action for debt against him, to hold
him until he could get there; and pro.
curing the necessary papers here, and
warrant from Squire Sigman, be started
for Columbus on last Thursday morning
10 Get a requisition for Berendes. He
secured che document at Columbus, and
hasteniuS on to Cincinnati he met John
Stadtfeldt, whom be took with him to
identity the gay Lotharic. Early FRI
day morning Hale hunted up the lawyer,
from whom he learned that Berendes was
At liberty = his mother-in-law having
went on his bond for three hundred dol
lars. There was no time to 90 to Frank
fort to have his requisilion acknowledged.
II was nov or never" And procuring
an officer, Hale went to the residence OF
Bereudes' wife whom be married in the
name of Heyer Bour) and found him at
home. The Count didn't know Hale,
bat recognized the officer, who bad
served the summons on him the day be-
fsre, and the officers explained that there
was something wrong about the bond
which berendos would have to 20 to the
courthouse and reciify. BE was willing
10 20 and bis wife determined TO accom-
pany him, but Hale told her she was not
needed, but if she desired she could take
the next car las they were in hurry)