The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-06-01
A CLEVER swINDLER.


HOW ''BARoN GEyzA Won soMosKEox'' vIsrrEE
THE CENTENNIAL AS AN AUSTRIAN COMMITS
sIoNER.
On tho 10Th OF last month the Austrian Consul Mr.
Hugo Frissch, communicated TO Superintendent Wal
ling tho TACT that Hungarian gentleman had arrived in
this country claiming 10 be representative OF his
government to the Centennial Exposition The Consul
requested Superintendent wallng 10 keep track
OF the bogus commissioner until papcrs OF
extradition should arrive Tho matter was
placed in the hands Of Detective George Elder
OF the Central ONCE. The description or the man fur
nshcd by the Austrian Consul showed that he was
travelling under the Of Baron Geyza Won
Somoskeoy,n alias Count Geyza Of vesy; age about
thirty, height about Eve feet inches. spare built
complexion very pale, nose long and pointed, small
dark mustache hair OF light color and cut very short
right leg having the appearances OF gun-shot
wound. DO usually diamond or imitation dia-
mond shirt studs. with gold chain attached, and
gilt gold chronometer watch. He is we'll educated,
and speaks German French, Hungarian, Latin, Ital-
ian and English, the latter not luently He was
demned in Austria to fifteen months imprisonment in
the States Prison at Wells and is an escaped convict
photograph oil the Baron was furnished BY the police
officials
had taken suite OF rooms in the Westminster Hotel
tho 10Th ulL. He lad como to this country IN the
steamer Baltic, which left Liverpool April ~ Soon
after his arrival he went TO Philadelphia and there
presented himself as Centennial Commissioner HIS
movements at the Westminster Hotel, on his reform 70
this city, watched and daily reported to tina
Central Once The Baron had summoned up sufficient
cnrontery soon after he came back from Philadelphia
saying THAI rs was austrian
soner. and had been robbed Of $40 in
money, OF his drafts and credentials by lady in
Pullman sleeping In one OF his love ctters-of
which there many TO lady OF high position In
Engand-he bad also mentioned the circumstance Of
the robbery, but tho police ascertancd that tho story
was untrue in every particular
Detective Elder employed two officers to watch the
Barons movements. On Sunday, May q, he gave no
tcc at the hotel that he was going to Phadcpha that
evening. In tho morning Of that day he went to Staten
Island with gentleman whom he had mot on tie
steamer, and they spent the day there.
On his to the hotel the night he made tho
acquaintance of lady In the guests parlor OF The
hotel and commenced OF nirtatons which soon
terminated IN more intimate acquaintance.
Later In the evening tho lady suspected that there
officers in the building watching her new friends
movements and tried to INFORM him OF Il, which she
finally succeeded in dong by leaving note under the
door OF his room about midnight The Baron In
furry Of excitement fastened to the clerk Of the hotel
asked him II anything the matter, offering him
money induce him 10 disclose anything no might
know. The clerk refused the money and quieted his
suspicious for the time.
Tho next morning the Baron, feeling still uneasy,
ordered carriage TO be ready at quarter past eleven
to take him to the hapast twelve train for Phadcl
phia He then to enter the room Of lady In
the hotel where he remained over an hour. When he
came he ordered his carriage to be made ready at
twenty minutes 10 eleven, thirty-nve minutes earlier
than his previous order He told the coachmnn TO
HIM the Desbrosscs street Jerry but after cav
ing the hotel he driven 90 the Office of Messrs. f.
Walkers Sons. No SIS Dey street. This firm said to
be bookbnders aud had undertaken to for the
publication OF the Baron's biography. Here he had hs
baggage taken of the coach and left In the street. Az
the coach disappeared be called Mr. Walker and
had his baggage consisting oil three trunks and
vaise, hosted to the second story. Soon after the
Baron changing his mind, went to the foot Of Court
landt street and hired COACH IN which his baggage
was taken to the New Jersey Central Railway, 1t tho
foot OF Liberty street Here he erased hts or the
tags the trunks and put instead the address,
"Cariostos Pietro, New Orleans La" He then disap-
peared across the river with hat box, hand bag and
two bundles OF wrappers.
Detective Elder had followed his man closely, and,
but for the wish OF the Austrian Consul could have
easily arrested him, but ne instructed 70 walt until
The cxtradition papers should arrive. When they did
arrive, only lew days sincc II found that the
causes contained in them not sufficient enable
tho United States authorities to deliver tho Baron ovci
tho foreign officials that he Is now free to con-
tnue his wanderings and his IL Is understood
that there warrants TOR him In London and Liver
pool also numerous complaints against him In Austria
principally Tor having swinded merchants and Others
out Of various sums OF money Ho carried ON one Of
these little operations after his arrival here,
swindling fellow passenger out Of $780, His hotol
bills were, however, always paid promptly.
The Baron arrived In New Orleans last Monday. and
tried TO get his trunks from the express Office but
trunks appeared, they had been all safely lodged in
the Central ONCE whore they are to be attached by the
gentleman he swndlcd.
II appears that the so-callcd Baron succeeded in
making sensation In every place he has visited
AZ Philadelphia hc is said 70 have dined with Dom
Pedro, and be had among his effects the cards
OF many prominent persons Ho had also numer-
Gus love letters There was quito collection Of
cartes-devisitc, numbering, perhaps. one hundred In
all some OF them from ladies Of doubtful character. but
many from young ladies in good society the publlca-
ton OF whose would create stir in the fashion,
able world that would not be soon forgotten. several
blank envelopes and sheets Of n0cpaper found In
his trunk, such as those only used by the Austrian
Secretary Of State They are supposed TO have been
forged