Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-04-08
BOGUS COUNTS YORK.
A siik.Manufacturer's Creduiity Costs Him
About S1,1OO.

ABOUT Si,lOu.
New York Tlmes.1
A tall, well-dressed, intelligent-look-
ing man was arrested by Detective
Richard King yesterday on complaint
of r. A. Elsberg, manufacturer OF
embossed silks and satins, who has an
Office at No. $50 Canal street. The
prisoners name is Max Won Stetten.
He is twenty-six years Of age, and resides
at No. Is east Third street. Won Stet-
ten, previous to last November, was
in the employ Of Mr.. Elsberg in the
capacity Of foreman. He had been work
ing there for eighteen months. Several
times he told his employer that he
would soon inherit large fortune in
Germany, and that his parents were
immensely wealthy. Because he mar
ried below his station, he said, he was
compelled to work for living. He
showed letters from a man who, he
stated, was his uncle, and who was a
msjor-general in the Prussian army.
Won Stetten called Mr.. Elsberg aside
on November 9th, and showed him in
confidence letter purporting to come
from Germany, requesting his presence
there for the purpose Of claiming a
share Of the fortune OF one Of his rela-
tives who had just died. Won Stetten
appeared to be in high spirits, and his
eyes fairly glistened when he produced
some documents which he said
represented an interest in a vast
estate. lie spoke about enter
ing into the sheep-raising and
mining business with Mr.. Elsberg when
he returned from the old country. His
employer had the greatest confidence
in his foreman, and as he spoke English,
French, and German fuently he was in
clined to believe statement made by
the prisoner that he was a German
count. On the strength Of these repre-
sensations Mr.. Elsberg advanced him
5000 with which to defray his expenses
to Germany. Won Stettcn babe him
goodbye on December 9th, and said he
was to sail the next day on the steamer
Fulda..
About six weeks after Won Stetten
left Mr.. Elsberg'S employ man named
George Freand appeared in the manu-
facturer's Office. He said that he had
left Strasburg two weeks before, where
he was employed as coachman in
Count Won Stetten's family. He said
that the Count was soon to inherit
vast estate, but at present was short of
funds, and that he had advanced him
s4S. lie had possession of draft for
that amount on Mr.. Elsberg, which was
paid at once. Freund left, saying that
he was going TO visit some relatives in
Kansas. Two weeks later man named
Charles Wunche came into Mr.. Els
berg's Office and showed him a letter
purporting to have been sent from
Paris, and in the handwriting of Won
Stetten, who wrote that he was to re-
ceiye 3,000f. Of his fortune on March
LIST. He added that he had called on
Baron Hirsch, representative of tn.
Rothschilds in Paris, and asked them
to cash note. The Baron referred
him to one Of his clerks named Wunche.
who agreed to cash two for $50 each
Instead Of giving the notes, however,
Won Stetten wrote that he had given
Wunche two drafts for eco each on Mr..
Elsberg, and he requested him to pay
them. A telegram was sent to Won
Stetten asking IL the drafts were genu-
inc. but no answer was received, and
for that reason they were not honored.
was beard Of the Count again