The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-12-27
WAS HE A GERMAN BARON?
A Man with G. History Dies at the
Metropolitan Hotel-He Spent $780,
600 in Two Months.

A Man with History Dies at the
Metropolitan Hotel-He Spent $780,
600 in Two Months.
From, the Washington Post.
In one of the rooms of the Metropolitan
hotel there died yesterday a man whose
identity is now the problem of the hour
Six weeks ago gentlemanly appearing
man arrived at the Metropolitan hotel and
letter of introduction from the proprietor
of the Hygeia hotel at Old Point Comfort
which he presented to Clerk Price.
The letter insured Mr.. Schneider hospit-
able reception at the hotel, and he was
given suite of rooms as good as were to
be found in the house. Gentlemanly in
demeanor, neat in dress, handsome in ap-
pearance, Mr.. Schneider was welcomed to
the hotel, but he attracted no attention
until his reckless extravaganza brought
him into prominence among the habitues of
the hotel and adjacent saloons He had
hardly located himself at the hotel before
he made an arrangement with Mr.. Fadely,
the livery stable proprietor, by which he
was to be furnished with a carriage at a
cost of S175 a month. His other arrange
meuts were on a scale of equal magnificence
aud recklessness.
In the saloon Mr. Schneider attracted at
tention by the extent of his daily expend-
lures, and the manner in which he lavished
liquor upon any acquaintance he happened
to meet He drank heavily himself, and
when demonstrated with by some whose
better nature caused them to rebel against
the system of robbery which was being
practiced by all the beats about the hotel,
he replied: Anything, anything, to drown
the recollections of the past"
WAS HE GERMAN BARoNl
This remark, which was duly circulated
among the people who had been attracted
by Schnsider's extravaganza, probably did
more to invest him with interest than any
other circumstance Although man of
evident culture, he seemed to have great
fancy for associates of low order, and
while drinking he invariably selected for
his companions men whom the police re-
garded with suspicion. With these friends,
however, he was extremely reticent, but
from time to time he dropped certain hints,
from which an exceedingly interesting and
romantic story has been woven.
II his story be true, Schneider was really
the Baron Astier He had come to this
country to spend his money, and to all aD-
pearances he was succeeding in accomplish
ing his object. There was, however, a
mystery about his lie which caused his &C
quaintances to suspect that some crime,
probably committed in Germany, had
caused him to forsake his native land and
to conceal his identity under an assumed
name. From his own statements it was
learned that about a year ago he was
ordered home by his father, a member of
the German nobility, and directed to marry
an heiress, whom his father had selected.
The youthful Baron, however, had be-
come infatuated with an American girl,
said To be a resident of Washington, and he
met his fathers proposals with a stubborn
refusal. What followed is not known, but
IL is believed that whatever crime caused
Astier to abandon Germany and to assume a
name other than his own was committed at
this time. He returned TO this country a
fugitive. His father was dead, and
Astier had inherited vast estates
in Galicia, Russia, and Ger
many, from which he derived an enormous
income. He made his appearance in this
country as Frank III. Schneider, and pre-
served his incognito until his death yester-
day left no reason for further concealment
Whether this story is true or not, the state
ments contained IN IL were made by Astier
himself when under tho influence OF liquor,
and ii 10 supported by the mystery which
surrounded him and his efforts 10 blot out
remembrances OF the past.
THOUSANDS or DOLLARS SPENT.
As an instance Of bis extrayaganca, 10 il
said at the Metropolitan hotel that during
bis short stay there ne drow upon his bank.