The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-04-18
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
THE sCREvEN HOUSES PROPRIE-
TOR sWINDLED OUT OF $500.

| julius Steffens, an Alleged New York
Herald Correspondent and Agent
for the Atlanta Syndicate, Ingrati
stes Himself into the Confidence Of
mine Host" Dub and Collects Cool
Five Hundred on His identification
and Endorsement.
julius Steffens, representing himself to
be correspondent of the New York Herald
and agent Of the Atlanta syndicate, drew
| $500 on a bogus check Tuesday and skipped
the town. The check is Endorsed by B.
drawn on the Grand Rapids National Bank
of Grand Rapids, Mich, and was cashed by
the National Bank of Savannah.
Steffens arrived here a week ago and by
his affable manners and courteousness in
gratiated himself in the Dub family. He
| brought from Atlanta letter of introduce
ton to Mr.. Dub from friend, and also a
| letter Of introduction from Jacob Haas,
president Of the National Bank Of Atlanta,
| to Mr.. l. G.. Haas. Mr. Dub took Steffens
IN charge and introduced him to number
of business mon here, among them Mr.. L.
Kayton and Mr. s. Guckenhelmer
Steffens exhibited the check as soon as he
arrived, and said that he would remain
some time here.
TO PLACE LOANS BY THE MILLIONS.
He said that he was travelling through
the state and Florida as correspondent Of
tho Herald, and that he was also negotiat-
ing for the placing of 81, 100000 here with
good securities. He was agent for the At
lanta syndicate, which would place the
money. After making tour of the city
he reported to MIR. Dub that Savannah peo-
pie had all the money that they wanted and
he had little luck. rs occupied room No. 4
fronting on Bull street, and had the best
that was to be had at the Screven. He said
that be was physician, and on one occa-
sion treated the sick babe of Mr.. Dub.
Mr.. Dub said that on Tuesday, about l
O'Clock, Steffens came to him and told him
that be had been trying to get the check
cashed, but the banks wanted to charge
him 81 % exchange.
WANTED THE CHECK INDoRsED.
He said that he did not want to ask any
private party to cash it, and he asked Mr..
Dub to go over to the bank and identify
him. Mr.. Dub made an excuse, but said
that he would go over with him in a half
hour. In the meantime the proprietor sent
Ills cashier over to the bank to inform the
cashier that Mr.. Dub would bring a man
over TO get a check cashed, but that he
would not expect to be asked to indorse it.
In half hour Mr.. Dub, in company
K.
Dub identified the man, and said that he
expected the bank to pass upon the check
without reference to him, as he had pre-
viously instructed them that he would not
indorse it. Teller Abrams called Mr.. Dub
one side and told him that the bank thought
that the check was gilt edge, and had a con-
versation with him about it.
ENDORSED THE CHECK.
Steffens was watching, and Mr.. Dub
said that he could not well refuse to indOrse
the check. VAfter the money was drawn
the two went over to the Screven house
and Steffens sat around in the office and
talked for long time. Excusing himself
Mr.. Dub went over to the bank again and
asked the cashier what he thought about
the check, and whether he was safe in in
| dorsing it. He was told that in the banks
opinion the check was all right
and 6 66at he was perfectly Istr sa dd
to the hotel, but noticed that Steffens was
not in. He paid little attention to his ab
| sence, however, until Steffens failed to
show up at supper. Some inquiry was
made, but nobody had seen him.
ANXIOUS ABOUT HIS GUEST.
When Mr. Dub was about to retire, he
called one of the bell boys and asked him if
he had seen the doctor, referring to Stef-
fens. The boy replied that he had
just seen him down stairs. MIR.
Dub retired then and gave the
matter no further thought. Steffens had
| made good his escape through the bell boy
having misunderstood Mr. Dub's question,
when he said that the doctor" was down
stairs.
AS matter of course, Steffens failed to
show up yesterday morning, and after
| breakfast Mr.. Dub opened the room which
| he had occupied, and saw at glance that
IA no mic haf
After a cautious and dIligent search he
went to the bank and informed the cashier
| of his belief about the fraud perpetrated,
| took a copy of the check which was made
payable to Steffens, signed by James Lynch,
| and wired the Grand Rapids National
| Bank if the check was genuine. In few
! hours a reply was received saying that the
check was not genuine.
DETECTIVES AFTER THE FUGITIVE
| Detectives were put on the case as early
as possible and kilograms were sent to
Macon, Atlanta, Augusta, Charleston and
| New York, giving description of Steffens
and his otfense. Steffens is about As years
| Of age, nearly 5 feet 6 inches in hight, has
| long hair, chin whiskers and mustache. He
is a blonde, wears a silk hat and is very tidy
and neat in appearance. He writes beauti-
| full letter ana was immensely popular
among all those in the hotel who
knew him. He became attached to
Mr.. Kayton and wrote to one of his friends
north, requesting him to send his daughter
down to Savannah to become governess in
Mr.. Kayton's family. He brought with
him only two pieces of baggage. One was
| a large valise and the other small sachel
| They were left in his room with the things
they contained, and were opened yester lay
| Afternoon. In one Of them a package Of
business cards was found with the name:
Louis Lonick, NJ. d., surgical depart
ment, Bellevue hospital a New York"
The small sachel contained lot of soiled
linen marked IL. Lonick, NJ D." A rubber
stamp was also found, with which he
printed his certificates, and proof certifl-
cafes were found with the dates of April Q
and on them.