Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1889-02-08
A COUNTERFEIT COUNT.
He Poses in New York as William
Steinway's Nephew.
THEY NAB HIM AT LAST
For Two Years He Has Led Deceit.
full Life-He said He Liked the
steinways and Concluded
to BE Relative.

NEW YORK, Feb. s--One of the most con-
spicuous and carefully watched guests at In
spcctor Byrnes' hospitable mansion on Null
berry street was little black haired, black
eyed, smooth faced individual about five feet
tall, who had a woebegone look upon his Jap
anese looking ccHntenance. This sorrowful
looking individual was the man who for the
past two years has annoyed Mr. and Mrs.
William Steinway by claiming to be near
relative, and sending dozens of hotel people
and keepers of small boarding houses to in
quire why Mr.. Steinway's nephew did not
come and occupy the rooms which he had en-
gagged.
Since April, 1887, this young German
Hebrew has made it practice to go to a first
class boarding house, engage the best rooms
and announce himself as German count
nephew of Mr.. William Steinway, and he al
ways said that his ''dear uncle William would
be responsible for the room rent, send him an
elegant piano and otherwise look out for his
titled relative
The story always worked, and many an ele-
CANT room or suite of apartments was kept
week waiting for 'the count who never
came,n his piano and his Uncle Steinway to
put in an appearance. At the end of a week
the boarding house keeper usually sent a let
ter to Mr.. Steinway's home or made per-
sonal call at Steinway hall, only to learn that
Mr.. Steinway had no nephew with any of the
names given by this ''self appointed rela-
tive.
The counts names were varied He ap-
peared at different times as Count Won Arnirn.
Count Won Bonin, Oscar Well, Baron Won
Fedwitz and Martin Brand. Mr. Steinway's
attention was first called to the fact that he
had such an alleged nephew by card sent to
him early in April, 1887, which read thus:
"Count Won Bonin, premier lieutenant in
the Prussian Garde, Hussar regiment, Pots
dam-Berlin.n
On the other side of the pasteboard was
written: References, William Steinway, No.
% Gramercy park, and A. A. Won Ladenberg,
consul general, No ? Bowling green
People began to call ON Mrs. Steinway and
annoyed that lady by asking all sorts of ques-
tions about her nephew, 'the Count this" or
ssBaron that.S This so annoyed the lady that
week ago her husband inserted an adver-
tisement cautioning all persons against the
bogus nephew and count"
This had the desired effect, and Wednesday
night Inspector ByTnes' detectives arrested
the enterprising young fellow at his boteLon
Thirteenth street near Broadway. His arrest
was caused by the hotel proprietor, who, see
ing the advertisement, called on Mr.. Stein
way, and by comparing notes identified his
boarder with the troublesome ''count.
'sWhy did you attempt to pass as Mr.. Stein
ways nephew" was asked.
The prisoner replied that once he had met
Mr. George Steinway, who had given him
something, and he felt kindly regard for the
family, SO concluded to become relative.
The prisoner was taken to a photograph
gallery, and his picture now occupies prom
inent place in the Rogues' Gallery He was
taken to jefferson Market police court for ex-
animation. He is no stranger there, how
ever, as last month he was in that court be-
fore Judge Duffy, charged with stealing a
watch, but as the evidence against him was
rather weak he was discharged
No reason can be given for his strange
mania in engaging rooms and never occupy
ing them unless it was for the purpose of
stealing while looking at the rooms, but if
this was his object he failed for the boarding
mistress always kept near him.