Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-08-28
BARON LAGERFELT.
The Son-m-Law Of Col. c. B. Doty, Of
Steubenville,
PLIESTOEUROPE WITH BIG MONEY
Obtained by Fraud from the Pitsburg
Banks.
DETAILS OF HIS RASCALITY.

yesterday morning the REGleItE
made an exclusive reference TO the fact
that there was large defalcatiOn or
forgery in our neighboring city of Steu-
benvillc, but ON account Of the conflict
ing nature of tho stories aaoat and the
variance as to names and amounts, no
one was particularized i'm our mention
Of the matter.
Yesterday the facts came to hand in
better shape, and there is no longer any
reason FOR Withholding the story OF one
OF the most bareiaced swindles yet per-
pctrated by a representative Of that
class of social uuisanceS and gem
eral all-around frauds, the titled for
eigncr. Times without number these
mcrcinary fortune hunters have come TO
the western shores of the Atlantic. os-
teusibly in search of matrimo-
NAL bliss. but really on quest
for cash. aud have in short
time fed To- their native lands, after
bringing disgrace upon some fair Ameri-
can girl and financial ruin upon her par
eutS and relatives. but 1t would be diff
cult 90 single out from all the long list OF
mobile" frauds a more cOnSumatc rascal
than Baron /. f. Lagerfelt, aterepreSen-
tatiyc of the Swedish Government at
Pittsburg. aud at present the fugitive
,ou-in-law of C.. b. D0ty. of SteubeE-
Vile.
This representative OF the blue blood
Of the land of the Viking stands charged
with obtaining, 10y highly improper
means. a sum of money vdriouSly eSti-
mated az from 100000 To $4,000,
wrung les forgery and misrepresentation
from banks in PittSburg and Allegheny,
and has fed across the ocean, leaving
his deserted wife and the proofs of his
rascality behind him.
The story is one possessing wide in-
terc>t but il will Dee read with especial
ragcrneSs by Wheeling people, lot
alone for the reason that most of the
parties intimately connected with the
affair are wcll-kuown here. but also be-
cause the Baron extended his financial
operations 20 this ely. and succeeded
ion extracting the sum of $1,000 from one
of the Wheeling banks, giving as col
/ lateral TOO shares of the capital stock of
the jefferson Iron Works Company, of
I the par value of 500 each.
Baron Lagerfelt first became known
/ u the upper Ohio valley through his ar
rival at PittSburg. several years ago. as
/ the representative OF the Swedish GOV
eminent iu that city. There hc NJ once
met with a warm reception ia
social aud business circles, and
| had the entire 90 the most exclusive
society i'm the Iron City. In the
course of time the Baron. who is credit
I'D with a somewhat fascinating pres
encc. and what William Nye would call
a pleasant and entertaining way, be-
came acquainted with Miss Mol.ie Doty,
the Young and accomplished daughter
/ of Col. Calvin h. D0ty, of Stcubcnville.
d former resident of this city,
and true o. the instincts of his species.
hc laid >.cg, to her heart and her re-
SPECIFIED fathers pOcketb0o6. In due
time the engagement OF the couple was
announced, and thcirmarriage followed,
Tine event Occurring December n, lSSi,
the ceremony attracting wide attention
al the time because of the prominence
of the parties and the very elaborate
charactcrof the wedding presents. For
"a considerable time before the marriage,
the figure OF the Baron was tamil-
Jar one upon the streets of Ntcu-
benviue. hc making frequent trips
to that city in the proSecu-
ton of his suit. The Baron was rather
fine looking fellow, and he cre-
atcd very favorable impression in
Steubeuville So that, when it was an
nounced. last spring. that he had been
included iu tAc Board of Directors OF
the jefferson Company, at the rcorsaui-
cation of the affairs of that corporation.
and that hc would hereafter represent
the Doty interest iu tGe miiI. there was
general satisfaction and concession
that ,hc propo- thing had been done. as
Nr. pltv. who had been actively con-
rccted With tlc Institution for years
past. was iucup3citatcd by ill-health
from further looking after the affairs OF
the Company. Thus matters rested,
the Baron. who mad been selected by
the Board of Directors % dill the Office
~ Vice Presidents, taking am active and
necessarily prominent part in conduct
ing the affairs of the Company. and Civ
ing every outward promise that he was
the right man iu the right place.
Early in July last the Baron made
preparations 10 visit his iorm'r home IN
sweden. and he left StcubcuViile ahoU,
the middle OF chat month. sailing from
New York OH the 10th. About this
time 10 WAS rum0rcd 100 Stcuhcnville
that the Baron mad resigned ills position
as counsel of Sweden in Pitt>hurg,
which Doe had aIi along held. and it was
simultaneously announced that he was
an applicant Tor the position OF Counsel
General uf Sweden and Norway at New
York City.
Matters were iu tAi> position when. "a
few days-pos>iby Wcck-ago. it
came tothc knowledge of the officials
OF the jefferson works that one of the
PittSburg Ranks held as collateral >ccu-
r.ty what rurportcd Co bee stock Of the
Company. The number of cue OF the
certificates was gjyca. together with the
fact that 10 had been hypothecated by
the Baron. \ casual reference to the
book, showed that chat particular GER
tifcalc did not belong 90 Baron Lager
felt. but tu another and different indi-
viduai. This discovery resulted In a
quiet investigation being set on foot,
which resulted ia the aStound-
ing discovery that the Baron had pro-
Nidcd for his own use a stock book con
tanning certificates purporting 90 be
those of the jefferson Iron Works. i'm
corporaioj under tine laws OF Ohio. At
tkc bottom were tlr names OF Spauld-
ing X. Wallace, President and George
p. Harden, Secretary No attempt APP
pear, to have ocvu made 90 initiate the
handwriting of these gentlemen, the
maker of tho securities evidently rely
ing on the ignorance of the bank officials
as to tlchaudwritiug and his own posi-
tion as Director and Vice President Of
the Company 10 push the matter
through he also had a seal containing
the words Jefferson Iron Works OF
Ohio whereas the preSenf
corporation was organized under
the laws Of West Virginia.
This discovery produced, aS a matter
of coutso. q profound sensation among
tine Directors aud Other officials of the
Jefferson Company, and President ;. n.
Wallace. of this city. Captain &. W.
Rstcheiof, of Pittsburg, Vice President
~ the keystone BANK of that city, and
others. began in earnest 10 unraFei the
tangled ,kcin OF rascality, which prom
iscd % result Ga the most serious reNela-
IionS.
About this time it came to light that
ths tourney made alone by the Baron,
was with th2 deliberate intention oil de-
t....... l. g.. ,-..,,,,r, a. fo Tho baroness rp-