Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1891-10-27
HAD A GLIB TONGUE
A Russian Count Who is
Wanted in Brooklyn.
HE HANDLED REALTY ON NERVE
And Took in an Agent to the Tune Of
$4,000.

The Count Claimed to BE Heir to Vast
Estates in RussiA-He Had Papers and
Medals to Show He Was Army
Officer. and He Was a Smooth Talker-
Numerous victims-He Has Disap-
peared.
BROOKLYN, Oct. 27.-Count R oderick
Won Graft, princely looking young Rus
sian with tongue that had the faculty
of talking it's way right into the pockets
of those favored with his acquain lance,
is wanted in Brooklyn for handling
500, 900 worth of Brooklyn real estate
on nerve and paper only and of leaving
many worthless checks and forged notes
behind. A, S. Lamphere, a real estate
agent of Flatbush avenue, is particular
ly concerned, it is stated, about the
whereabouts Of the alleged Count. Mr..
Lamphere is the man who introduced
the affable Count to Brooklyn society
and afterward became a victim of his
scheming brain and tactics.
It is said that Mr.. Lamphere was
talked out of $50, 900 during his aquaint-
ance with the Count, who borrowed the
money at intervals in sums ranging from
$500 to 81, 900. The amount was generally
loaned on mortgage bond, and in order
to meet the interest on the property
bogusly bought by the Count on Carroll
street, which is one of the choicest To-
calities in Brooklyn.
By curious chain of circumstances
and good luck the Counts victims,
however, were never caught to any
great extent. So far as can be learned
in the course of his short career in
Brooklyn circles, which dates back but
| year, he had held a mortgage on about
| fifty houses and about half that number
of lots. When the Count was first in
| troiuced to the real estate owners he
said that some of his relatives in Russia
| owned an estate valued at 1000, 900
roubles, and when conversing with any
one he always mentioned the fact that
he would eventually inherit much of the
money.
AS he was we'll recommended by high
Russian army officials by letter, and
had papers and medals to show that he
had served in the Russian army with
the rank of Captain, and had been ban
ished for certain political reasons, no
one thought for moment to look into
his past history.
1t was during one of his earlier visits
| that the Count became acquainted with
Mr.. A. S. Dennellen, a wealthy real es-
tate owner of Carroll street, who then
owned the old Tabernacle. The Count
presented himself with such f1attering
| recommendations that when the subject
of selling the old Tabernacle property for
] $40, 900 was preached, it was at once set
tied with Mr.. Lamphere as the broker
| of the Count.
The bargain was transacted on mort
gage bonds at per cent, the whole
sum to be paid at the end of six months.
| The latter part of the bargain was never
| lived up to and the mortgage was fore
closed. Mr.. Lamphere lost by the trans
actions the brokers' fee OF 1000, and
was put to no end of annoyance by the
tactics of his false friend. This was
only one Of many similar transac tions,
and in most cases Lamphere, it is said
did not escape so easily. Where the
Count lived during his stay in Brooklyn
is not known, and whittier he has gone
is still deeper mystery.