The morning call., 1891-06-01
Pretty Ida Green Is the Baroness
Won BarkenOW.
A San Francisco Girls Strange Destiny That
Reads Like Chapter From Romance.
Little roubt of Her Identity.

i
undoubtedly is, is 10 years old, tall and
slender and decidedly prepOssessing in APP
pearance. A pair of large gray eyes look
out from face of remarkable delicacy and
sweetness, around which clusters mass Of
waving black hair-the true Irish type of
beauty. which she probably Inherited from
her mother, who still retains many of the
marks of beauty which won the heart of
Baron K. Jal Won BarnekOw in years gone
by
The tory is one Of unusual interest, and.
above all, highly romantic.
FLED HIS COUNTRY.
1t was soon after the close of the Franco
Prussian war, when the victorious armies
of United Germany, after humbling the
pride of France, had returned to their
homes, that Baron Won Barkennw, an officer
serving in one of the crack regiments. fled
from Berlin and sought refuge in America.
The causes which led 10 this step have
never been explained. but the handsome,
blonde officer, whose Stawart form was fam
liar to the frequenteTs OF fashionable clubs
of the German capital, suddenly disap-
peaTed, and for a time, no doubt, his flight
furnished a fruitful topic for the gossips in
society. From what is now known of the
BaTOn's character, as revealed by his sub
sequcnt career, it is probable that he was
disgraced at home, and finding the pace
which he had set too hot even for the heir
of powerful and wealthy fam ily he
sought refuge among strangers.
A RECKLESS LIFE.
OF his life history much IS yet to be
learned, but it is known that after his ar
rival in America he drifted from one local
ity to another until he finally found an
abidlng-plaCe in San Francisco, where for
time his identity was concealed. Fred
Green was the name by which he passed
among his comTades-a wild, dissipated
class Of fellows on the whole, who spent
their DAYS at labor and their nights in riot
Gus eXceSScS-but 1t was soon nOlSed abroad
that he had seen better DAYS, and belonged
to family Of high rank IN Europe. When
sober, however, Green was extremely reti-
cent, and it was only when in his cups that
he could be induced TO revert TO his past
life. At such times he would take from an
inside pocket of his coat a bundle OF dOcu-
mentS, which he always carried with
him and which revealed his Identity
as the Baron Won Barkenow, whose
father rank higa among the soldiers
OF the German Empire, AMI who
commanded Il division under Count Won
MOltke in the latter's historic campaigns
against the Emperor Napoleon. Hundreds
Of people are now living in ) n Francisco
who have seen the papers referred to, and
for years he was well known TO the mem
hers of the German colony in this city. Not
as Fred Green, but as Baron Won BarkenOw,
whose family formed a division OF the
MarQuisate of Braudeuburg, who were
among the oldest Of tile blue-bloodS Of
Germany.
KNIGHTS OF THE ROAD.
In the old feudal days the Won Bark
enows were gentlemen Of the road, and with
their YaSSalS armed with helmet shield and
spear, sWooped down from their castles on
the surrounding country and levied tribute
from all who CHANGED 10 fall within their
way. In time, however. the HOhenZ0lernS,
younger family than the on Barken0WS,
fought their way to the throne, and the
MarquSate of Braudenburg was added TO
the titles Of the crown.
Such was the family fIom which sprun
Fred Green, and his sister married a nephew
of Count Won Moltke, late Field Marshal.
When Green came Ia San Francisco, som
sixteen or seventeen years ago, he drlfted
to the rOugher districts Of the city, and
finally sought and found employment as a
runner for the Continental Hotel, on Pacific
street, in which capacity he became well
known among the hackmen and ldlers
about the ferries at the foot Of Market
street. His dissipated habits clung to him,
and his orgies Of the widest nature were
ciates, who claim that they recognized in
him a man Of superior bearing and attain
ments.
DROVE A TRUCK.
After a time he gave up his position at
the Continental Hotel and went to work
for Rade IL Co. as a truck-driver, leaving
them subsequently to accept employment
as bartender in a saloon on Pacific street,
bep: by a man named Wilson.
1t Was While employed at the Continental
Hotel that Green met Kate Galligsn, a
comedy Irish girl, who won his affections,
and with whom he went tolive. As aresult
of this union. three children were born, the
oldest Of whom was a girl, and who was
named Ida. She 1t Is who is now laying
claim to the title and estates of the family of
Won BarkenoW. The other children died
while still quite young.
Ida Green, or the Baroness Won Barke-
now, as she probably is, was, it is claimed,
born out of wedOck, but the records show
THAI Fred Green and Kate Gilligan were
married finally at s.. Francis Church on Val
lrjo street, thus legalZlng the child A few
days after the nrarital ceremony Fred Green
told his wife that he had married her under
an assumed name, and that he was the Baron
Won BarkenOw, exhibiting as proof OF his
assertion the papers which he carried about
with him. These he gave to his wife for
safe-keepng, and they remained in her pos
session for some time, but the husband took
them again, and during the remainder of his
stay in this city kept them on his person,
showing them at times to his friends when
intoxicated.
THE COUPLE SEPARATE.
During their married lie the couple lived on
Vallejo street, but the husband grew more
dissipated, and at times his family were in
want. What few dollars he managed to
scrape together as reward for his labor,
coupled with an occasional draft from Ber-
lin, he squandercd among his companions on
the BaTbaTy Coast, where he VAS often seen
about the dives. At last his wife remon-
strated in no uncertain terms, and the nus
band in 1881 left San Francisco en- route to
Germany.
Among those who babe him bon voyage
was j. j. Robinson, mate Of a whaling
bark, who in 1897 married Mrs. Green, who
had secured a divorce.
Alter the departure of her husband for
his native land NJ S. Green applied to Swain
81 Campbell, the attorneys, with request
for a divorce, but owing to the fact that she
was without means to pay the costs the
matter was delayed, and it was not until
August II, 1887, that she was finally released
from her marriage with Green. Three
months later, or in November, she was mar
ried to j. j. Robinson, and went with him
to live at ZIG Montg avenue, where
they still remain.
REAssUMED THE TITLE.
In the mean time Fred Green had re-
turned to Berlin aud assumed the title Of
Baron Won BarkenOw. He was seen once
more among his old associates, and suppos-
ing. it is said, that his wife had procured Il
divorce he married a German lady of rank,
who is now dead. The Baron continued TO
drink heavily, and on May l, 1887, or a little
more than three months before his lawful
wife was given her divorce, he died.
1t was not until after his death that the
story OF his San Francisco marriage leaked
out in Berlin, and then his sister, the
Countess Won Moltke, communicated with
parties in San Francisco 10 discover, if pos
sible, the heirs to her brothers immense
estate.
Mrs. Green was found, the marriage
proven, and in November last the American
Consul at Berlin communicated with Chief
Crowley. Further correspondence ensued,
and as a result the following letter has been
received by the attorney for Ida Green: