The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-05-04
SPIES0N THE BARONESS
Baron Blano's Conspicuous Vito
Has Man Arrested. y
He SAYS HER HUSBAND PAID HIM
To Shadow Hcr..A Pinkcrton Man
: Doggcd tho Alleged Detective While
tho Lady Led Them a Chase Up and
Down Now York.


Elizabeth L. Blanc Is again involved In
quarrel with her husband. The pair
have several times heretofore figured in
tho public prints, but yesterday was
tho frat titno their affairs have been in
tho courts. Tho baron and tho baron
ess have been living at tho Albemarle
hotel.
Tho baron is reputed to DO rich, but
very little is known OF his history. He
has been conspicuous figure ut Del
monico's for several years and Ind bach
clor apartments there before he mar
riod Mrs. Ricgcl, tho Philadelphia d.
vorCee. A =.
NINE DLANos STRANGE STORY.
Tho baroness appeared in tho York
villo court yesterday accompanied by
three insipidlooking youths with box
coats and banged hair. She was COM
plainant against Gilbert Leonard, n
business. like looking man Of forty,
whom she accused Of following and
annoying her in tho streets.
For some time, she told Justice Ryan,
the Cnbbios around tho Madison Square
theatre had noticed several mon actin.
yuspiciously about the Albermarle
Hotel. They seemed to DO shadowins
tho baroness. They told the baroness
coachmen, but no said nothing to her,
not wishing to alarm her until he was
sure it WAS so. When finally she was
informed she seemed interested and
purposely went out more. She often
noticed u man following at distance.
She engaged tho Pinkerton bureau 10
hold her. 81.
Last Saturday she received letter
with these instructions:
"Loave your hotel this afternoon ut
$3.50, walk down Broadway to Twonty-
third street, down Twenty-third to
Sixth avenue, takc the elevated train to
Fiftioth street, walk thence to Fifth
avenue to the Plaza Hotel, use tho tele-
phone on some protext in the hotel
office, then walk down Fifth avenue to
Fifty-soventh street."
TlIE BARONESS LEADS THE CHASE.
Accompanying the instructions was
Detective Georges. Hotchkiss. When
the baroness left her hotel on her route
Hotchkiss followed far in the rear. At
Twenty-third street and Fifth avenue
she passed two men, and heard one say
That's the woman; follow her." She
passed on, and was soon aware that the
man was closely noting her every act.
At tho Plaza Hotel the man seemed to
lose her, for when she came out she
saw him on the opposite corner looking
anxiously about He quickly espied
her and followed her down the avenue.
Meantime the detective, who had
taken in all that transpired, had spoken
to Officer Brown, OF the tiity-hrst street
squad, and pressed him into service.
On reaching the corner OF Fifty-soventh
street and Fifth avenue the Baroness
halted, glanced up the avenue, saw tho
shadow on tho middle OF tho block
above and policeman sauntering near
by. She turned back and said to the
officer: "That is the man."
Officer Brown asked the man, "Whnt
do you mean by following this lady? ?"
The man denied tho imputation, and
detied tho officer to arrest him without
warrant. The officer promptly took
him to the Fifty-Rrst street station.
SAID lie WAS THE BAnoS's SPY.
The prisoner said he was detective
at the Cafe Savarin and would give IL o
explanation. During his examination
tho prisoner looked bored and declined
to talk further than to admit that he
had been employed to shadow tho
baroness. To i court officer he is al.
legged to. have said that the man with
whom he was talking when tho baroness
first saw him, at Fifth avenue and
Twcnty-third street, was one Johnson,
OF Johnson's detective agency, and that
johnson was employed by the baron to
shadow his wife.
The court isaued subpoena summon
ing tho baron to appear in court to-day.
Leonard was held to appear in $500 bond.
A RATHER LIVELY COUPLE
Tho Baron and Baroness wero both ut
the Albemarle hotel last night, butboth
declined to be interviewed. When a
reporter sent his card up the answer he
received was, II am very busy and can.
not see any one." The Baron lett tho
hotel at $50 p. M, alone, saying he
would not be back until late.
The Baroness Blanc is d we'll known
figure in this city. She is native OF
Philadelphia, and had gained notorioty
there before she calno here. Sho is
neither young now nor pretty. She
came to this city about five years ago.
Her Philadelphia husband, Mr.. Riogel.
young man ofwealth and excellent so,
cial standing, had only short time be.
fore secured a divorce from her. alleging
in1delty..
Before coming to this city Mrs. Riogel
attempted to become IN actress and APP
peared attic Temple theater in Phila-
delphia as prilna donna in the comic
opera "The Little Tycoon" She was n
startling failure. Her notoriety failed
to draw and she ended her theatrical
career in less than a week. Then sho
came to New York, became conspicuous
at the races and hadia following among
the Berry Wall sot.
On Two occasions IL was reported Sho
drank poison instead OF champagne.
Every summershc went to Long Branch.
She was q friend of Mrs. Langtry, Per-
tor Ashe, Fred Goddard and tho others
of their set. Hero she mot Baron Blanc.
Ever since their marriage they have
lived in great style in this city.
'a..-
Rcferrcd to tho Ladies.
This is what prospective brides are
told: MI, 5
Married in brown, you willlivo out Of
town.