The sun., 1894-12-28
HIS FORGERIES $5OO,OOO.
FUo TIVE FROM sOUIH AFRfcl
CLUGHT AFTER FIVB YEARS

vyInia-, Ausustus Lippert OF tape Tou-
Arrested In Circinnnti-Hs Dentes HIs
Iaentity, but Is Held for EstraaItioa.
william Augustus Lippert a hamburger by
birth, but citizen Of the world by choice, was
brought to this city yesterday from Cincinnati
20 answer for forgsries nggregating $500. 900.
The enormous sums OF money Lippcrt made
away with were obtained from banks and iner-
camille houses In Cape Town, Africa, where hs
lived and carried on extensive speculations in
wool for several years. Soon after his arrival
here yesterday Lippert was arraigned before
United States Commissioner Shields in the Fed
eral building As the case is one OF extradition,
Acting British Consul Sanderson and his coun-
sci, Charles Fox OF . Broad street, were present
when the case was called Lippert said:
AN can say is that sm not the man yos
suppose me TO be. would like to have time TO
consult with lawyer"
Mr. Fox said IL was imperative that the case
be adjourned until requisite documents from
England could lie procured. Commissioner
Shields then adjourned the hearing until 10
O'Clock this morning. and Lippcrt was taken TO
Ludlow street jail IL Is probable that another
adjournment will be asked for and granted this
morning.
William Augustus Lippert Is ~ years old, but
hardly looks It. He Is of medium height, slightiy
bald, and wears blond beard tinRed with gray.
He was we'll dressed yesterday, and bore al air
of prosperity that hardly harmonzed with the
arraignment for dishonesty. Lippert's father
was the head of a large exporting house In Ham
burg and man Of considerable means. When
Lippert was young he was semitic school In Eng.
land. IL was his fathers wish that he should
engage in the exporting trade. hut what Lippert
had seen of the world during bis trips to and
with such a sedentary life. Afew years later
Lippert received a sum Of money from hi.
maze a fortune. He went to England and
France and finally TO Cape Town. He spoke
English pS1y snd 40 h BUSINESS rm
paved the way To his downfall. Hes at once in-
Rratiated himself With the English residents,
mission business.
Ills speculations were small at first, but soon
sion supplied him with considerable capital and
made heavier speculation possible. His success
NOUS. lie purchased a house in the Kimberley
colony and fitted Il throughout in regal elo-
trayagance in the matter OF horses, servants,
and entertaining, His position In Cape Town
south Africa. But turn in the tide came after
about three years Of extravsgance. Lippert
speculate as before, although bankruptcy stared
him in the face. For three years he fought
against impending ruin but refnssl use % 70 n reduce
in Cape Town that his business ventures were
going against him. the extent Of his losses was
In the summer of 1900 the whole colony wa.
dumfounded to learn that Lippert the prince Of
speculators, was q forRer. From banks and
mercantile concerns he had fraudulently oh
tained the large sum OF clio, 755. or nearly
100000. Following close upon the discovery
came the news OF his flight from Cape Town.
The English authorities at once instituted .
search for the forger. and tho best detectives in
the service we're sent ON his trail. but all with
out avail. IL was thought lie would come to
this country. and the English Consul here was
notified. Detectives were ASSIGNED to the task
of finding the fugitive. and the following year
Lippert was traced 70 Louisville, whore he lived
under the name OF William A. Lazard. When
the time came to apprehend Lippert he had fled
from Kentucky. He was next found in Ceve-
land. but again he learned OF the pursuit and
escaped.
These attempts TO get him consumed four
years, and might have extended indefinitely had
not word been sent to the detectives a few days
ago that man calling himself Lazard and cor
responding to the description furnished OF Lip;
pert was general manager OF the Cincinnati
branch Of the Chicago Publishing Company.
This again proved u wrong trail. as Lippert had
been discharged a short time before, He was
located. however. at the Oxford Hotel In Gin
cinnAti last Saturday. and was placed under
arrest. When the officer confronted Lippert
with his own photograph the forger said un-
concernedly that while the picture looked like
him IL WAS not his.