Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-12-27


Made n B'E Fortune, Lost II and Then
Made Gigantic Forgerics - Hunted All
Over the United states.
CINCINNATI, Dec. 27.-wilIiam Angus
tbs Lippert, n native of Hamburg. was ar-
rested in this city 10y Detective Vannetta
Of the William Pinkerton agency. Ho was
taken at once to New York.
Lippert's career since he left his ma
tive city reads like n romance Though q
German by birth, his early training had
been in an English school. as his parents
intended him to go into the exporting
business. His parents being we'll to do, he
received every advantage, and when his
collegiate course was ended he was given
q responsible position in his fathers ware
house.
Young Lippert was ambitious, however
and the conservative methods of the staid
old town did not suit him, and he longed
for other fields to conquer. To his repeat
ed opportunities the father ut length gave
way, and well supplied with money Lip
pert started ON his voyage of adventure
After tempestuous journey and without
any definite plan he landed in Cape Town.
South Africa.
welcomed by the English residents of
Kimberly colony, especially as he spoke
their language with the fluency of a native
and was apparently we'll supplied with
money and letters of introduction from
the most influential citizens of Hamburg
His advent, therefore, into the exclusive
circle was an easy matter. 1t did not re-
quire any length of time ON his part to be-
come fairly launched in business, and in
an incredibly short time he became one of
the boldest spectators in the colony.
His Enormous SpecuIations.
He made enormous speculations in wool,
and his transactions We're like the inspira-
ton of n genius. Everything turned TO
gold that he touched, and in n few years
his possessions had doubled and tripled
themselves With his rise in fortune also
came his desire to cut n wider swath. His
mansion was the finest, his horses tho
flcctest, and his hospitality was proven
bal.
Then came Il year of reVCrSCS. Around
him business men were failing and cor
porations and banks going To the wall.
Another disastrous year followed the first,
and then came third. Still Lippcrt pur-
sued the cxtravagant tenor OF his way.
His rctinuo Of servants was not reduced
or the splcndor of his establishment dim
when the sun OF prosperity shonc ON Lip
pert. Although 1t was we'll known that
he had become involved in several disas-
trOus transactions, he still made the lavish
display of n merchant prince.
Cape Town awOkc one morning just two
years ago startled by "a gigantic sensation
The news first came in n whisper. Then
rs il flew from mouth To mouth il gained
in volume, and before the day closed it
was known that Lippcrt was forgcr-
not "a forgcr for u petty sum; that would
not have been in keeping with the man 3
characteristics. Before many days the
exact amount became known. 1t carried
amazcmcnt throughout the colony. He
actually succeeded in forging checks,
bonds, notes. deeds and other negotiable
instruments Ia the colossal sum Of elt9.-
7h5, or $5gS. 1jj in American money The
victims were two Of the largest hanks In
Cape Town.
Fled and Lett Debts.
With the first hint nf Lippcrt = crbukcti
ness also came the revelation that he haC
fled, leaving numerous debts behind which
in themselves aggregated "a small fortune
Immediate pursuit was instituted, and NJ
expense was spared to trace the fugitive
but in vain. The English government.
put its shrcwdcst detectives on his track
Descriptions Of LippCrt were sent broad
cast over the English colonies and through
out England and the rCst of Europe. The
authorities Of every country and the resi-
dent English cOnsulS to every other ma
ton wcrc notified. but all without SUCCESS.
Those who followed the case always
Shrcwdly. suspected that Lippcrt had di-
rcctcd his flight To this country as the
safest from pursuit. In this guess they
were peculiarly fortunate. a. suhscqucnt
rs
York. under instructions, correspondent
with the Pinkcrton detective agency in
Chicago. with the result that Detective
PinkcrtOn at once went on the trail. Aft
or six months OF the most arduous labor,
the details of which would read like n ro-
nance, Lippcrt was located in Louisville
But no sooner was this discovery made and
the officers detailed on the case ready &c
pounce down upon him than Lippcrt quiet
" slipped out.
Clerked For bookstore.
Baffled, the detective did not lose cour-
age, but went on pcrsiStcntly, especially
since he had made the discovery that while
in that city he had clcrkcd for book
store. with which trade he had familiar
lied himself and become proficient. From
this the detective concluded. first. that
Lippcrt had somehow lost or squandcrc,l
obliged To make "A living he would try To
get "a position in bookstore.
The next point from which Lippcrt was
heard was Cleveland. but the Information
came too late for when the officer arrived
there he had again skipped out.
These pursuits consumed considerable
time and progress was necessarily slow,
but the net was slowly but surely being
thrown around the fugitive.
Word came to tho Chicago Office few
days ago that n man answering Lippcrt s
description was seen in Cincinnati, and
Charles f.. Nannctta, OnS of Mr. Pinkcr-
ton : men, came on ut once. With the in
formation in his possession he went to the
office of the Chicago Publishing company
in this city, where the information stated
that Lippcrt, under the name Of W. \.
Lazar,l, was the general manager of the
! business whose headquarters were in Chi
cago Again tl.e detective was bafficd for
he was informed that Lppcrt had been
discharged and another man put in his
place
He was located, however, at the Oxford
hotel. where he was arrested. Detective
Vannetta notified his headquarters of the
capture. Chief Pinkcrton ut once tclc-
graphcd the British consul in New York.
| who went before Commissioner Shields
and secured the net sSary papers ON which
| To hold him. CnitctI States Marshal ]. Il.
| Boswirk of New York came her, ut once.
1.ippcrt returned to New York voluntarily
| with Marshal BoSwick over the Chesa-
pcnke And Ohio railroad.
TOOK A LONG WALK.