The record-union., 1896-10-13
STORY OF A HIGH ROLLER.
Count Yon BalleStrem, Who Was Killed
at Monterey.
NObleman, Cook and BOOtblack-Once
Ran the Saddle Rock Res.
taurdnt Here.

Count Won Ballestrem, an account OF
whose tragic death in Monterey ap-
peared in the "Record-Union" yester-
day, formerly lived in Sacramento,
where at one time he cut a very wide
sWath.
1t would take columns to give even an
outline of the eccentric mans career
since the time he first set foot in this
city. but two or three points may be Of
interest
The first that was known of the
Count-for he was really one-was
when he held the menial position of
pantry-man in Steinmans depot restau-
rant some twelve years ago. After
while he suddenly disappeared, and
when next he showed up, a couple of
years later, he got off the overland train
and astonished all his acquaintances
at the depot by his elegant raiment and
jewelry.
Then 1T was that he explained that he
was really a Count. He carried a gun
case. but beside a gun it contained some
Sl5,0UO in money that he had just
brought from Europe, whittier he had
been to spend a short time in the army
and thus maintain his right to the title
OF nobility. He deposited the money in
the ID. O. Mills Bank, took a couple of
friends into his confidence and set out
to blow himself in.''
he went to Lake County and tele-
graphed for money until his calls be-
came 50 frequent as to cause remark.
After While he came back to Sacra-
mento, but kept up his lick'' while his
money lasted. He was taken in tow by
one of his friends who steered him up
against dealers in jewelry until many
hundreds of dollars were spent for dia-
monds, watches and similar articles
many of which, as well as his money
were distributed among his numerous
LADY friends
one night the Count and his closest
frlend-a Well-knoWn Sacramentan now
IlVlng IN Los Angeles-Went to Arnold's S
SADDLE Rock Restaurant for oysters
MIS- Arnold and daughter were sitting
at table in the rear of the room, and
the Count, who did not know them.
made a remark that angered Arnold
and he came near assaulting them
When the Count and his friend got out
side the latter said:
Say, Arnold wants to sell his place.
and you'd better square this thing BY
buying him OUT
The Count returned, asked Arnold
what he would take, and when the lat
ter replied, Eighteen hundred dollars
closed the bargain. The money was
| turned over the next day, and the &c
centric Count became proprietor Of the
SADDLE Rock Restaurant
Then ha mn h;c
SlO day, and paid Arnolds son SO a.
Day 70 show him how to run the busi-
ness, and he did run it-into the ground.
SO to speak
In three months the Count was broke.
and he appealed to George Buckman to
help him out. Buckman and his present
partner, Ed. Carragher came to his re-
lief by purchasing the restaurant busi-
| ness Tor something like a thousand dol
| lars. This money soon flew, and the
| Count wanted something to do so that he
| might not starve.
| lie was an excellent artist, and Buck
man secured for him a job in the rail-
/ road paint shop. There his talent was
discovered, and he was put at decorat-
| ing the interior Of the sleeping cars.
| While waiting for his first pay Buckman
| & Carragher supplied him with enough
! money to live on for two months. But
when he got his money from the pay
! car he dropped it all the first night He
apologized to his benefactors, got little
more from them and left the city.
| In San Francisco he BACKED boots,
cooked, waited on table, sawed wood and
| did odd jobs until he received another
remittance from Germany Then he
| blossomed out again in his real charac-
| terSas noble Count. He bought a place
at San Pablo, got himself a superb team
of black horses and laid siege to the
heart of Spanish maiden there.
| One day he telegraphed Buckman to
send him 80 worth Of assorted game
from one of the local markets. When
the piles of ducks, quails, etc, reached
San Pablo the Count was out in his
| hunting garb, and returned to the home
| of his ladylove with a Wagon-load of
! game which he represented had fallen
to his gun that day. He married the
! girl, but she afterward got a divorce
from him, and in the course Of time he
was broke again and returned to the
| backing brush and kitchen.
Recently he was engaged with his
| friend, Charles Abiger, in a hut near
Monterey, in painting and modelling in
clay while awaiting another remittance
! from home. The telegraph states that
his companion was about to go out to
shoot a rabbit for food, but the Count
tried to persuade him against going and
! caught hold of the others gun In a
friendly struggle it was discharged, and
Count Won Ballestrem was killed.