The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-05-24
BLANTHER IN CHICAGO.
Devious Record OF the Cold-Blooded
Murderer In the Windy
Civ.

feldt, is known to many people in Chicago,
and a detective remarked this evening to a
United Press reporter:
at would not surprise me in the least to
find that Joseph E. Blanther, the alleged
Austrian Count, whose career of swind-
ling operations in both Europe and Amer
lea had been brought to climax by the
murder of Mrs. Langfeldt, is in Chicago"
This statement and the grewsome MUIR
der in San Francisco recall to the minds
of many people who occupy places in the
foremost ranks of Chicago's social world
the startling chapters which were inter
spersed in the history of the beau monde
By the lightning hand eff the eccentric
Count Won Blanther, during the latter
sojourn here some four years ago.
The suave Austrian of alleged title, the
expose of whose swindling operations
caused him to leave the city abruptly in
the fall of 1891, is no other than the muir
derer of Mrs. Langfeldt, the wealthy
widow of the Western coast city. Blanther
entered the lists of Chicagos society with
the eclat of an unexpected comet. He left
the ranks as suddenly, with crowd OF
detectives trailing at his heels, and fed to
Canada to escape the sleuths who had been
sent after him by his dupes.
When about to take their man into GUS
tody the detectives were persuaded to let
him escape. The officers were we'll paid
for their efforts, however, by several lead
ing families of this city. 1t is now known
that the alleged Count was far too well
acquainted with several skeletons of the
dark-closet variety, the rafting of which
would have caused unprecedented erup-
tions in social circles of the elite.
Count Blanther cracked champagne
with his boon companions from one end
of Chicago to the other, his bills being
footed by friends to whom he granted the
honor of loaning him large sums. His
swindling excursions continued unin-
terruptedly until jealousy on the part of
his wife caused her to expose his opera
lions.
The Austrian was compelled to leave his
own country because the authorities were
making things too warm for him, and
causing his path TO assume a direction
prisonward. He carried papers which were
intended to set forth his connection with
the noble families, and these served as the
"open sesame" to all circles of society.
His few years residence in this city was
also marked, it is said, by his robbing the
house of Mrs. 7. J. Rendell, 647 West Mon
roe street, W here he lived for some time.
corning the man. The police charge that
several fashionable residents of Lasalle
avenue and of the South Side can tell
many stories regarding the mans career
in Chicago.
Several of his former chums have en-
barked on the sea of matrimony since his
sudden fall from the horizon, and they are
particularly chary in relating their expert
ences with the titled European. Paul
Bessems, an accountant, who has an office
in the Chamber of Commerce, remem bers
the Count wildly. They were together
frequently and he seems to regard the
man as an eccentric though well-meaning
fellow.
1.-THE San Francisco murderer and
Joseph Blanther are the same man." said
Mr.. Bessems. 81 think he will never be
captured, because he would commit sui
eide before he would permit the officers to
take him into custody. When he WAS here
he borrowed money freely. He owes me
quite sum. He never represented himself
to me as Count. l think he has been
knighted once by the Emperor of Austria
and again by the King of Italy; in fact 1
am certain of 1t, as a friend of mine who
went to Europe some time ago looked up
his record. No, L can't tell why he left the
army. or whether he secured an honorable
discharge.
HE had collection of medals which
so he said, and everything seemed to be
genuine. l paid but little attention to
these trinkets, which he showed me one
day while l was in his room. When
he had money he spent it freely
l think he came from a good fam
lily, as he was well educated and
his manners were almost perfect. He had
a military bearing and dtrng his army
career he held the position of lieutenant
so l understand, and once ranked as
major. That was when he was connected
with regiment at Bangkok, Siam.
He was very conservative, and know
nothing of his antecedents or why he left
his mother country. The lady who pre-
tended to be his wife was q handsome
woman, several years his senior 1 believe
She had plenty of tinery, and he was always
well although not extravagantly dressed.
Blanther is a tall man, very nearsighted, so
that he is compelled to wear glasses. He
was always twirling his brown mustache.
His face was pallid and his high cheek
bones were very prominent. His eyes
were slngularly noticeable, as their glance
seemed capable of penetrating a two
inch board. He never talked of
hypnotism, although / sometimes
think that he possessed power in
that direction. He never was a vicious
man, and think he was driven to commit
the San Francisco murder and rob the
oSoA hOiudh VI lCI lAOlcy anu QlduOuuo
because of his lack of means. Where the
woman who claimed to be his wife is now
l do not know. l think he will commit
suicide, if he has not done so before now. I"
Other people tell different story of the
case.
THAT man Blanthe7 has ended as 1 ex-
pected," said an officer who was ac-
quainted with the willy Austrian. He
was compelled to leave his mother country
on account of wholesale swindling opera
tons which he was conducting.
1.-The woman who came with him and
lived with him as his wife had been the
wife of baker in Austria. When they
went to the Rendell clearinghouse
she had silk dresses by the score
which were too large and too long
for her. The tall Austrian on the other
hand had suits by the tens which were too
small for him. Where did they get these
garments? Why, he was as clever thief
as this country has seen for many day.
when he came to Chicago he lived at
the Rendell House for a time, then he and