The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-05-24

same time that he was rooming at 81
O'Farrell street.
He went by the name of Hornberg as
well es Weisser, and now that think of
it am quite sure that I saw such name
as Blanther in letters that he left lying
around where 1 could see them.
HE has robbed many poor Hungarians
by his smooth talk and by getting into
their confidence, and it would 60 hard
with him should they catch him."
Miss WELLS story is borne out by that
of Jeweler Myers, who unhesitatingly
states that the Blanther of the newspaper
portraits is the man who wanted TO sell
her diamonds.
"He came in here a week or ten days
ago." he said, with couple of diamond
rings that he wanted to sell. l told him
one was worth $75 and the other about $35,
but would not buy them, as l did not like
the looks of the transaction and did not
know but that, being ladies' rings, they
might be stolen.
From my remembrance l must say
that l believe the man Blanther Is the one
who had the diamonds. He was very
erect, wore brown derby hat, glasses,
gloves, and l think carried cane. 1 have
since been told that the diamonds were
stolen from Miss WE'LL and have given a
description of the man to the police"
One of the most startling stories told in
connection with the matter is that of S.
Szegedy, Hungarian shoemaker, whose
store is at LA Ellis street, and who firmly
believes that Weisser and Blanther are
one and the same.
He mourns the loss of $50 that the willy
man of many aliases obtained from him as
loan, and would be more than glad to
see his countryman, if countryman he is,
behind the bars.
About five or six weeks ago." he said
yesterday, "a man having every appear
ance of being a gentleman called at my
place and introduced himself as Louis
Weisser, Hungarian just from New York.
AS it is the custom of people of my coun-
try to aid those who come from Hungary
and show them every courtesy l intro
duced him around among my friends, and
he was shown all hospitality. He repaid
the kindness by beating everybody he
could get an introduction to.
Il loaned him $50; another friend let him
have $40. and many are losers of amounts
ranging from S5 TO 30.
Lawrence Biedel a Hungarian black
| smith, whose place is at 755 Harrison
street. took him to his room to sleep one
| night, and he stole couple of hats and a
dollar that Biedel had in his pocket
Another friend of mine, who was for
| merly in the Austrian army, became in
terested when the man talked of his doings
in the Austrian army and the decorations
he had received, and the two held many
| conversations on the subject, it happening
| that both had been in the same ampaigns.
To this friend he told of having been given
title and of being of fine family. He
said that he expected money from home
and would repay what he had borrowed.
why do / think Weisser and Blanther
Identical? For many reasons. In the
first place, the pictures of Blanther that
have been published are very good like
nesses of Weisser in almost every par
ticular. Then comes the significant fact
that he has not been seen by any of US
since the Lsngfeldt murder. Directly we
saw the pictures that were published we
began to suspect that our guest might be
the man who had committed the crime.
"a simple comparison of dates showed
1l4db Vic 1doI Ill1o w clSSeI dppcdTeQ at my
place or was seen by any of those who
make their headquarters here was on the
| day previous to that on which the old
lady's body was found. He has not been
seen, to our knowledge, since, and we
believe him to be the man who is now
| fleeing throu h Mexico"
Other Hungarians who were in the shoe
store while inquiries were being made
| agreed that the pictures of Blanther would
| pass anywhere for portraits of Weisser.
The clothes left behind by Weisser, or
Blanther, when he made his hurried de-
parture from 81 O'FarrelI street, were OF
fine quality, consisting of undertaking,
linen shirts, brocaded vest, cane, silk
and linen handkerchiefs and other apparel.
One handkerchief has the appearance OF
having been used as mask, three holes
having been cut to correspond with the
nd