The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-04-29

the Prince of wales and Claimed
TO Be the Friend OF Bi.marck.
Special Dispatch 10 the Poss-rn,eiIigencer.
TACOMA. April Al hast Tacoma
has her DR.. Hoenech.
The New York World cs Arrfl e con-
tAIns a sensational story regarding tho
bogus Baron Charles Hector de Coursser.
which has peculiar interest 70 highly con-
nected people in this city. Last fall tho
baron. accompanied hy T.. A. Greene
. noted New YORK engineer. appeared in
Tacoma rs the financial promoter Of q
scheme TO build a railroad GO Mounf Rain
Ter. A company had been organized by
local capitalists with Eastern conner-
tions and Was financed by bankers here
who stand high IN the community. These
men financed the company only In its
preliminary development Baron do Cour-
tier appeared as the boss fnancaer or the
whole concern. and when he registered
at the Tacoma hotel as from Paris hs
was eagerly sought FOR By the newspaper
reporters. After weeks OF negotiation.
which included a personal examination
Of the country through which tho road
was 10 pass. Baron dc CoUrsisr was Civ
en- an option on a contract TO fiT ance tha
scheme. which expired March /. He re-
turned 10 the East 20 secure the neces-
sary funds Early this year the Tacoma
bankers who were Interested in the ven-
ture ascertained enough 10 satisfy them
that the baron was hcgus They quiet
~ said nothing and stopped talking about
the swell dinners which were giVan IN
honor OF the aayenturer and those whica
he gave in return in lavish style at The
Tacoma hotel The Worlds expose.
which reached here last night closes ,ha
chapter
The World thus describes De courtiers
career:
Tacoma Visit Comes 90 Light.
A suit TO recover $50 on a prouiis~ory
note as part OF an agreed consideration
was brought In the supreme court by
baron Charles III. de Courtfer against
Thomas Morch. the private secretary Of
George w. Eanderbilt several months
aso. The case Was never placed on tho
calendar Tor trlai. and was discontinued
yesterday f-ecauSe OF the failure of ths
plaintin. non-rss.aent. 90 give security
The dropping of the suit, however, has
brought 20 light the details of a trip
mace by the baron 10 Tacoma last fail.
OF aLs operations there, and finally OF his
previous career ia nearly every European
capital.
III was in October hast that Baron lie
CourTier, 10 give MIN the name OF his
own selection. appeared IN Tacoma. ac-
companied by Col. +. a. Greene. an en-
Submitted submit I 10 an Nm lnserxisw "" 'a Il. - 80 anSs 60
Was native OF Budapest Hungary
and that his title dated back TO las. lie
said he represented an international syn
dicate OF capitalists in Holland Germany,
wealth exceeded So. 0,oan
lie declared, however he could not
make any hnvestment until the result Of
tho ele<Sson vas known. IL Bryan were
an investor. but II Mckinley won he had
orders TO so ahead and pour his money
out IN golden shower.
At this time the Puget Sound. Tacoma
* Eastern rstiiroad. which was intended
10 reach the rich districts beyond Tacoma.
was Organised IN that enterprtains town.
jacob Vanderbilt. tr., son Of Capt. Jake
Vanderbilt, OF Staten Island the old com
modores brother was connected with ths
new road. +. V. Caesar. Jacob Wander
bits nephew. was also Interested In the
scheme.
Baron Had a Good Time.
soon IL was rumored that Baron Do Copir-
tier backed by ths Vanderbilt millionA
was going TO complete the road. and the
baron became 4 fad Receptions were given
TO him. the Hungarian coiorS were every
where displayed. hands played Hungarian
airs. and tho baron gave notable stag
dinner 70 jacob vandSrbilt and Others.
Unfortunately, several Eastern railroad
men were just then in Tacoma for thu pur-
pose Of completing an already han-buiIt
road running into the same territory
through which the Vanderbilt system -
~ was called, was 10 pass.
These men made inquiries In New York.
and the replies As to the baron we're noe
Z
baron or his schemes.
"A strong feeling then developed against
what appeared 20 bs the interference OF q
foreigner sn American politics. But not
withsfsnding this change IN the situation.
the baron actually succeeded IN making n
contract with the Tacoma people involving
several millions of dollars, and thsn re-
turned 20 THIS city. taking rooms az ths
Windsor hotel. This Tacoma contract has
since been repndiated by the Wesferuers
On previous occasions. for the baron -
not stranger in New York. he bad been
30 - tsasX
been entertained BY the Isslins by Henry
Willard and othnr prominent people But
from Tacoma. lie was known 70 nearly
every broker in town. out the montyed
men fought shy ~ him ro~.
sllls di3ciairned al knowle1gs OF him. Ha
lost his grip casnpirf~fys and finally Was
foresd 10 borrow small sums from personal
s.Anou: four months ago he returned n
London. From there he has written. say
ing he was living ~ the Hotel Cecil and
vas soon going . his country estate.
Looking - Hf- RECORD.
with his aepsrtp-e front this country.
however. thp curiosity as 20 fis identity
increased Private defeetiv@ asencss.s hai
failed 20 solve ihe mystery and oue 81 The
3 Iarzsf commercial agencies WAS askef %
look tnto the matter. TIE report made n
th8s connection has not besn made public.
though it settled finally bis standing win
.sFro-r anoefseys source however a his
( tory IN the h4ron has n@en gathered. anf
tbe record presented shows him 20 be y
rsozs resTsTkabi~ man of his class. Tns
+ American ~ ths chief of shs Vienna police.
'sT1e ftassrsiers fss3 name T. Charles
fIaTuau. whieh ~ occas sionaliy changes
into Baron Won Holman. or tehEvsi5er Won
Hoffman although It@ Courier II bis Ia
wnrffn alias HE born tn Prague. ksO-
berr}s II, fals hla IA her being a glass ulsr-
chsrt AZ the aga ~ Is he was forced -
Z leave Ehr country oF-cHslze Df q forgery.
"fie arifled ab0at ne continent foT