The Savannah morning news., 1901-12-11

lSeu VI an equlpdSG 10 carry MIN duOut,
and he wanted Mr.. Seaich to supply 1t.
The liverystable keeper was easily TAX
en- in by his visitor. That same day
the alleged baron had a team and
brougham at his disposal, with coach
man and footman to boot. The baron
was to pay for all this by the month,
and of course, such a distinguished per-
son wasn't asked to pay in advance.
The very fact that he lived at the Wal
dorf-Astoria, and was of good appear
ance, was sufficient guarantee to the
livery stable keeper that he was able
to pay his bills.
The brougham was always at the
Baron's service after his interview with
Mr.. Seaich. He used it several times
a day. He drove all about the city
and seemed to be particularly delighted
with Central Park. When he was not
out driving he was staggering about
the hotel. 1t seemed to be easy for
him to form acquaintance and he
treated them as a nobleman should
treat his friends. He dined with them
in the hotel and ordered the best of
wine. Everything was charged to his
account at the hotel.
He was such a great buyer of wine
that even the walters began to marvel
at his capacity for holding it. He dis
pensed tips with a prodigal hand. TAX
ing the Barons hotel experience as an
example, he played the part of the no
bleman clear up to the handle.
On Thursday he summoned the
brougham and told his coachman to
drive him to Tiffany's. In the jewelry
store the Baron announced his alleged
identity and told a salesman that he
wished to buy a gift for his fiancee,
who was an Americn girl of wealth.
He said he wanted something in dia
monds and he selected a tiara and a
solitaire ring. They We're valued at
$4,500. In payment he rendered a check
for that amount drawn on ]. P. Nor
gan & Co. He ordered that the jewels
be sent to the Waldorf that evening.
Then The Baron stalked out of the store
and into his brougham.
After he had departed it was thought
best to investigate the validity of the
check. AS the banking house had clos
ed for the day this could not be done.
Nevertheless, the jewellery firm die not
intend to take any chances of being
swindled, and it was decided that If
the Baron wanted the jewels that night
he would have to pay cash for then.
That evening two statesmen were in
structed to wait upon the Baron at the
Waldorf and turn over the diamonds
to him providing he produced the cash.
When the men made known their err
rand the Baron seemed surprised that
any one should doubt his honesty or his
ability to pay his bills. He said that
he wanted the jewels that evening as
he intended to present them to the
woman he loved. The statesmen had a
rather delicate task before them but
they managed to let the alleged noble
man understand that he could not have
the jewels without the cash.
~ A,,sa IL, a.
| get possession of the diamonds. He in
vited the statesmen to be his guests at
dinner They accepted and he did the
| honors most Hospitality. He ordered a
! fine meal and plenty of wine. During
| the dinner he adroitly refrained from
| talking about the diamonds. When the
dinner was over he remarked that he
was very sorry that he was unable to
pay cash for the jewels that night as
| his money was at his bankers, J. p.
| Morgan & Co. The next best thing, he
said, was to give the statesmen a draft
! on the hotel for the full amount of the
bill This the statesmen politely but
firmly declined to accept.
The Baron seemed hurt and he said
| that he would go elsewhere than Tiff
| fany's in the future when he wanted
| jewelry. When the statesmen left they
carried the diamonds with them. The
Baron was so thoughtless as to forget
to ask them to return the check he had
given the firm early in the day
Curious to learn if they had given
| otfense to a person of responsibility. the
| T1nany's inquired of ]. P. Morgan g.
| Co. if the Baron's check was all right.
They were informed that the Baron
mad no funds there to his credit and
was unknown to the banking house.
This information the jewelry firm
! conveyed to George c. Boldt, proprfe-
tor of the Waldorf Astoria, yesterday
afternoon. Mr.. Boldt was dumfounded
as was his chief aid, Mr.. Eilliard. They
agreed that the alleged Baron had a
| good deal to explain. He owed the ho-
tel $3.50 for his weekes' stay and thew
decided to request him to pay up and
| leave. The Baron was sent for and
he went to Mr.. Boldts office. His bill
| was presented to him and he was told
that only cash would be taken in nav.
ment.
"Oh, that is impossible" said the
Baron airily, "as I carry very- LITTLE
cash around with me. I'll give you q
check however. on my bankers, ]. P
| Morgan & Co."
"oh, no you don't" cried Mr.. Boldt
L want the cash.
The Baron boldly produced a single
| UOlldI plll ana OHered II on account Ci
his bill. Mr.. Boldt sent word to tht
Tenderloin police station and Ward
man Edward Glennon and Detective
Farrell were sent to the hotel. They
took him to the police station on q
charge of violating the hotel law.
Once the police took charge of tn,
Baron he refused to talk Before tn,
police arrived on the scene he was yer,
talkative. In the police station III,
| prisoner said he was Baron M. de Cor
ty, % years old. When asked If he hat
an occupation he said he rode a bicvcIe
He took his arrest coolly and went Il
a cell smiling.
He had number of letters and pa.
pers in his pockets. The letters wer,
mostly written in German, and some o.
them made it appear that the man hat
also been known as Baron Martin yor
| Courty. The most important paper h,
had was a Swiss passport issued or
Aug % last. to Herr Won Curly. a mer.
chant of Luzerne, Switzerland. The
police believe the passport contains tht
| prisoners real name.
Soon after the man was locked IN 2
brougham drove UP to the station
house door. The coachman and foot.
man were in blue livery. They waitet
there for ten minutes and then the
footman got down from the box and
went into the police station
'Will you tell the Baron" the foot.
man said to Sergt. Cotton, that hi,
carriage awaits him.
The Baron" replied Sergt. Coltor
with a grin, told me to tell you that