The Washington times., 1904-01-10
Baron Won Muegge Doomed
to Ten Years Work.
A WASHINGTON POLICEMAN
BY Terms of Mothers Will May Take
Possession of Estates De-
cember I, 1904.

ST. LOUIS, Jan. 9.-With money ac-
cumulating for him at the rate Of
about $500 a month. Baron John F.
Won Muegge is working a gate
keeper at the Lindell Avenue entrance
to the Worlds Fair grounds for $50 a
month. waiting for year TO pass. when
he can claim the baronial estates in
Prussia. which amount to $500. 900 or
more
Baron Won Muegge had a ten-year
task to perform before he could come
into possession of the estates of his
father and mother. He objected to the
conditions of the will made by his moth
er. and fought the case for several
years in the German courts. but the high
court of appeals in Berlin declared that
his mothers will was valid. and that
he, like Hercules. must perform the
work assigned him.
The baron accepted his fate and has
served nine years, and on December l.
1904. he will be ready to present certin-
Gates of ten years honorable service
to the German court and take charge
of the vast estate that awaits him.
Baron Won Muegge is fifty-eight years
of age. and came to the United States
in 1867
He left the old country on account of
a quarrel with his father. who gave him
5000 and told him 20 so out into the
world and hustle for himself
Fought a Duel.
The quarrel between the old baron and
his son came about on account of duel
over the affections of a young woman
between the son and the young baron
of Vesterhagen
The old Baron Won Muegge learned
of the disgraceful affair He charged
young Van Muegge with being indolent.
worthless. and no account. and turned
him out.
Young Won Muegge travelled for
short time about Europe and then
sailed for America. A few days after
landing in New York he had his first
experience with American confidence
men. He fell in with several strangers
and was enticed into gambling games
When the strangers left him he had
hardly the price of meal
With starvation staring him in the
face. Won Muegge went TO the United
States recruiting Office and enlisted as
a private soldier In the army He served
three years and was then appointed on
the police force in Washington, d. c..
where he became acquainted with a
number of politicians. In 1871 he left
the Washington police force and went
to Charleston, S. c., where he served
on the police force there for two years.
From Charleston he came to st. Louis
durins the administration of Mayor
Overstoiz. He managed to get on the
police force here, and remained for
years. Chief Kelly was then a patrol
man. stationed at Broadway and Olive
Street
Prom st. Louis he served on the po-
lice forces of San Francisco, New York.
Philadelphia. Omaha. and then three
years as detective for the Big Four
Railroad. with headquarters in Cincin-
natl.
While in the employ of the Big Four
he became acquainted with Representa-
tive Grosvenor. who acted as his at
torney afterwaTd-
Won Muogge got an appointment as
deputy United States marshal at Wash
ington. d. c.. and then in the In
ternal Revenue Bureau. In the
first four years of the Mckinley Ad-
ministration he was in the Secret Serv-
ice for the Government. and was then
made a deputy marshal in charge of a
district at Chillicothe. Ohio
He remained at Chillicothe until the
subdistrict was abolished. when he was
again thrown on his own resources.
Death of Baroness.
Baron Won Muegge arrived in St.
Louis, September Il. and three days ago
was appointed gatekeeper at the Lindell
pavilion entssnce.
The baron's mother, the Countess of
Holzendorf died on March 10. 1850. leav-
ing a large estate in lands. jewels. and
money. Her only daughter and two
sons, brothers Of the present gatekeep
er at the Worlds Fair, died before her,
SC she made Won Muegge her sole heir.
Though she had heard infrequently
from him while he had been in the
United States still she had learned that
he had been leading fast and irregu-
lar life. drinking considerably and gam
bling. Accordingly she provided in her