The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-05-01
CIRCUS BARONESS ARRESTED.
WIZARD LUCK, BUT SAYS CHARGE
or THEFT rs OUTRAGEOUS.

Austrian Baron Came Here % Speculate
In Horses for Russian War-Things
Got No had That VIE Took Job 80
Maid-JOined CiFcus-NOw In Cell
Alice Jansen Ia the bIotter name Of q
plain looking well shaped woman who was
locked up in the Mercer street police
station last night charged with theft. She
Is the wife Of Baron Otto Maria DEWITT, an
Austrian. She was arrested at the Hotel
st. Denis by Detective Sergeants Pep
ported and Doran. They had a warrant
forwarded here by the Washington police.
For the past week the Baroness has been
trying to earn a living for herself and her
husband as a circus rider with the Banum
4 Bailey show. The circus was in Brook
Ign last week and opens In Newark TO-
morrow. At the beginning OF the BROOK
Ign engagement the Baroness Joined the
circus, giving up suddenly place she had
obtained in Washington a. maid and COM
panion to Mrs William Slater Of l7Sl
street. n. W.
When she left Mrs. Slater's home Mrs.
Eliza A. Bull housekeeper for Mrs. Slater
went to the Washington police with tale
Of the loss Of two fans and clothing valued
at $50. She charged Alice Jansen with
theft. On Mrs. Bulls statement the war
rant was issued.
The police here got track Of the woman
they were after because she had ordered
her trunk sent from Washington to Mrs.
Tanson Niessen at the Hotel st. Denis.
The trunk arrived Saturday. Two days
before, the Baroness had registered at the
st. Denis but didn't take a room. She
said she would be back in a couple Of days.
She registered under the name OF Mrs.
Niessen. When she went to the hotel yes
terday morning and was assigned 70
room the waiting detectives arrested her.
Sne said her arrest was Outrageous and
that she had never stolen anything in her
lite. She admitted she was in hard luck
and In need of money, She didn' SCENT
TO think Of herself when she was arrested,
but she said II would hurt her husband TO
know that she was accused Of being thief.
The woman thoughts seemed to be all OF
her husband. She Calked freely to the de-
tectives, told them what she hao been doing
the past week and where she had lived
since she had come TO this country last
July.
The Baron and she had been boarding
at the home of Mrs. Van Pelt at 2O6 West
Nnety-sixth street She would have gone
back there, she said, 20 stay over Sunday,
but she and her husband owed 90 much
money there that she felt ashamed to re-
turn. Soon after being locked up she
sent word to her husband at the Ninety
sixth street house.
The Baron il older than his wife and be
was almost distracted when he learned
what had happened. He first went TO try
and find the Austrian Consul to ask his aid
He couldn't find the Consul and then he
telegraphed, he says, 10 the Austrian En-
porter found the Baron last night he was
beside himself with grief. He speaks fairly
good English.
Il come Of an old and respected family
near Budapest and my wife IL Swede.
Her family is an old one, too. We have
been married four years. ! have spent
good deal Of time in Russia and was always
connected more or less with horses. My
wife Is an excellent horsewoman, in fact,
the best / ever saw. Last July l came
here with an EngbshmRn named Cameron,
whom / knew in Russia. Cameron had
money, but had little My wife was with
me. Cameron and | came over for the
purpose Of buying horses and selling them
to Russia for the war. When we got here
we found that horse flesh was so dear that
we could make no profit In the business
Cameron went back to England in October,
promising TO send me some money when he
got home. He hasn't sent any.
The little money i had didn't last very
long and finally my wife and myself we're
in pretty hard straits. For personal rea-
sons we didn't want TO let our folks at
home know Of our condition | tried 20
get work here but couldn't II got so
bad for US that there were times when
we were actually in need Of food. My
wife finally said she couldn't stand It any
longer and that she was going 20 get some
work for il she did t-et something TO do at
least she would get something to eat.
In looking over a paper one day she
found the name OF an employment agency
that advertised good positions for women
of refinement. My wne went there and
applied for a position as companion or
maid. l begged her not to. for / didn't
want the Baroness 20 go to work. ] tried
TO convince her that a crust was better
than that she should 60 out 20 service, but
she wouldn't be convinced. Then she got
this position in Washington. She didn't
like the mental work and IL wasn't fit for
her In Washington she wrote 20 the
As soon as she obtained it she left Wash
ington quickly.
sWhen she went TO work in Washington
she didn't give her right name az that
would have been ridiculous. That she
ever stole anything ia beyond belief. Her
arrest has almost driven me crazy. It
will ruin me. don't know what l will
do except kill myself. ] certainly never
can go home again or can my wife. This
Re terrible and 50 unjust. II the Austrian
Consul or the Embassy don't come to
my aid don't know what will do
WASHINGTON, April 9O.-It was said to-
night at Mrs. Sater's house that she never
had a companion and did not wish 10 say
anything about the matter Mrs. Slater
u from Rhode Island, but lives here most
Of the time, occupying the. residence in
which William c. Whitney lived when he
was Secretary Of the Navy.