Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-06
HE BEAT HOTEL BILL
POLISHED BRITON IN A FINAN-
cIALcsLoUaH.

NEW YORK. April 6.-Quick TRANSITION
was made yesterday in the life of MAJ
calling himself Capt. Alexander Elphin
ston Of the British army" who went from
clubs where he had cards and from tn.
houses of persons socially prominent to q
| prison cell because he could not pay q no
| tel bill.
In the proceedings in the West Side police
court the complainant was E. M. Jenness
proprietor of the Hotel University, ia wes
47th street. The amount he had vainly
| tried to collect was $46.55.
Capt. Elphinston was remanded for ex
animation this afternoon, when 1t Is ex
pected more complaints will be made
against him, for detectives Connected with
various hotels have been searching for hin
for months.
The prisoner has had cards for such clubs
as the Army and Navy. the Lotos, the
Union League and the Manhattan, where
he was received in the most cordial manner
by the members. and invited by many OF
them to their homes.
Has Good Sponsors.
influential men to whom he was presented
by an officer now living in the Hotel Man
haitian became his sponsors In the clubs
which at once assured" his social standing
in New York.
"Elphinston,' if that indeed be his name
is easy and fluent of speech He is tall and
| athletic in build, although slender, and In
appearance Is a typical well-bred English
| man. He is thirty years old. Some OF
those who had aided him in his social cam
paign and had lent him money without Sc
curity declared they had made inquiries
concerning his account of himself from the
British consul general. who had spoken in
the highest terms of him.
The captain says he is a nephew of the
late Lord Dufferin, once governor general
of Canada. and that he is brother of the
present Lord Elphinstone. His name, how
eyer, appears on the police records and on
the club cards without the final 'e.' The
name of Elphnstone is an honored one in
the Scottish peerage, and the first baronet
of the name and founder of the house was
Alexander Elphinstone, which is practically
the same name as that used by the young
man who is in such an unfortunate predic-
ament.
do not contain the name of Alexander as a
son of the late barOnet, but friends of the
young man insist. none the less, that they
have examined his credentials and that they
are eminently convincing.
A Kings Messenger"
Capt. Elphinston," as near as can be
ascertained, arrived in this country first a
year ago, but his social campaign did not
begin until late last December. Hotel de-
teStiNSS say SiHcc lildl udte lie iuuSI nave
lived regardless of expense and without it.
He represented himself in all the hotels
as Kings Messenger" and he received
numerous franked envelopes from the de-
partment of the interior in Canada, bearing
the inscription "On his Majesty's Service"
He said he was on waiting orders here and
expected to go to Naples at any time to
carry important diplomatic documents in
the name of his king. 1t was observed.
however, that he fingered many day and
that he was overwhelmed with all kinds Of
social invitations.
He was one of the most popular dinner
guests in the city. On one occasion he was
heard accepting a dinner invitation over the
telephone In tones of aristocratic languor:
oh. Martins, did you say? Oh, very
we'll; but would much prefer Sherry's."
His cards at the various social clubs have
now all expired. His sponsor at the Union
League on February "a last was DIR. Will
liam Allen Bartlett, and the card was
countersigned by 8. w. Fairchild. 1t ex-
pired In two weeks. A. E. G.. Goodrdge
was his sponsor at the Lotos and the house
committee, through George H. Daniels,
stamped it's approval.
At the Manhattan Club he was intro
duced by P. Z. Thompson, and P. F. Nc
Donald of the house committee approved
The military friend of the captain inter-
ceded in his behalf with Gen. Pierson, presi-
dent of the Army and Navy Club. by letter.
and the general without seeing the eandi-
date issued a card on his own response
bility.