The Washington herald., 1908-01-12

London. Jan. 1.-THE death is an
nounced at Milan of one of the most
famous swindlers in Europe. Georges
Lanolescu, Duke of Otranto and Prince
Lahovaryi." both titles being self-con-
farred on him.
He was a man of extraordinarily good
looks, "a perfect figure, a bright, amiable
disposition. and all the necessary equip
ment for a chevalier Tindustrie He was
born in ROumania forty years ago, the
son of an army officer. He ran away from
a military academy at Caletz and went
TO Constantinople where he entered the
service of a Turkish pasha in a high
Office. He soon absconded with the pock-
etbook and the prize beauty Of the pasha's
harem
He was arrested across the Greek from
tier. and he attempted suicide, He was
taken 10 a hospital where the handsome
youth attracted the attention OF Queen
Olga. who was visiting the sick She
procured his release and gave him money
enough TO take him home.
He left Roumania the second time as
a stowaway on a grain steamer and
set up a large villa in the fashionable
quarter. He drove his own carriage on
the Bois de Bologne. and raced his horses
at LongChamps
Presently justice overlook him, and he
Was sent 70 Jail When he was released
from prison. four or five years later. he
visited London and Monte Carlo, and
went to Canada as the Duke of
OtTantO"
Career in America.
In San Francisco he was the nephew
OF the Spanish Minister at Washing
ton. Thence he went to Japan. and
afterward TO Honolulu. where he
feeced a rich widow From Honolulu
he went TO Chicago where he became
engaged to the daughter of million
aire. He returned to London and got
eight months at hard labor for steal
ing jewelry from hotels.
After this he went to Brussels. where
he rescued a rich Brazilian from
q ruf1an. and escorted him TO a
hotel, picking his pockets Of $4,000
while on the way A short visit IN
Monte Carlo as the Duke OF Otranto
netted him 200 600 crowns out of
rich Hungarian widow.
After serving another sentence in
jail for hotel robbery at Nice, he Wis
tied Italy, where he met the Countess
Angelica Won Konigsbruck, a member
Of one of the most distinguished Saxon
families. Posing as a wealthy Rou-
manian land owner. he married her at
Genoa in 1898. The ceremony was per
formed before a fashionable audience
by the Bishop of Genoa. The bride
large dOwry was exhausted during
the honeymoon. child was born TO
the couple in Switzerland.
Duel Over a Woman.
After duel with the brother OF another
lady, this adventurer went to America
again and returned to Paris as the Prince
Lahovaryi, bringing with him the spolls
OF jewel robbery in Philadelphia, Sub
sequently he went to Berlin and proposed !
TO an American lady. incidentally he ran
sacked the hotel bedrooms When the
relatives Of the lady demanded financial /
guarantees. the prince was arrested for a /
robbery at Genoa.
He was tried in Berlin. He slammed /
insanity and deceived the experts so com
pletely that he was sent TO an asylum. He |
escaped from this institution after gag
ging and binding the warden He next /
visited the Klondike, after which he re-
turned TO Italy married a rich French 4
woman and settled down TO write his |
memories.
He died from an incurable disease, and /
only regretted he had to leave his angel /
OF a wife and two saints OF children"
The Countess Won KOnigsbruck obtained 1
a divorce from him in the Bavarian I
courts.