The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1908-02-13
BARON GETS
20 YEARS
Man Of Many Names Convict
ed Of BlackmaiI
A REMARKABLE TALE
OF Crime and Fraud, Which Included
Polygamy, the Offender Having
Seven investigating for
High Stakes.
A REMARKABLE TALE

London, Feb. ls.-Carl Ludwig Won
Veltheim, the German-born naturslized
American who posed as baron and was
known also as Frank Kurtz and Carl
Sneiderich Mauritz, was sentenced yes.
terday to twenty years penal servitude
at Old Bailey, having been convicted Of
attempting TO blackmail solly B. Joel,
a wealthy London and South African
fnancier and mine owner, out OF $780,
600.
Before sentence was PASSED on Won
Veltheim. the police told a remarkable
story OF his career Of crime and fraud
According TO this recital he has com.
mitted polygamy with no less than
seven women. The police allegations
against the man include charges Of theft
and blaekmail and the assertion that
he u deserter from the German navy.
The Prisoners Statement.
London, Feb. l3, According to
statement made by Col. I. Won Vel
theim in the Old Bailey Tuesday. dur
ing his trial for attempting to black
mail Solly y. Joel, the capitalist, out
Of $4,000, his letter demanding the
money was merely 4 reminder that the
Barnato firm, Of which s. b. Joel was
a member had covenanted to pay him
for engineering revolution in the
Transvsal. and he wanted the $4,000.
Mr., joel testified at length regarding
other threatening letters he had received
signed kismet,p and YeItheim admit
ted that he wrote them They were the
one silly thing | have done in my life.3
he said. but he pleaded that they were
merely written to crafty a Miss Caide.
colt, who had animosity for Mr. Joel.
and wished TO frighten him Vetheim
added that be had subsequently, explain
ed this to Wool Joel. solIy Joel's broth
cir, and had received the formers for.
giveness.
Veltheim made some dramatic state.
ments on the stand He told how he was
introduced to Barney Barnato III 1896
by the minister Of South American
state, whom he refused To name. Vel
theim had been concerned in two South
American revolutions, and the minister,
whom he had helped, recommended him
10 Mr. Barnato for his ability in hand
ling revolutionary movements,
The prisoner described his interview
with Barnafo, who said be wanted Paul
Kruger, president Of the Transvaal, re-
He asked VeItheim what, in
his opinion, revolution would cost
Neltheim suggested $2.500.000 and /
Barnato said it would be cheap at So. |
100000 Nelthein asked between $50
700 and $4,000 as his own free. Bar
lato enioined secrecy and paid Neltheim
It various interviews retaining fees OF /
81 500 Ii was arranged at their final I
to continue the preliminaries |
lut no report was TO he made until {
he arrival Of Woolf Joel in South AT I
lea. Barnato's suicide followed shortly, |
md Neltheim decided to stay in South I
Africa until WoOlf Joel arrived he serv-
ne meanwhile III The Beehuanaland I
police.
After Woolf Joels arrival Veltheim
lad several interviews with him con +
erning the plot. Woof joel undertook +
o pay $4,000, but raised difficulties
ibout transferring this sum, as the dis
overy Of such a transaction would en-
LANCER all Banato's property in the
rransvaal. Then came the final inter
rev, at which Neltheim shot Woolf
oel
The court listened in deep silence
While the prisoner yolablv and dfamati-
ally described how Woolf Joel had in
isted that Neltheim must 20 70 London
0 receive the promised $50. 000; how
oel's companion. Strange, at sign
rom Joel, tried to shoot Neltheim, who
hen fired III self.defense. killing Wool
DEL. and how he was tried and acquit
Ell Of the charge Of murder.
But for this shooting affair ia ,loel's
flee, said Nelthein, there would have
cen no Boer war. because Kruger would
ave been forced ont of the country and
mother Boer president put in his place"