Los Angeles herald., 1908-02-17
TRIES TO KIDNAP
RUSSIAN PRINCE
JEALOUS LOVER ATTEMPTS TO
STEAL RIVAL
Diminutivc NobIeman Is Thrust Into
Pocket of Captor's Coat, but
Manager Rescues
Him

What is said by his manager, Mr..
Blitz, to be a malicious attempt to
kidnap and perhaps kill Prince Nicoli,
the diminutive Russian nObleman. VINO
is in Los Angeles in search or
moneyed wife, occurred last night just
as his highness was leaving his Of
fees in Wonderland.
The person who is supposed to have
tried 10 put the prince cut of the way
is William Evans, young miner OF
Goldfield. During the stay OF the
prince in this city his avowed purpose
has been to get helpmeet of enlarged
financial standing, and with this end In
view made the acquaintance of Miss
Esther Battner of Goldheld, who is
here visiting her aunt, Mrs. w. E. Ste
venson, 1875 Marmion way
Mr.. Evans and Miss Battner for sew
eral months past have reached an uf1-
derstanding in love affairs, and Miss
Battner had made this trip to Los An
geles as probably the last before she
becomes Mrs. Evans. Up to last week
the vacation had developed no compli-
cations, but suddenly the daily letters
of Miss Battner to her fiance in far
away Goldfield ceased and Mr. Evans
could get no response to telegram, let
ter or telephone message which he
hourly sent to Mrs. Stevenson's ad-
dress in a frantic effort to find his
sweetheart. BY some means the de-
serted lover learned that his hearts
desire had fallen a victim to the wiles
of the sporty and attractive little
prince and Immediately fastened here
to put a stop to the match or some of
the contracting parties.
Has Strong Will
Miss Battner also has a will of her
own and told her fiance, when she
learned of his intentions, that she con-
sidered it her privilege to change her
mind in love as well as anything else,
and that she would stay with the
prince, rain or shine.
Mr. Evans considered the matter
and thought that If he could only get
the prince out of the way for a. time
his sweetheart would return to him.
He procured an. automobile and after
driving up to the main entrance of
Wonderland waited around for Nicoli
to appear. In company with his man
ager the little nobleman soon came
out, and while his manager strolled
ahead a little way the prince stopped
to light a cigar. This was Evans op-
portunity and he seized it. Snatching
the midget, the kidnaper dumped him
into a large pocket in his overcoat and
started to Jump into his car. Nicoli
gave one weak little scream before he
disappeared, and this was enough to
warn his friends. Mr.. Blitz turned
around in time to catch Evans, but
the young man dropped his captive,
and Jerking loose from Mr.. Blitz'
grasp leaped into the automobile and
was whirled away.
When seen after the incident Prince
Nicoli said: Gee, but I had close
squeak that time. That fellow dumped
me in his pocket head first and l could
hardly breathe, let alone make any
noise. If Mr.. Blitz had not heard my
first yell I might now be dead or at
least off the map for time"
viii Not Prosecute
When asked IL he would prosecute
Evans Prince Nicoli said: "No, / am
too much of a sport to do that: l am
In a precarious business when / come
into a strange land in a confessed ef-
fort to get a wife for money and
money alone, and / must expect such
occurrences. have stolen that fell
lows girl and can hardly blame him
for hating me, but / will see that he
don't get any more chances to nab
me unless he gets lasso."
Mr. Blitz said the prince had not sur
fered any bad effects from his expert
ence, although his head and body are
a trife sore from his rough handling.
When told of the futile attempt of
her lover to win back her regards Miss
Bittner was chagrined and displeased
in the extreme. She said: "The friendv
ship between Mr.. Evans and myself is
now emphatically ended. My actions in
no way were deserving of such pub
licity and distrust on the part of Mr..
Evans and simply because / missed q
letter or two was no reason for him to
doubt my love or treat me in this man
ner."
A. Bird, press agent of the manage
ment. declares he will stand guard
over the wee prince in the future.