The Detroit times., 1908-04-30
mrs. aAUIEhBERG
!. ONE OF HUDbI'S
VICTIMS
WIFE OF MISSING MAN SAYS HE
BORROWED $1,000 FROM HER
WANTS TO ASSIST POLICE IN
RUNNING HIM DOWN.

/ Since the disappearance OF Maximil-
Ian E. Rautenberg, the Polish steam
ship agent. has become known, many
more victims of the genial count"
or baron" as he was known In some
quarters, have come forward. The
police say 1t is impossible, as yet.
to estimate the extent OF the alleged
swindle perpetrated by Rautenberg on
his unsuspecting Polish patrons. Four
teen persons who had arranged with
him for transportation to the old coun-
try are now stranded In New York
without tickets, 1t Is said. Rauten-
berg's whereabouts remains a mystery.
II Is thought he has left the country.
4 Madam Rautenherg, the talented
wife OF the missing man, has given
up her coy fat over Rautenberg's
main office at No. 1910 Junction-ave.
and has taken quarters down town.
She told the police that she was fear
full lest the indignant Polish citizens
do her personal injury If she remain
ed in that neighborhood, though she
declares she had no part In the al
legged swindle. In fact, II now appears,
she herself was one of his dupes. He
borrowed" from her some time ago
$1,000 she had received from her par
ents In Poland, who are reputed to
be wealthy, and, before he left, tried
to get $1,000 more. But Mrs. Rauten-
berg was then practically out OF funds
and. since Rautenberg left, has been
compelled to appeal to her parents for
aid. She spent nearly all OF Thursday
morning in the detectives ONCE In
police headquarters. giving the officers
all the information In her possession
as to her husbands movements previ-
Gus to his departure. She manifests
a disposition to aid them In every way
possible to locate the missing mai
The Polish patrons of the steam
ship agent were not the only persons
"stung" by him, II develops. The
heaviest loser is Louis Grosslight, the
Monroe-aye. pawnbroker, who figures
he Is out nearly $4,000 His dealings
with Rautenberg began about year
ago, when he put In pawn valuable
diamonds belonging TO Mrs. Rauten-
berg and received 1000 on them. AZ
ter paying back $500 to Grosslight he
induced the latter to loan him 5000.
which with the $500 still due on the
original loan, secured by the dia'
monds. made 3i.409. subsequently
Rautenberg purchased a $T00 diamond
ring from Grosslght. bringing his ac
count to $1,000.
At that time Rautenberg expressed
a desire TO redeem his wife's jewels
add a contract was drawn up, where.
l,tr h. Is
ard agreed TO paw of his indebted
moss TO Grosslight at the rate OF s1C0
per month. When he disappeared he
had made Just o',c payment Of 500,
Gtosslight says. Rautsnberg has the
Jewels and several hundred dollars OF
Grosslight's money, and Grosslight
has the contract. Rautenberg also
owes Grosslight $500 by reason OF a
note which the former took care OF for
the count" just as favor at Sine
when he claimed to be hard pressed.
Grosslight holds as security a bill
of sale of Rautenberg's furniture and
other household effects, and went out
to take possession, Wednesday after
noon, only to find that the goods were
being bought on contract and that
Well & Co. and others had prior
claims to many OF the chattels. The
Office on Junction-ave. was already I'm
possession OF Edmund wolczynski, OF
Polish publishing concern, which has
claim OF s65 against Rautenberg for
advertising. but as Grosslight had first
claim to all the goods not bought on
contract Mr.. Wolczynski yielded to
him and the pawnbroker is now In
charge of the place. He says he does
not expect to realize more than 5000
however.
Among those now stranded In New
York on Rautenberg's account Is Mrs
Steve Piekarski, who, with her nine.
months-old baby. left her home at No
az Twenty-ninth-st.. a few days ago
TO return TO her home In Poland The
husband had been out of work since
last November, and to keep out OF
debt decided to send his wife back to
Poland until the times should improve
He sold household goods in order 10
purchase his wife's ticket. wednes.
day he received telegram from New
York saying that the ticket was bo-
gus and that the steamship company
refused to accept It.
nQnIJe DEAD WHILE etIANiNn