Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-01-08
PRETTY GIRL GONE
WITH DUTCH COUNT:
FAMILY is ANXIOUS
Charming Helen kukuski, Missing
from Her Home, Writes She Is
Married and Happy, but
Mother Doubts

Police of two nations have been asked
to take a hand in the romance of a
pretty typewriter girl and Dutch
count-a romance that began in Los
Angeles a few weeks ago and will end,
nobody knows where
Charming Helen Kukulski, a talented
musician by birth and training, and a
Stenographer of necessity, has left her
home at 1860 Myrtle street and has, it
is believed, eloped with Count Johann
Won Horst of New York and Amster-
dam, recently a guest at the Lanker-
SHIN hotel.
How Won Horst won the heart of the
young girl is the old, familiar story
Of man Of the world and his attrac-
tiOn for romantic girls.
But the girls family is alarmed, fear
ing all may not be right, and the police
are bestirring themselves to locate the
elOpers.
They are supposed to be either in
Southern California, Arizona or Mexico,
and the police officials Of Los Angeles,
San Diego, San Bernardino and Arizona
towns and the rurales of Mexico have
been asked to aid in the search.
1t is reported that the couple eloped
and were married in Santa Ana on De-
cember 80 or 81, but no confirmation Of
this report has been had by the par
ents and relatives of the young woman,
and consequently they are considerably
perturbed.
Appears Polished Gentleman
Count Johann Won Horst arrived in
this city some weeks ago from New
York and registered at the Lankershim
hotel He claimed to represent consid-
cradle eastern and foreign business in
terests. He is a man of polish and
education, and speaks and writes flu
emily seven modern languages. In the
transaction Of his business he required
the services of a stenographer, and the
services of Miss Kukulski were recon-
mended to him.
The count gave her a great deal OF
work to do, and paid her devoted at
tention, it is asserted. His business re-
quired that he call at her home several
times to dictate letters.
OF what followed the mother told
the following story to the police:
The count became acquainted with
the family of the young woman, and
they became favorably impressed with
him. He finally asked for the hand of
the young girl in marriage, but the
mother objected because Of her youth.
He then stated that he had received a
call from his business associates which
would require him to go east and then
to Europe, and insisted on taking Miss
Helen with him as his wife. The
mother replied that he could take the
trip and then return and marry her il
he so desired. His reply is said to have
been that he must have the girl for his
wife at once and that he would take
her whether or no.
December % he called at the house
and said that he had to go to RedOndO
on business, and asked that Miss Helen
be allowed to accompany him. Per-
mission was granted her to go, and
she left the house and took car for
RedondO with the count. She did not
return home that night or the next, and
It was found that the couple had been
in Redondo for two days and had gone
from there to Santa Ana.
While the police were learning this
the mother received a note from her
daughter posted at Santa Ana which
stated that she had been married to
her lover. The note was signed Mrs.
KiSneSWarter."
Well and Happy
Two days later a postal card was
received from Coronado which stated {:
Il am well and happy. Will return to
Los Angeles soon." This note was
signed Helen
A day behind this came postal card
mailed at National City which: Am
married and happy. Do not worry
about me-" This was also signed
Helen
Because of the fact that the parents
could not get confirmation of the issu-
ance of a license and the marriage at
Santa Ana they became alarmed and
notified the police.
| The clerk at Hotel Lankershim said
| last night that Count Won Horst had
stODDed several weeks at the Lanker-
| SHIN and had left about December Is
| and had not returned since that time.
''The count was entirely alone while
| stopping here and behaved at all times
in a gentlemanly manner declared the
| clerk.
But the mother of Helen Kukulski is
worried and will not be comfOrted un-