New-York tribune., 1909-01-07
" "CHEIRO" A FUGITIVE
P4LMIST VAS KNOUN 4S
"COUNT" H4MON.
american Women Charge Fraud,
and He LedUes Paris
Suddenly.

Paris. Jan 6-"Count' Louis Hamon. for
merIy known in America and Europe "Cheiro
the Palmst," and before that as plain John
Warner is a fugitive from France tonight, and
the entire American and English colony is dis
Cussing of the most meteoriC and mysterious
careers which dazzled Partisan society.
Harmon is charged with embezzlement. and his
sumptuous offices, where ne edited a newspaper
called The American Register and conducted
a bank and other enterprises to which Amer-
cans loaned capital, bare and empty, cred
itors having seized everything. The complain
ants against Hamon are Mrs. Julia p Newell
and Miss Josephine Pomeroy. formerly of New
York. but residents OF Paris, who claim that
they turned over to Hamon stocks to the mar
ket value of SIE0OOO on which Hamon agreed
to raise a loan through London banks of SlJb,-
0o0 They allege however, that Hamon neither
negotiated the loan returned the stocks in
consequence of which they began a criminal ac-
ton against the Harmon bank.
FLED FROM A WARRANT.
An examining magistrate opened an invesu-
CATION. after which, according to lannon's sec
retary Hamon learning that a warrant was
about to be issued for his arrest. left for Lon
don. The secretary also asserted that the
women had intrusted their money to Hamon
for the purchase Of stocks. but the deals had
resulted In heavy losses owing to a break in
the market He declared that Hamon owed the
women only $1,000
Hamon had been a dashing figure in Paris
since his arrived here six years ago. and had
lived in costly apartments IN the Rue dc Bois de
RouLogue The mans real name is said to he
l.. F. Warner.
statement issued at the bank to-day set
forth that as a result of the proceedings the
credit of the institution had been adversely af-
fected and that the local branch would close
| temporarily Other branches Of the institution
are located in London and New York. lannon's
secretary explained that the whole incident was
the result Of a misunderstanding. hut he ad-
mitted that the count" trying TO meet
some pressing obligations when the crash came
AN "ARRE' AS HIS SPONSOR.
since he arrived in Paris. in 1902 when he
transformed himself from "Cheiro the Palmist
Il Count" Hamon. he has had easy access To
society one of his special friends was man
known as "Abhr de ia Fresnaye." whose schol-
arIv and agreeable manner secured for him
entry into the most exclusive circles 1t was
tho .ahhe' who presented Hamon everywhere.
and introduced him 10 Mrs. Newell and many
others with whom later he had business deal
ings There are reports that Hamon and his
| friends as the result of their high connection
were able to arrange" many marriages among
| regrIe OF high standing in the hngIo- American
! colony
Everybody talked IF the mysterious Count
| Haruon. his dashing manner. his beautiful apart
| rncut his horses his vast business ventures. in
! cIudinc a pretcntious champagne enterprise near
Rheims from which he supplied many IF the
high class restaurants in Paris. and OF his bank
and his society paper, advertised TO the world
by big electric letters which helped to illuminat"
the gay Place Dc Topera-
Bur Haro1' 8 life before he came to Paris was
a great mystery II was known that he had
been "t'hciro the PaImist." vino, it said. had
acquired vast sums Of money in England and
America. but how he had acquired the title Of
count was not known. nor did that question
cause much anxiety. He claimed that 1t was
"a Pauai title inherited from his father Hamon
is noN penniIess. according t" his secretary.
who further stated that he had lost $4,000 in
recent operations and thar he had been trying
to pay all his creditors. including Mrs. Newell
and Miss Pomeroy. Their case however. it IS
said does not come under the jurisdiction Of
tn, French laws the negotiations had been
transacted in England. in which country Ham"n
is determined to defend himself
",,hefro" who arrogated To himself the title Of
master of modern pamiStS. and during his high
" successful career in the profession had few
to- dsput" the title. first came To this country IN
1895 He soon acquired a reputation that re
I
| For som" three years before his departure q"
| Paris he the centre of a social craze. Many
mon and women of wealth and prominence We're
among his patrons. He travelled to other cities
Of the South and West and spent much time III
! Chicago.
It was during these years that he made the
| fortune that enabled him t" blossom out in
| Paris as Count" Hamon. He spent a good
sized fortune in advertising
According te the story Of his career he chose
to give out his Iif" was most romantic one
| According IL this interesting tale, he was born
| IN England about fOrt3- five years ago His
father claimed Titled French descent and his
| moth. was Il Greek. As a child he was tauSht
ralmistry ~ his mother and when only thirteen
wears old he wrote treats" on the subject
His father however. designed him Ter the
| Church.
At thc age of seventeen his storF goes. he
came into = FORTUNE and betook himself t" for-
eign travel Among the Brahmins in India, he
saws. he learned much mysti, lore
Then alas speculatOns reduced MS means
and he was obliged to return to England ana
turn his marvellous powers to the base use oil
acquiring much gain. Meeting with some sue
cess i'm England h" came t. this country. Where
fame and fortune followed quickly