Los Angeles herald., 1909-06-11
ARRESTED; SAYS
he IS NOBLEMAN
FROM GERMANY
MAN ACCUSED OF FORGERY OF
$500 CHECK
CLAIMS TO BE WEALTHY AND Au-
THOR OF NOVELS
Taken Into Custody at Redondo Beach,
Prisoner Admits He Is Travel
ing Ineognito-Hints at
Romance

Claiming tobe a German nobiemah'
musician of note and the author of five
novels printed in the German language
and intimating that he wrote short
stories for German publication OF
considerable standing in Europe Fred
erick wellington. who further declares
he is travelling incognito in the Onlteu
states and that his father Is tllieu
a. ember of German nobility ana M
mate with the kaiser, was arresteu pS
Citv Marshal Stanch1eld at heuohuV
Beach late yesterday AFTERNOON aiiu
brought to Los Angeles and locked up
in the county Jail on a charge Of at
ternntins 10 PASS forged cheek TOT
$500 on The First National bank at Re-
dondo. ,.a, obont
ION DAVIS ago and took apartments at
the Hotel Redondo. He mingled Win
the guests and soon became popular
because of his accomplishments as "
musician and an entertainer
shortly after his arrival there ne
onened an account at the First Ma
tional hank by depositing snall
amount He drew on the pank from
fine to time until yesterday, When ne
deposited for collection check Tor $9oo
drawn on the German American say
ines hank of this city TINS cheSh
was signed Fred Osborne and was III
dorsed by Wellington.
Arrested at Dock
Cashier George A. Anderson of the
First National bank at Redondo be-
came suspicious and showed the check
to Justice of the Peace Wells VINO is
a director of that institution. Wells eN-
plained the matter to city Marshal
Stanchfield and the two came 10 Los
Angeles and learned that Wellington
had rented a safe deposit box at the
German American Savings bank ana
had deposited a check for $500 therein
They also ascertained that there was
no such an account as that of Osborne
IN the hooks of the Los Angeles bank.
Marshal Stanchfield then telephoned TO
Officer Hall of Redondo and notlned
the latter to look out for Wellington.
Hall made a search ard located Wen
ington at the steamship dock, where ne
apparently was awaiting the departure
of the steamer Governor Whlch was
due to leave for the north WITHIN a
short time,
wellington. when arrested, admitted
that his true name was concealed and
that he left Germany because MS par
ents objected to a certain matrlmoh-
iaI alliance with an actress. lie tur-
Their stated that he and the actress
came to the United states and she
finally tired of his affections and de-
sarted him for a good looking Ameri-
casn somewhere in the east.
Expects Money from Estate
The accused is alleged to have
passed a bad check on the manage
ment of the Hotel Redondo in pay
ri
He was arraigned before justice OF
the peace at Redondo and his bonds
fixed at $780, His preliminary exam
nation was set for Monday, when he
will appear before Justice Wells at
Redondo.
When seen at the county Jail last
night Wellington, as he calls himselt,
declared he was expecting several
thousand dollars from his estate near
Hanover, Germany, and signed the
name of Osborne, hoping it would de-
Law the cashing of the check until the
money had arrived, He declared he
was ignorant of American banking
customs and hoped that by his signing
another name to the paper the check
would be delayed long enough to en-
able him to receive the money he was
expecting.
Wellington is 2S years old and, &C
cording to his own statement, was ed
ucated at Leipsic, Germany.
Il don't want my people to learn
of my trouble" he said, land l refuse
to make any statement regarding
them My father is a titled German
nobleman and l also have a title, but
for certain reasons decided to travel
incognito when I arrived in this coun-
Try two years ago.
Writes Love Stories
II am the author of five novels
mostly love stories-which are printed
in the German language. I have writ
ten a number of short stories and also
am a correspondent of we'll known
German magazine.
Il left my home at Hanover five
wears ago to tour the world. For three
years | Travelled extensively in Europe,
visiting France, SPAIN Russia, Eng
land and numerous other countries.
II left Europe two years ago and
came to the United States. I will not
saw whether I had a quarrel with my
parents over a love affair with per-
son beneath my rank, nor Will l say
that although l am unmarried. l came
to this country alone Nevertheless |
arrived in New York two years ago. l
obtained considerable data for novel,
which | intend to write depicting life
ON the east side.
"After leaving New York I Travelled
through the states and a short time
ago decided to leave there and come
west to get local color for a story Of
western life which / intend to weave
into romance of the plains.
Says Parents Wealthy
my parents are very wealthy and
have an extensive estate, from which
/ derive enough revenue to enable me
to live comfortably. My individual
property is valued at more than $780,
600 and from the income on this es-
tate l am enabled to travel extern
sively."
Wellington is 4 well dressed man
of medium height He is fluent
talker and speaks with strong eGr-
man accent He declared he speaks
five or six languages.
The authorities do not place any Gre
dence in his story of being son Of n
German nobleman and say a person
answering his description is wanted in
number of places for similar Of
lenses.
Given Farewell Dinner
MESSINA, June 10-Lieutenant Com
mander Reginald r. Belknap. naval at
faabe al the American am l,a ee.r at