New-York tribune., 1909-06-09
SWlNDLER OF KINGS
Fr-COnrict RcceiUed as United
States Military 4ttach6.
rcar,r.-ht- - hr lie Brentzvood company.l

copyright 1902. by the Brentwood Company
There are many persons on both sides Of the At
lsntic who VIII breathe more freely when they
learn of the death at Madrid Of Charles Hoffman
sometimes known as the 'Chevalier de Hoffman,
and sometimes. too. the Baron Courtler de
Penmarch." one of the most celebrated OF lnterna-
fional adventurers who managed to include among
his victims such extremely wide awake persons as
E+nr Edward the late King Oscar, King Leopold
az Belgium Emperor Napoleon III. the King of
Rz1n1aniz. the Due de Morny and last but not
least the great Chancellor Of the German Empire,
Prince Bismarck.
kt one time he managed TO ingratiate himself TO
such an extent with the United States Legation in
gerne-t was in lSe2-that under the false pretence
OF having served in the Unioh army during the Civil
War he was actually able to induce the American
envoy 10 give him official connection with the
mission as acting military attache thereof
II v..s in that capacity and arrayed in a United
States cavalry uniform that he attended the an
rual rnanouvres OF the Swiss army in 1892. the
chief Of the federal department treating the
seudo Baron CourtIer with exceptional distinction.
having himself commanded regiment on the
Union side during the great conflict between the
North and Soutl: in this country.
Cour;ier's association with the United States
Legation. as well 8 the extraordinary Considera-
ton with which he treated by the Swiss mill
tary authorities led TO his being received with
open arms by the Austrian and Russian embassies
at Berne, and il was only when his attempt TO get
toId Of some confidential plans of the mountain de-
fences which he wished 10 obtain for the purpose
Of fnsratiaing himself at Rome led to his arrest
under suspicion OF being a military spy that the
Official and diplomatic world At Eerne discovered
too late that they had been lavishnG hospitality
and kindness Of every nature upon one of the most
celebrated swindlers and ex-conviCtS of the Old
World His portrait figured in the rogues' gallery
Of every police department on both sides Of the
Atlantic.
Hoffman was the son Of respectable glassware
dealer at Prague Born in 1885. he was already
convicted AT The age Of sixteen Of forgery. but
escsned with light sentence by reason of his
youth After drifting about the Continent, earning
his living IS 2 hotel waiter. a member of the
metropolitan police London and Of the detective
force there. in Scotland Yard ne was dismissed in
disgrace for dishonesty
At that time his father died. leaving him small
sum Of money. This he utilized merely work
ing capital for his scheme Of trading his
wits and the astonishing credulity Of other people.
RePresertins himself officer Of one Of the
crack regiments Of the English army. he managed
70 secure al Carlsbad the hand OF the daughter of
E rich Russian manufacturer Of the name of
RossIer. whom he quickly robbed. and within a
few months had managed to squander in extrava-
giant living at Warsaw every penny that he pos
sessed, He thereupon abandoned bis wife.
Proceeding Paris. he acquired the
dence and the intimacy of the late Baron Haus-
mann. Prefect Of the Seine. and through him Of
The late Due de Morny. lie was invited not only
10 the state balls the Tuileries but also the
more private parties Of Empress Eugenie at ST.
Cloud. Compiegne and Fontainebleau.
While at Paris he managed TO become acquainted
with American widow of a New Eng
land inventor Of patent anchor, who had died at
Carlsbad in 1856 BY some means other Hoff-
induced the widow to surrender 10 him all her
rights to the patent. and then proceeded negoti
ate for the sale Of them with various European
governments, furnished with letters OF introduc-
ZION from Prince Jerome Napoleon, nicknamed
''Plon-Plon.'
He proceeded TO Stockholm, interviewed the late
King, Charles, and not only succeeded in his en-
deavors, but also created by that monarch a
knight OF the order of ST. Olaf To this day I
believe, the Swedish government has his anchor in