Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-08-08
"BARON'S" MANY WIVES.
Bogus German NobIeman Wanted
Over Half Of Europe.

AT the Hull police court the other
day the case was heard of the Ger
man, whose name was given as Ed
ward Won Westerhagen, and who had
posed as German baron, and Who
it is alleged, is wanted over half of
Europe. He had several times ap-
peared before the Hull magistrates on
charge of obtaining 1000 francs by
false pretenses. but in every instance
he had been remanded.
| w. c. Dawson of Hull, who APP
peared for the public prosecutor, said
Joseph Schaan, from whom 1000
francs was obtained, was living in
Paris when he saw Westerhagen's ad-
vertisement in the Pariser Zeitung for
"A gentleman knowing French willing
to invest 5000 francs in a good school
of languages with large profits. Ap-
ply Jarratt street, Hull
Mr.. Schaan answered the advertise
ment, offering to invest 1000 francs.
Prisoner replied, accepting the offer
and stating he had a great number
of pupils, and 1.-THE profits We're, from
10000 to $4,000 francs per annum. In
the course of correspondence prisoner
stated he had doctors diplomas, and
had been an extraordinary assist
ant at an English university. Prison
er also referred to himself as a baron.
Mr.. Schaan, said counsel, arrived on
Saturday, Dec. 4. On the following
Monday morning he paid thousand
francs in the prisoners front room,
and an agreement was signed. In the
agreement the prisoner described
Schaan as an active partner and him.
self as doctor. During the first week
at the school, went on Mr.. Dawson.
scarcely any students attended. From
F the time of the prosecutors arrival
until the arrest of the prisoner in
February. Schaan received nothing,
With the exception of Ell, and he was
treated more as a servant than as a
partner. ''i''
Prisoner had stated that there were
four teachers in the school Prosecu-
tor questioned him about that, for on
arrival he only found a woman and
boy of l.. The woman kept the house.
The woman was represented to be the
prisoners wife. Explaining about the
I four teachers. prisoner said: well,
there is my wife. Fritz, the boy. and
yourself. That makes four" The
school was supposed to consist of ff
teen rooms. but had only ten. and
three were used for teaching.
Counsel proceeded that by far the
most important point in the case was
that the prisoner represented himself
to the prosecutor as doctor with
two diplomas and a baron and an Of
ficer in the German army. Evidence
would he called to show that the pris-
an officer in the German army, and
that his real name was Emil Rich
man."
Joseph Schaan gave evidence in sup
port of counsels statement. He said
he had seen advertisements of pris
oner in the continental papers offer
ing to adopt children, and asking for
a partner. These reused his sus-
picions, in consequence of which he
gave information to the German con-
sui at Hull
A German lady Of about 30 years of
age was the next witness She knew
the prisoner, she said, in Germany in
1902 His name was Emil Richf1an,
and his brother was a waiter in Ber-
lin. "He asked me to marry him."
she continued, land in November, 1902,
we, went to London together. and I
lived with him" till 1906. believed
myself to be his wife till one day he
said: I am not married to YOU.
In London, she proceeded, he took
the name of DR.. Meyer, and started a
matrimonial agency called the "Dul-
Gle Correspondence Lodge and she
found out that he was writing letters
under the name of Won Westerhagen
to the subscribers. He was freqdently
away for ten or twelve days at time,
and in 1906, in consequence of what
she found out, she left him.
Another witness, an English woman,
said that she Knew the prisoner under
the name of Prof. Robert Carl KatZ.
He came to lodge with my sister.