The Washington times., 1910-09-26
AMERICAN WOMAN
CALLED THIEF DECOY
Florida Settle Wanted In
Berlin on Felony
Charge.
MARRIES MEMBER
OF WORLD GANG
Native of South Went to Europe
When She Was But
Eighteen

BERLIN, Sept. 26-The police are to-
day making a thorough search for
young American woman who before her
marriage was Miss Florida Settle.
She is wanted here IN connection wrsh
sWindles perpetrated by the gang head
ed by a man known as the Marquis
Rance.
The following description Of her has
been issued by the authorities.
Florida Settle. tail, thin with classic
profile, wonderfully arched eyebros
and very bright eyes
The girl came TO Europe when she was
eighteen years old She belonged to 4
respectable family OF farmers in a
Southern State For nine years, the po-
lice say, she has been the chief decoy
in the gang organized By Rance. She
Is married TO member Of the band,
former lieutenant IN the Austrian Hus-
saTs. named GoebeL now nominally a
partner In an automobile factory.
Gets Wealthy Men
On account OF Eer great beauty and
charm Of manner Florida has been en-
ployed chiefly. in Paris, InterIaken and
Lucerne in decoying young men Of
wealth into the net spread BY. the card
shsrpers-
Rance and GOebeI are reported by the
police to have been engaged in UupIeas-
ant investigations by the brothers
Schwab Of London who are also mem
bers Of the gang The eldest OF the
SChWahs IS said to have me house in
the West End OF London. where orgies
are enacted in the entertainment Of Sc
lect visitors
F1orida's mission in the game seems
70 have been to discover and lure the
victims
Rance, IL is stated, married in Hun
gary the Princess Lucie Won TOUsSoUt,
a former favOrite Of the Khedive OF
Egypt The princess. who was deserted
by the marquis in London, claims 20
be his real wife
Goes To Sanitarium.
Meanwhile, a later wife of Rance,
whose maiden namS was Alice Hecht,
having discovered at last that her hUs-
band is a swindler. has gone, penniless.
10 a sanitarium near this city. Her
mother, who is one Of the richest women
in Germany, refuses 20 help her in any
way, owing 10 her fidelity TO her rascal
ly husband.
Before going 10 the sanitarium. Alice
EeChI said Charac TeTiSTfCa-II Yes I
know you think I'm a simpieton, but
In not so stupid as my liquid eyes
make me seem
The Rance organization extends, the
police say practically over the whole
earth The detectives are constantly
locating members In this they are be-
ing helped by letters addressed 10
The methods of the gang are illus
trated by the experience of an Ameri-
can travelling In Honolulu, who, with
his wife, was pluudered Of every penny.
and finally had TO sacrifice mis- automO-
bile 10 pay his debts. Rance brought
this automobile 10 Germany and sold il
in Berlin
A FTenChman who lost money to the
gang In Java cabled to his brother in
Cairo for money He received the fol-
lOWInE reply. Guess you've been done
By RANGES men, tell them 10 pay
your money back, I'm q member Of the
gang myself
Brother a Friend
The Frenchman applied for the re-
turn Of his cash. Rance replied 1T
IS against my principles TO return
money, but a. your brother is a friend
OF mind, / viii show you how TO get
your money back" He did. In a Few
weeks the FTenChman had doubled. by
shaTping, the sum he had originally
lost and he became a member Of the
French section OF the gang.
The real name Of the MARQUIS
who sometimes calls himself De la
Rance, is Bella klimm- He is the son
of a school teacher in Budapest. The
marriage with Alice Hecnt took place
IN London last April The Hecht fam
lily offered him S25,0OO 10 refuse 10
marry the girl. who was infatuated
with him He demanded $4,000 Be
cause Of her efforts to defend her
sharper husband Alice has been the
heroine OF Berlin for n month The
sWindlers secret was disclosed by a