The Detroit times., 1911-05-03
CLEVER CRIMINAL
IS BEHIND BARS
Heinrich Wyler, While Still Honest,
Declared by Criminologist Unfit
To Be at Large.

81. PETERSBURG, May o-hein
rich Wyler, son OF Swiss merchant
in the Solothurn Canton, who has
just been sentenced to four and a half
years Imprisonment for thefts, has be-
hind him one OF the most remarkable
records for adroit swindling that
have ever come before Russian
Court. Variety has not been lacking,
and the tale OF his past life as unfold
ed by the police reads more like part
Of sensational novel than real life.
AS a boy of seventeen he was pub
licly whipped by his father for having
insulted young girl, and I'm a ut OF
rage and desperation left his home.
After some few years OF honest exist
ence as clerk in France. he went TO
Monte Carlo, where he was successful
enough to win fifteen thousand francs,
with which he travelled through Italy
and afterwards Spain, gaining con-
siderable fiuency In the language or
both countries. Tiring of this exist
ence, he journey to Africa, where he
made more money by trading In ivory
and also-a more remunerative de-
partment-in slaves.
Employed BY Duo d'Abruxxi.
On his return voyage to Italy, with
some fifty thousand francs capital, he
met the Duke of the Abruzzi, who
took an interest In the intelligent
young man who could speak five
languages; and he was eventually ap-
pointed the Dukes interpreter.
Through the medium of the duke,
Wyler was introduced to the famous
Professor Lombroso, who after know
ing him short time declared that
Wyler was not q At person to be at
large, as he had an intensely Grim
inal disposition. So furious was Wyler
on hearing the professors statement,
that his behavior did actually lead to
his being sent to lunatic asylum In
Milan for time; but he succeeded In
escaping with the result that his life
from that time onward has borne
out Professor Lombroso's diagnosis
with remarkable precision.
A series of hotel thefts led TO his
flight to Bucharest, where a we'll
known theatrical beauty fell In love
with him. He lived at her expense
for a time, and then firing of her
made of with her jewels. Assuming
the title of Count Halwyl, he next
succeeded In carrying out series OF
remarkable daring robberies--the
most sensational of which put him In
possession of magnificent diamond
bracelet Belonging to the wife OF the
Russian Ambassador at Rome.
Got eraceiet ~ Trick.
This was quite recent affair. The
lady was seated In her box at the
Royal Opera, when an adjutant of
the king of Italy entered, and told
her that the queen, who was In the
Royal box opposite. /. had greatly ad-
mired her diamond bracelet, and
would take II as favor II she might
be permitted to inspect 1t more close
ly. The ambassadress entrusted the
bracelet to the care OF the supposed
adjutant, who was Wyler In dis
guise, and who was not seen again In
Rome. Since that time the Russian
police have been hunting every
where for the thief.
He appeared In Munich as the
Marquis Rosetta, and becoming en-
gagged to Russian lady whose ac-
quaintance he made at q fashionable
ball there, subsequently disappeared
with jewelry valued at forty thousand
roubles. Then, sinking lower and low
er as the result OF much hard drinking,
Wyler was eventually caught in the
act Of stealing an overcoat from a
restaurant.
1t is stated that this extraordinary
man has still sum of about two mil
lion francs deposited In a Swiss bank
the product Of his life Of swindling