New-York tribune., 1911-09-11
WEEDEN ARRESTED AGAIN
Posed as a Son OF American
Minister B0utell.
WAS "MR. BYRD" IN CHICAGO
Attempted Suicide in West 23d
Street Y. M. G. A., This
City, in June Last.
rsv Te,esraph to The Tribune.

1By Telegraph 10 The Tribune
Chicago, Sept. l0.-Leonard Weeden, VINO
for several months has masqueraded as the
son of former Congressman II S. BouteH'
now Minister 10 Switzerland. is under ar
rest in Chicago.
Desni,e a warning from an Eastern judge
10 cease his impostures. he came right to
the home of the diplomat and repeated MS
swindling operations. few weeks ago ne
attempted 10 commit suicide In the Young
Mems Christian Association building IN a'h
street New York. At the time ne was
branded an impostor by Congressman D.
Frank Aldrich. Of this city, VINO was III
New York and was asked by Magistrate
Treschi 10 investigate Weeden insisteo h
court that he was the son of the former
Chicago Congre ssman and that he had been
estranged from his family for several years.
His case was finally dismissed, Magistrate
Freschi warning him against further rep
resentinC himself as the son Of Mr.. bou-
tell
But he failed to heed this warning OF the
court Since ne left New York he visited
philadelphia. Boston and other cities, where
he obtained money on the strength OF his
being "a son of Minister BoutelL
His arrest in Chicago was for obtaining
so from H. r. Byrd. of No. 3l2 Indiana ave
nue.. Washington, by representing himseH
as L. V Byrd. a son of the victim. 1t was
&C . d" message by telegraph that IN
duced Mr. Byrd 20 fall for the swindle.
Mr. Byrd's son, L. V. Byrd. left Wash
inston last Thursday for Montpelier. Idaho
He arrived in Chicago the next day ana
went to the Hotel La Sale IT was his
intention to remain over Sunday.
Young Byrd is twenty years old. He
was in the La Sale buffet when Noeden
introduced himself as "a son of Minister
Boutell" They had drink to cement the
acquaintance. and "Boutell' wOrmed him
self into the youths confidence. Before
they parted "Bouteil" had the entire his
tory of the Byrd family. He quickly made
use Of il.
Weeden called up on the long distance
telephone and got the father of young
Byrd on the wire in Washington.
This is the Great Northern Hotel said
Weeden Your son has asked me to call
you up. He was robbed on his way to Chi
cago. and after his arrival here he got into
a little trouble. II will take about 500 to
settle the matter. lie wants YOU to wire
another S75 or the police Will lock him M.
Mr. Byrd was suspicious that something
was wrong and he telegraphed the detec-
tive bureau TO investigate the matter. The
detectives learned at the Hotel Id Sale
that Byrd had proceeded on his way to
Idaho instead of remaining over Sunday.
At the Great Northern the det, ctiVes found
the bogus MIR. Byrd" He was drinking
wine in his room and a mandolin band was
playing for him.
Young man who said he was Leonard
J. Routen. a son Of the American Minister
to Switzerland, made attempt, or an
ALLEGED attempt. To end his life al the
West SIDE Y NJ. G. a. building, early on
June & last by hanging. He was cut
Down and after a hearing was sent 10
bellevue Hospital for observation as 10
his sanity While under arrest he APP
parentlv broke down and told the police
that ne was son Of eX-Congressman
Eouten the American Minister to Switzer-
land. hut on the blotter he was entered as
Leonard j. Bartwel. At police court he
was confronted by Roger :. G. BouteH
son Of the American Minister, who de-
nounced him as an impOstOr. Nh Boutel
stated al the time that Bartwell had been
posinc - a son Of cX-Congressman Boutel
for several months and on the strength Of
the fake relationship mad obtained consid-
cradle money.
The young man, after being confronted
with his dupiicty, said he had been drink
ing heavily before he attempted suicide
and promised Magistrate Freschi that II
released he would at once leave the city
and never again attempt to take his lie.
When given his liberty he said he was go
ing to New orleans. and was next heard
Of i'm Florida in fistiC alteration with a
young woman. Since then various reports
have been current 70 show that he was
StU engaged in imposing upon people ne
met as the son of the American AmbaSsa-
dor to Switzerland or i'm whatever capacity
that best met his purposes