The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-03-04
Indebted TO the extent OF


legged to be indebted 70 the extent OF
800.
while in Chicago Won Assche lived
like prince on nothing" said Detec-
tive Fleming. In police headquarters,
Friday morning. He was wined and
dined by some OF the best people In
the city and succeeded In getting large
sums OF money from Mr.. Henrotin.
the Belgian consul. and Felix Stegck-
mann, No. 155 Westinghouse. Chi
cago, both OF whom believed him TO
be man OF high rank and influence
in Belgium Many big receptions
were rendered in his honor by his
Chicago acquaintances.
"A member OF the brokerage firm OF
O'Connor & Kaghler. Chicago, with
whom he negotiated the purchase or
the s250.000 worth OF United States
bonds. even went to Mobile. Ala, to
pay his hotel bill and bring him back
TO Chicago, so confident was he that
Won Assche was sincere In his trans
actions. Won Assche went to Mobile
pending the effort of the brokers to
get the bonds for him, and while
there he ran shy of funds to pay his
hotel bill. In Mobile there are many
influential belgians, and he cut quite
swath while there. When O'Connor
& Kaghler got him back to Chicago
and had the bonds ready to deliver to
him in New York, they learned that
he had no money to pay for them and
had no one to buy them at all. The
brokers were mad. OF course, and
A. IAt. ..A a.. nh ttN he
transaction. We cabled his father In
Landerzell. Brabant, Belgium. and he
informed us that he had washed his
hands OF him six years ago. because
he was hayward"
Won Assche was also lionized in
Detroit, especially by the leading
Befgians. While he -was- HI tn the
Hotel Cadillac he was visited by
fashionably-d dressed women, who
brought dainties to him. Ie was go
ing under the name of "P. De Rid
der" in the Cadillac, where he ar
rived Feb 8. He owes bill Of 800
at the Cadillac and the payment OF
this is said to have been guaranteed
by Theophile Francois. the Belgian
consul in Detroit. The consul could
not be reached, Friday morning, for
an explanation in regard to the board
bill, but the Belgian chancellor, Louis
E. Hacherelle, No. 535 Second-ave.,
declared that nothing could be said
about the matter just now, because
lit is diplomatic secret"
In dealing with the First National
bank, on which he flashed the draft
for $4,000, Won Assche said he had
come TO Detroit to engage In the real
estate business; that he could get
only one per cent interest on his
money in Belgium, whereas he could
get six here He also declared that
he had rented a suite OF rooms In
tho Ford building and intended to
take into partnership a prominent
young Detroiter This all sounded
promising to the bank people, but
they didn't fall" for 1t, insisting on
an investigation before turning over
the money.
When Chief of Detectives Melon
nell called to see Won Assche in the
Hotel Cadillac. following the report
of President McGraw, he searched the
Belgian and found a key with the
Blackstone hotel mark on It.
Where is the Blackstone hotel?"
asked the chief.
"Oh, that's bum hotel in New
York" replied Won Assche with an
air OF indifference.
Chief Mcdonnell knew very well,
where the Hotel Blackstone was and
all about II. He concluded at once
that the Belgian might be wanted in
Chicago and he Immediately got In
with the police de-
partment of that city. The result
was that the Thiel Detective agency.
which was handling the case for the
hotels said to have been defrauded
out of board bills, sent Detective
Fleming to Detroit to take charge OF
Won Assche. The latter was still In
the hospital on the arrival of the de-
tective and couldn't be removed un-
til Friday.
Won Assche Is a man of military
bearing, standing about 6 feet, and
weighing close to 200 pounds. He is
about As years old. He was taken
back to Chicago by Detective Flem-
ing, Friday afternoon. Prior to leav-
ing he was photographed and measur-
ed by the police department. He took