The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1914-12-25
BOGUS GRAND DUKE
EXPOSED BY SLEUTH
Impostor. Posing As German
Noble, Gets $1,000 From
London Hotel.

NEW YORK, Dec. Elm consequence
OF the foregathering here just now CT
large numbers Of German. Austrian, and
Hungarian hotel men who have helped
to make London hotels possible for
American and other visitors TO live in
with enjoyment, and whose presence is
not now desired In the country of their
first adoption. many good tales are com
ing TO light. Their. is. for instance.
that story OF how a fashionable West
End hotel was swindled out Of 800 in
two days by man who posed as the
Grand Duke of SaXe-WeimaT
At the time only brief details Of tire
occurrence got To the London papers.
The name Of royal parsonage. such as
the real grand duke was, must not lie
banded about. The manager Of the
hotel a GermaI.. fairly worshiped any
body with title, and man with
German title. and a duke at that, must
be mentioned with awe.
The swindle was possible, said a
former London hotel man yesterday who
played a part in the fake dukes expo
sure. because Of the approaching mar
rage of the real grand duke. and IL
was actually assisted by an apparent
guarantee by the German embassy in
London. As recall ii. it was in 1904.
In Tense Whisper.
1t was on a Sunday. | had been out
for the day. Upon my return the recep-
ton clerk. a big, pOmpous Swiss. said
to me in a tense whisper: I don't know
IL should tell you, but had just taken
care OF royal party. 1t Is no less a
parsonage than the Grand Duke OF
Saxe-welmar and his aide de camp.
Il peeped into the restaurant where
the duke and his companion were
sitting. | didn't quite ind the former
to my liking. They we're making meal
OF the very choicest and most expensive
dishes. and the wines they had ordered
we're of the rarest vintage in our cellar.
The duke after lqueurs, ordered the
finest cigars We had. some that cost
about SLIP apiece.
Instead OF tipping the head waiter
and his own waiter, he gave them
each one OF the expensive cigars.
Coming out into the office after he
had finished his banquet-for il was
nothing simplcr-he offered cigars to
all of us. but neglected to hand one TO
the other reception clerk who had
now come on duty. That was mis-
take that Indirectly led to his undo
ing.
Buys Lavishly.
The next day the duke who had
one Of the finest suites in the hotel
made the most extraordinary pur-
chases of cigars. wines. and food. He
ordered all sorts Of things from the
la be rdashers, which our cashier
promptly paid for When he had been
In the hotel thIrty six hours, he owed
US about 200
But the reception clerk who had
been slight"d. and whom | may cali
Braun, was suspicious Of him.
We sent to the German embassy
for information respecting our visit
or. They Immediately va rned US to bc
careful and not TO take any steps We
might regret They asked for a de
scription Of the duke and when toli
that he was clean shaven and about
such and such an age. the official !u
charge said the description fitted that
of the actual grand duke. II was odd
that he hadn't made his presence
known at the embassy, but perhaps
he was enjoying a sort OF incOgnito.
Anyhow. the official impressed upon
us the necessity for doing nothing
that might be construed as an ar
front to his highness'
Desired To Buy" Jewels.