The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1922-03-12
'ount Gregory Impostor, Adventure
Boy, Is Welcomed by the Astors am
Wife, and Swindles, Blackmai4

& 49, = Z y 3
sntsrtainsd frequently 1t dinner By Mr. William Aitr
ths uncrownsd queen Of New York society and no
orsd with an invitation TO her famous annual BALL d
old Mn. Astor was extremely cordial with me.
II an always 20 pleased TO meet anybody from
mna she said to afternoon, because your cdu
d % delightfully."- free from commercialism.' q
But these social honors did not Gil my empty pocke
very rapidly. had come away from London, as hst
explained, quite psnniless and In hurry. hadqnot.y
perfected my methods Of victimiEng rich and gulhl
Ansricsns b
Ny luxurious life in New York actually cost me VII
little real money possessed conscientiousy avoid
paying heavy charges like hotel bills and tailor bills
i sometimes had to pay for my lunches and drinks,
always for my daily boutonniere.
found constant source of money by selling wort
ls trinkets often bought In old Junk shops - ancie
heirlooms Of the Gruenebsum family was then gem
ally known a. Baron Gruenebaum." a. have alre&s
said picked up little battered brass box for ten
in Third avenue junk shop Toying with it careless
one day in the society Of the late Pierre LOrard bs
marked careessy :,
The lO-Cene Heirloom"
That Sold for 500
'This is a snuhbox given to ancestor Of mine.
the Empress Maria Theresa for her devotion to hef
would let it go for $100 want the money to put
horse this afternoon and have such lot Of these used
family heirlooms.''
MI. UOr1Iard gave me the $lVO without an lnStan
hesitation and was, doubt glad to add this trnke
his art treasures. b
Another time picked up an old fan--the worst XII
Of mid Victorian work-for twenty-five cents. Shown
it to Freddie Gerhard said: 81
1T was presented to my great-grandmother by Ns
woman and not hardhearted But it of no use toe
and would rather have $50 in my pocket OF coursx
could get much more if sold At auction. but would
take the trouble
Freddie Gerhard fairly snapped at the fan IL
thought that it would be exquisite historical gift
present to Lily Langtry and in his state OF mind hev
not likely to be critical about artistic values. e
Such little transactions these however failed
satiMy my heavy requirements and found myself unce
fortably hard-up.
visit to New York had presented myself to Gene
James R. OBeirne my travelling companion Of theih
train.
The General was then living at the Hoffman Ho,
that famous resort of the most fashionable Newly
sportsmen. He then held the office of United States
migration Commissioner He was extremely popular b
with politicians sportmen and society people Altho,
busily occupied by day his company was much sought
the evening by men and women Of the social wordi r
in great demand at dinner parties where his flow
witty conversation and anecdote kept everybody pleas
He was however worker and not mere social butter
General o 'Beirne took rather fancy to me and
day remarked:
uight who would make splendid wife for you That
my friends conided to me that she would like moth
better than to marry foreign nobleman could not
thinking Of you"
A Rich Wife at
Last to Buy Him Luxuries
Here was the opportunity Of which had been DIRE
ing-the opportunity to live on . r1ch woman with
work. b
II should be delighted to meet the lady, general,