The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1923-01-24
BOGUS EARL wins
FORTUNE BY FRAUD
Lives in Luxury on $4,000 for
Stationery.
NOW LANCUlSHES IN PRISON
Bought $4,000 Estate in Michigan
on Payment of But 81 ,000-Duped
TWO Wives, One of Whom Lived
ModestIy in Toronto, While the
other Travelled Around With Him
Under the Title of "Countess of
Dunbsane"-- Mystery About His
Past.

Under the Title of "Countess of
Dunbsane"- - Mystery About His
Past.
What two boxes of crested station
cry, worth a paltry $1,000, Will do Tor
a man when judiciously employed
could be related by alfred, Earl of
Dunblane,' alias A. J. Walker Grieg,
now repining In the state prison at
Jackson, Mich. under sentence as an
embezzler, says the New York World.
Among other things, that crested
stationery helped obtain for ALFRED,
| Earl of Dunblane," a wealthy consort
a Chicago woman, who automatically
became the Countess they helped
obtain for him a former millionaire's
estate of LOO acres at Cheboygan,
Mich, and a life of opulence for a
period of years, and they helped to
maintain in Toronto in comfort, If not
in luxury, a second establishment
consisting of a wife and eight children
whose existence naturally was I'M
known to the "Countess" of Chicago
and Cheboygan.
Had the Grand Manner.
|. Crested stationery did not accom-
| plish all this unaided. There were in
addition several suits of expensive
tweeds. There was a black ribboned
pince-nez bridging an a~ristocratic
nose, or held deity in long slim
fingers to emphasize conversation.
There was also a thick yellow cane
bination was impressive. A great
many persons, both men and women,
TO their regret, found it irresistible.
AS stated, the "Earl's'' meteoric
career was based partially on an orig
inal investment of $1,000. The word
investment is misleading. For so far
the $1,000 stationery bill has not been
paid.
About four years ago "Dunblane''
began his campaign in Chicago and
Michigan. In Chicago he met Sara
Turngreen, reputed to be wealthy, and
the divorced wife of Wilbur Dye.
They were married at Sault Ste. Marie
in January, 1919. "Dunblane'' gave
his residence as Nottingham, Eng,
his age as thirty-six, his occupation
as English barrister, and his previous
state as. Single" Nevertheless he
was then, as subsequently, going to
Toronto every second weekend
with q check for 500 Err. Christina
Grieg and her family. When he
couldn't come personally, as deveI-
oped in recent months, he SEM the
funds by mail.
Were Paying Guests.
After the Earl" and the Countess
were married they went to Chicago.
Her two children were put in a pri-
vate school. He and she lived with
her parents, the Turngreens.
I'VE We're their paying guests said
the Earl in answer to the prosecu-
TONS query as to how he. the Earl
his father-in-law.
1t must. not be supposed that the
Earl" was lazy and inactive, or that
he expected his new wife's family to
support him. His whole life as far
as known has been a peculiarly active
one. And so after a reasonable Ia
terruption warranted by such an event
rs marriage, "Dunblane" appeared in
Detroit, where he foated a company
known as the little Guarantee and
Casualty company He became its
president and sales manager. And
here 'Dunblane' was in his element.
The tweedS, the pince-nez. the yellow
cane. the grand manner and, when it
could be introduced. the crest, were
irresistible. He toured Michigan sell
ing stock. He also sold stock in On
tario.
An era of great prosperity for
"Dunblane" set in. He and the
Countess" lived at the best hotels.
In northern Michigan. at Cheboygan,
} he discovered a magnificent estate for
merly owned by a millionaire, but
falling into disrepair. It had LOO
acres overlooking gray water, it had o
winding driveway half a mile long
leading through e~yergreens up to the
four-stOry mansion which, with its
HlGe ray tower, goes under the name
of 'Fhe Castle" Just the setting
for the Earl of Dunblane."
So he bought it at a price of $780,
N0 Of which $1,000 was cash and
$4,000 mortgage. A large mort
rage? But why not for the Earl of
Dunblane"? The estate needed re-
pairs. So workmen were called in.
while the Earl and "Countess" went
travelling.
Trey spent several months in Mon
treal. There he organized another
company and became president of it.
And every two weeks, when posi-
lie, "Dunblane" took a train for To-
ronto, where he became A. ]. Walker
Grieg and delivered 500 to Christina
Grieg.
Subscribers Become Suspicious.
And now the yaore prosaic and sor-
did part OF the adventures of Dun
blanc" must be told. II seems inau>
propriate that such a romantic ma
ture as 'Dunblane's'' should be trou-
bled with monetary affairs. but now
idoney and the ugly word embezzIe.
mpnt muef enfn- Whom nunhIopa-s"