San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-12-13
John B. Weidemeier, One
of the Smoothest of All the
Swindlers Who Prey On
Impressionable and
Wealthy Women.

M eron Martin, of Washing
" ton, a plump, blonde,
cheerful lady of forty, was in
troduced to a "Mr. Ward" last
Spring, she thought he was the
most charming man she had ever
met. His manners were perfect.
He was quite a distinguished
looking man, with lean, we'll
formed features and keen, gray
eyes. 1t was said he represented
some foreign country on secret
diplomatic mission. She was
thrilled. He was just the kind of
man she liked to be seen about
with.
However, he was not a diplo-
mat, nor was he "Mr. Ward" but
John B. Weidemeier, whose at
tractive face was known to he
police of half dozen cities. He
was one of the smOothest of all
the big-time crooks who seek VIC
tins and prey upon impre ssion-
able women in the haunts Of the
wealthy and idle, but neither Mrs.
Virginia Martin nor anyone else
in the fashionable Wardman Park
Hotel, where she lived, dreamed
of that.
"Mr. Ward" made no secret of
the fact that he greatly admired
Mrs. Martin. Indeed, after only
one or two cozy teas, he began
to make discreet but vigorous
love to her, and she was carried
off her feet, for love-making was
Mr.. Wards profession-and he
had already made many thou
sands of dollars out of it.
Moreover, before he selected
Mrs. Martin as his latest victim,
he had made painstaking prepa-
ration. He knew just the things
about her which he needed to
know. There are plenty of rich,
silly women always about the
Wardman Park Hotel, because
many socially important people
live there and it has become the
home of the social climbers who
are anxious to get into the
charmed circle of Washington'S
smart set. And of all of those ami
able ladies-all very rich-who
were ambitious socially, Mrs.
Martin seemed the one best
suited to Weidemeier's purpose.
The mere fact that she lived
at the Wardman Park Hotel was
proof that she was very well-to-
do, but Weidemeier had taken
the trouble to find out that her
dead husband had left her a big
fortune. He knew that she was
keen for social advancement and
that she was extremely partial
to titled personages. Many of
the various diplomatic corps live
at the Wardman Park, and among
them are numerous counts and
barons. Mrs. Martin seemed to
be especially interested in them.
So as soon as he succeeded in
Mrs. Martins interest in him he
in confidence, his romantic seer
confessed that his name was no
He told her, after she had vowed
pers never to betray his confider
the British Government had sent
Washington on a secret mission
utmost importance to the Emp
order that his errand might be
plished it was particularly necess
his real name should not be d
But so deep was his love for Mrs
he could not endure the thought
ceiving her. He really was, he t
the Baron Cornelius Beaverbrook
English peerage.
The effect of this disclosure u
susceptible Mrs. Martin was exact
the rascal expected. And, as
Their expression of his adj
and proof of his honorable
tions, he gave her some pricele
ily Jewels, which he said had belo
his mother. Mrs. Martin found o
that he had acquired the gems fl
of the many wealthy women WI