BOGUS COUNT.

Hokitika Guardian, 31 July 1923, Page 3

BOGUS COUNT.

VIENNA. May 31. ‘•Oral' Kossakov” and his “Ornefin (Countess) Helene.” with their manservant, Rudolf Press, staying in a second-class hotel in \ ieunn. the Sacehsischer llof. have been arrested, and eliarged with a series of hotel tlielts during May. two of the victims being British officers. The •‘Oraf” is proved to lie Kail Mueller, son of an hotel-keeper, and his “wife.” a girl of 21. daughter of a hank dimeter who was sent to Vienna from South Flavin- last autumn to learn O i*r in a 11 , met Mueller* in Novenilit*!. left* her employment as a saleswoman and was promised marriage hy him. Mueller is 20. and a very good-looking follow Two other men, a waiter and a clerk, have been arrested also. There has been a reign of terror in Vienna hotels recently. Among the charges against the gang an* robberies I rum Colonel Lyne-F.vans at the Hotel Imperial, of jewellery belonging to his wife, valued at £l-10, and of jewellery and notes from Captain Taylor at the Hotel Bristol worth about £SO. An Italian marquis at- the (iniiul Hotel was robbed of jewellery and notes worth about £2OO. The -‘Graf" and Press used t*> nd; for someone whom they knew to he staying in the hotel, and so obtain leave to proceed upstairs. With a master-key they opened the door ol ally room they fancied, and the ‘'servant waited outside llie door to give warning. if needed, and scampered off with the booty. The “(irnf,” if accosted, could always say that he had mistaken the door, and departed with leisurely dignity. There are many other charges pending.