STOWAWAY’S FEAT

Hokitika Guardian, 29 June 1932, Page 3

STOWAWAY’S FEAT

ESCAPE from CUSTODY

.STORY OF REMARKABLE HOAX

NEW YORK, June 26,

The stowaway who hoaxed fir t class passengers on board the lie de France by posing as th e Grand Duke Michael ’caused another stir by escaping from E'llis Island, New Yolk, on the eve of h.s -deportation to France. ITTe man, himself Michael Romanoff, but whose real .name is believed to be Har-ry Ger-gu-on, carried out his latest exploit with the same cool audacity that marked his .shipboard hoax. He obtained permission to enter New’ York under guard to . collect some of hi-s effects, including . a new dress suit -and a si'-k hat.’

James Drury, a trusted guard, wa' appointed to accompany. th e prisoner, on this visit, and was warned to' keep, the- man Handcuffed. Arrived' in" New York, the penniless stowaway immediately .set out on a tour of the city’s most fashionable restaurants and “speakeasies,’’ where managers and wallers, evidently familiar with him, greeted him with low bows as “Monsieur le Prince.” Drury found himself in an Arabian iS T igl)ts setting of luxury, and courted a s a friend of a groat nobleman. He stared open-mouthed as the “Prince” introduced trim to members of wellknown New York families, w'ho invited him to take wine with them. These persons evidently .-took Gergu'-on to he a Russian prince, and Drury was so impressed that he hurriedly ldd the handcuffs.

The “Prince” called for champagne to drink the health of Ellis Island, and he then- made a triumphal progress through Broadway’s night world. Plied with rich wines, Drury at la'-t lost consciousness of his dazzling surroundings, and the last he remembers is sinking under the itable of a luxurious midtown restaurant.

The “Prince” then pinned a gardenia in his uncon-’cious friend’s coat as a souvenir of their happy evening, and bade him good-bye. After that a dozen immigration officers were vain.v scouring fashionable v ew York in the hope of tracking this elusive Pimpernel’. As a result of this scandal it was announced tha:- four Ellis T sland officials have been suspended, including Dr Joseph Schlarr, head of the Deportation Bureau, Philip Forman, his deputy, Drury, and another guard. It hiis been .discovered that while Gerguson was known on Broadway as a Russian Prince, he had victimised Hollywood, both as a French Duke and a wealthy English Peer. He sai.od from New York- for Eng.and in the Olympic early in April without paying his passage. Some of his London activities attracted -Scotland Yard’s notice, and he was .asked to leave the country.