Europe’s King of Impostors

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 105, 25 July 1927, Page 7

Europe’s King of Impostors

IN HANDS OF THE POLICE A REMARKABLE CAREER A N imposter, whose feats include the decoration of an American general and his staff with fake medals, and the swindling of a sultan, has fallen into the hands of the Belgian police. By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright Reed. 9.10 a.m. BRUSSELS, Friday. QjTEPHANE OTTO, described as “Europe’s King of Impostors,” is again in the hands of the police. The accused was posing as a British officer, but he was unmasked before finding any victims to his persuasive tongue and perfect manners. Otto has had a remarkable career. He once pretended to be an envoy of the Prince of Wales, also an attache of the King of the Belgians. His greatest exploit was the decoration of the American, General Allen, and his whole staff at Coblenz with faked medals. The hoax was discovered only when General Allen sent a letter of thanks to the King. Otto is well-known in London, where he was imprisoned. He also swindled his way through Europe, even borrowing money from a former Sultan of Constantinople. He was arrested in Germany early in 1927, when he was posing as an officer of the Inter-Allied Disarmament Commission. .He was born in Belgium, and served in the French Foreign Legion.—A. and N.Z.