THE RODANOW WATCH FRAUD.

Inangahua Times, Volume II, 25 April 1881, Page 2

THE RODANO W WATCH FRAUD.

+~ Before the police effectually trapped Rodanow thev had to resort to a ruseWriting a letter to him in the name of Felix Montano, of Springfield, Massachussets, containing 2*50d01 , and re* questing the recipient to forward a watch of the style and make advertised for that price. Rodanow evidently did not want to transact business with parties so near home (soys the Boston Globe), for he answered that the watches were in bond, and in order to sell one in this country he must pay 75 cents in duties. He suggested, therefore, that he would return the money, or if the customer desired, he might send the additional amount and the watch would bo forwarded, Tho letter was intercepted, of course, and Mr Field (of the police department) sent the money. Mr Rodanow, the same Rodanow, then went to the store of a Mr Quimby, in Hanoverstreet, and purchased a watch, paying 3. 78dol.; this being 53 cents more than be received and sent it as ordered. Rodanow must have been advertising in a world-wide fashion, for after the police took charge of the case, ono letter came from a Calcutta houso enclosing £66 sterling for watches to tbat amount. Then, too, a Bos» ton firm of shipping and commission merchants received a letter from one of their foreign correspondents asking them to investigate the matter, and if the watches were as represented, that some 300dok. worth be sent. Besides this, letters came from one or more consulates to the Post Office department seeking information. The most singular part of the story has yet to bo related. Rodanow appears to havo been living in Boston under two different names. His second and better known name was ' Dr Edwnrd NathanGanz"and his occupation was that of publisher of a monthly magazins named the Anarchist, professing sympathy with *he Nihilists of llussia and tho Socialists of Germany. The oflieo of the Anarchist was 21*3 Washingtonstreet, Boston. Gan/, speaks ami writes, besides hi**: native tongue, Gorman, French. Russian, Spanish, Italian, and English, tho last lho most im pre feet of any. 110 is personally and intima'ely .'.cqmip.'od with tho

leading radical thinkers of Europe, and has also a wide and influential acquaintance in this country. Among his friends he counts Bjornstern, the Norwegian novelist, who shares his ideas to some extent, He is a remarkably wellsread man, and has exquisite literary, artistic, and musical tastes. His fine library, only a small portion of which is in his parlors in Howardsi reet, contains all the latest works of yalue and a collection of rate etchings and literary curiosities. All the new operas be kepps up with, and is a fiuo amateur performer on the piano. On his arrest as Rodanow be became mysteriously lost to the frends he possessed ns Ganz, and enquiries were ma,de in all directions for the missing doctor. On being released on bail he reappeared in the literary circle with a smiling face, assuring bis anxious friends that he had suddenly ' been called to New York. No one associated his disappearance with the arrest of Rodanow, In Ihe latter capacity he had to present himself in Court a second time and, of course. again, became mysteriouly h-st. Being unable to obtain further bail, he «-nt for his friends as Dr Ganz, and thus his ownership of the two names became revealed. His explanation of the affair isjtbnthe was merely acting for ' Rcdanow, wben he opened the letter addressed to the company, and had allowed himself to be taken in in order to give the real culprit a fhnnce to escape. This story was contradicted by several facts, and is therefore d scredited.