THE RODANOW WATCH FRAUD.

Evening Post, Volume XXI, Issue 83, 9 April 1881, Page 4

THE RODANOW WATCH FRAUD.

Beforo the police effectually trappod Eodanow they had to resort to a ruse, writing a letter to him in the name of Felix Montano, of Springfield, Mapsachu*etts, containing 2.50d01., and requesting tho recipient to forward a watch of the style and make advorti-ed for tV>at price. Eodanow evidently did not want to transact business with parties bo near home (says the Beßton Globe), for ho answered that the watches were in bond, and in crder to sell one in this country he must pay 75 centß 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 be forwarded. This letter was intercepted, of coarse, and Mr. Field (of the police department; sent tho money. Mr. Kodanow, the same Rodanow, then wont to the store of a Mr. Quimby, in Hanover-street, and purchased a watch, paying 3 78 dol., this being 53 cents more than he had received, and sent it as ordered. Rodanow must have been advertising in a world-wide fashion, for after the police took charge of the caße, "one letter came from a Calcutta house enclosing £W5 sterling for watches to that amount. Then, too, a Boston firm of shipping and commission merchants received a letter from one of their foreign correspondents, asking them to investigate tho mutter, and if tho watches were as represented, that eomo 300 dols. worth be sent. Besides this, letters came from one or more consulates to tho Post Office department seeking information. The most Bingular part of the etory has yet to be related. Kodanow appears to have been living in Boston under two different names. His second and better known name waß "Dr. Edward Kathan-Ganz," and hia occupation was that of publisher of a monthly magazine named tho Anarchist, professing sympathy with the Nihilists of Russia, and the Socialists of Germany. Ihe office of the Anarchist was 243 Washington-street,' Boston. Gauz speaks and writes, besides his native tongue, German, French, Russian. Spanish, ¦ Italian, and English, the last tho most iin- j perfectly of any. He is personally and intimately acquainted with tho leading radical thinkers ot Europe, and has also a wide and influential acquaintance in this country. Among his friends he counts Bjornatern, the Norwegian novelist, who shares lub ideas to some extent. He is a remarkably well read man. and has exquiaite literary, artistic, and musical taste. His fine library, only a small portion of which is in hiß parlors in HowardBtreet, contains all the latest works of value and a collection of rare etchings and literary curiosities. All the now operas he keeps up with, and is a fine amateur performer on the piano. On hia arrest as Rodanow, he became mysteriously lost to the friends he possessed as Ganz, and inquiries were made in all directions for the missing doctor. On being released on bail he reappeared in the literary circle with a smiling face, assuring his anxionß friondß that he had been suddenly called away to Now York. No one j associated hia disappearance with the arrest of Rodanow. In the latter capacity he had to presont himself in conrt a second time, and, of course, again became mysteriously lost. Being unable to obtain further bail, he sent for hia friends as Dr. Ganz, and thus his ownership of tho two names became re- j vealed. His explanation of the affair is that he was mt'roly acting for " Rodanow" when he opened the letters addressed to the company, and had allowed himself to be taken in order to give the real culprit a chance to escape. This etory was contradicted by Boveral facts, and therefore discredited.