Salt Lake Telegram | 1931-04-16 | Page 1 | Racketeer King Slain

RACKETEER KING SLAIN LAIN At Attempt empt at Suicide Follows Disgrace Of Name by Faker Five Life Guards Nearly Perish in Trying to Ef Effect Effect Effect Ef- Ef Rescue CONDITION HELD CRITICAL Bad Check Artist on Way to New York HOLLYWOOD April 16 United Press Press Michael Michael Romanoff film IUm technician was near death today from a suicide attempt which re resulted resulted re- re suited from disgrace brought ht upon his name as an The impostor who called himself Prince Michael Romanoff Romano brother of the the- late Czar Nicholas n U of Russia Bus Rus sia sla was reported en route to New NewYork NewYork NewYork York in custody of private detec detec- tives It was said his real Teal name was vas Harry and that he was wa the son of ot a Cincinnati Ohio tailor who posed sometimes as Prince Michael and sometimes as Rockwell Kent had had been sought rought police pollee said in New York London Reno and other cities clUes Posing as a a. prince and using the name of or the film director he was said to have victimized many residents of Hollywood Hollywood Hollywood Holly Holly- wood and other cities r POSED AS ARTIST He was arrested last week In Salt Lake where it was said be he posed ta Rockwell Kent internationally known artist rUst was entertained by prominent people and passed several bad checks The real meal Michael j JR Romanoff mano who is an associate of or LewIs MU Milestone was and embarrassed by publicity concerning the namesake now now- charged with being as as impostor When the prince became active In Hollywood the real Romanoff was suspected by his own friends Late yesterday the strain became so ro great he went to beach and fully tully clothed jumped from apier into the pounding sea CONDITION CRITICAL Five life Ufe guards almost lost their own lives when they were dashed against pilings in rescuing h him m. m At Redondo Hermosa hospital today It was said Romanoff's RomanoUs condition was waS' critical Romanoff's chauffeur Identified the film fUm man He said Romanoff had lived quietly in Hollywood for three years cars without leaving the cit city never had pretended to to be a prince and could not possibly be br the same fame man who had given the thc bad checks chocks