Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-10-07
The Diamond Necklace.


The Civil Tribunal of the Pere was en-
gagged during six sitlingS recently in trying
an action broughtb by the heirs OF NJ. Deville,
creditor Of the Cardinal de Rohan, again st
the Princes Rohan- Rochefort, as representa-
tives Of Princess Charlotte de Rohan Roche
fort, the Cardinals residuary legate and exec
utriX, for the recovery of sums amounting
with interest, to above two millions of francs.
The debts in question originated in the pur-
chase by the Cardinal of the celebrated dia-
mond necklace as present to the Queen An
toinette, which created so much scandal in the
later years of Louis XYps reign. The cir
cumstances are briefly as toluwS: Toward
the close of 1874, Bpaner and Bossauges,
jewellers to the king, made Il magnificent neck
lace of brilliants estimated to be worth $780,
600 francs, which all the great ladies of the
court were anxious to possess. The necklace
was offered to Queen Antonette, who de-
cllned to purchase it on account OF its very
high price. AT that time Cardinal dc Rohan
was IN disgrace at court, and the Countess
de Lamoite persuaded him that if he could
purchase the necklace for the queen it would
ensure his return to favor, and that the
money would ultimately be refunded to him.
On the 24th of January, 1885, the cardinal
went TO the jewellers, examined the neck
lace, and said he was authorized to purchase
it for a high parsonage whom he could not
then name. Some days later he returned and
purchased the necklace for 500 ,G00f, in the
queens name, and arranged the conditions Of
payment. He took the necklace away with
him. and on the LIST of February gave it to
the Countess de Lam0tte, who was to convey
it to the queen, but her majesty never re-
ceived it,and what became OF it has ever since
remained Il mystery. The fraud was discOv
cred in the following August; and the cardi
nal, the Countess de Lamotte, Count Cagi-
ostro, and others supposed to be accomplices,
were arr sted and sent to the Bastile. The
prisoners Were tEied in December, and all ac-
quilted, except the Countess de Lamotte,
who was condemned to be logged, branded
with hot iron, and imprisoned for life.
Meanwhile the cardinal had made arrange
ments to pay the jewellers from his
own resources, by transferring to them the
greater part OF the income of his ecclesiastical
benetices; and especially Of the abbey of St.
WAIST, which produced 225 ,000t. IA year.
Some tiue after, M. M. B9hmer, and Bossan-
ges, who owed NJ. Nicholas Deyille, the kings
secretary, 900, 600 lil.s,, assigned to him the
revenues OF the ab0rc-ua.!ed abbey for the
extinction of their de..t But before any pay
ment had been made, Tie tlcnch Revolution
occurred and all church property was trans
ferred to the nation. The cardinai, being
forced to leave France, went to Ettenhein,
On the right bank OF the Rhine, dependence
of his bishopric of Strasburg, lying beyond
the French frontier Owing to these events
and the failure OF M. NJ. B@hmer and Boa-
sanges, NJ. Devile never received any part of
hi, money. The cardinal died at Ettenheim,
in the year 1903, leaving a will, in which he
made the Princess Charlotte de Rohan Roche
fort his residuary legatee, and she accepted
administration OF the estate on condition that
she would not be held responsible to the cred
Itors for any deficiency that might exist. At
the time of his decease the cardinal possessed