The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1870-07-08
Jerome Napoleon B0naparte-'Hhe RO-
nance of Ills Percentage. sa


nance OF his Percentage. sa z
Jerome Napoleon Bonaparte, eldest son
of the Emperor Napoleolfs youngest bro
ther, Jerome, died yesterday at Baltimore.
This event will probably bring to a close
one of the most remarkable lawsuits of the
age; it is another important chapter in the
strange romance of which that remarkable
lady, Madame Patterson, still remains the
central figure. 1t is story which many
of our readers will be glad to recall.
Sixty-seven years ago Jerome Benaperte,
the youngest brother Of Napoleon, arrived
in New York. He had joined the French
naval service, aud accompanied his broth
er-in-lav Gen. LIE Olero to San Domingo.
While LIE Olerc was fighting TOussaint l.
Ouverture and the yellow fever, the first of
whom, it viii be remembered, he over
came by treacherJ, while the otherover-
came him by surprise, Lieut.. Jerome was
driven by the English navy to take refuge
in New York harbor. While his vessel
was lying in the bay watched by
English cruisers, Jerome made tour of
the Eastern States as far South as Wash
ingtOn, where he was presented TO Presi-
dent Jefferson IN October, 1903. At Bllti-
more he met Miss Elizabeth Patterson,
daughter of wealthy merchant of that
city, young girl of 49, Her uncommon
beauty attracted the attention of young
Bonaparte, and. won what little heart he
possess ed. The family position and con-
neetions of Jerome BOnaparte fired the
ambitious heart of Miss Patterson, and, q
few dGys after their first meeting, she read
ily accepted his offer to make her at once
Madame Bonaparte aud a member of the
civil family of the Emperor. The betrothal
was completed after strange fashion of the
day at grand ball given by young Bona
parte, at which Miss Patterson was his
partner During the dance he threw over
her head q gold chain to which was at
tached miniature likeness of himself, set
in diamonds, and the lady bore it off Ia
triumph. Thus the engagement was made.
Miss Patterson's father, however, disap-
proved, and sent her away to what was
then known as the ''wilds of Virginia.
But as Bonaparte gave further evidences of
his attachment by sending letters to that
secluded spot, her father relented, and
brought her home. The Spanish envoy
was charged with the formal demand Of her
hand, the French Consul attested the con-
tract, and Bishop Carroll celebrated the
marriage ceremony on Christmas Eve, 1903
Jerome Bonaparte remained IN America for
fully q year, visiting with his wife various
parts of the country. When they were
ready to go TO Europe, Mr.. Patterson fitted
out the Erin, one Of his own vessels, and
in the spring of 1865, they embarked for
Europe, and arrived safely at Lisbon.
The happiness of Jerome and his bride
was here suddenly brought to an end by
the information that Napoleon l., who had
advanced his brother with the design OF
making him useful in some matrimonial
alliance with European royal family, was
very much disgusted with his marriage.
He refused 10 recognize the marriage, and
forbade the admission of the wife to French
territory The husband left her at Lisbon,
and repaired to Italy to see the Emperor.
It is probable that the young Lieutenant,
still eaamored of his beautiful wife, made
some efforts to obtain her recognition, but
they were probably not very strenuous,
and were certainly unavailing. be
did not return to his wife, but,
yielding to Napoleon's orders, he mar
ried, Aug. II, 1917, Frederica Catherine,
daughter of the King of Wurtemberg, and
as reward was made six days after, King
of Westphalia- His subsequent fate was .
fitting sequel to the story. He offended
his brother by some neglect which dlsar-
ranged the Russian campaign of 1872, and
was severely repremanded and practically
dismissed the service. Two years later be
had to fly from Paris, leaving his royal wife
under arrest, and was forced to retire to
Vienna, where he lived as Prince de Mont
ford. When the empire was entered, he
returned to Paris, and died there in 1850.
Forbidden to enter FIanoe, Mime. Pat
| terson Bonapalte went to Holland, but
shortly after retired to Camberwell, Eng
land, where, on July z, 1865, Jerome Ma
poleon, the subject of the present sketch,
was born. For years she haunted Europe,
finding no opportunity to obtain, but never
/ failing on every occasion to assert, hel
rights and those of her son. Once IN the
| Pitt Palace at Florence, she encountered
Jerome and his new wife, but the eontem pti
BILE fellow sneaked from the presence o
the proud woman he had wronged, anC
Immediately left Florence.
Madame Bonaparte returned to the Uni
ted States with her son during his bOyhOod
and he was reared at Baltimore. He enter
ed Harvard College, and graduated from
that institution in 1926. He studied fol
the bar, but never pFaeticed law. He wa
married in early life to Miss Williams
daughter of Benjamin Williams, originally
of Roxbury, Mass, whose wife, by strang'
coincidence, died also yesterday. During
the reign of Louis Philippe Mr.. Bonapart'
was permitted to soiourn for short tim'
in Paris Mr.. Bonsparte acquired q lsrg,
fortune with his wife, and devoted himsel
since his marriage to the management OF
large estate.
| On the re-estabEshment of the Empire
in 1852, the indefatigable mother again pu
forward her claims for recognition. Primes
I 4 SIC Of
as defendants in the suit. An Imperla
family council, claiming to be ''the onl
competens tribunal" decided that Will
young Jerome Patterson, as Prince Napo
leon insists on styling him, was entitled
the name of Bonaparte, he could not
considered as one of the family. He wa
permitted to visit France. became very III
innate with his father. who made HIM
handsome allowance, and was received a
the Court of Louis Napoleon. No reeognl
tinn of the mother was, however, obtained
In 1850, the death of jerome gave HI
wife an opportunity for again presenani
her claims, and, with Berger as her adyo
,vate. she demanded, in the Imperial Court
her sons share of his fathers property, an
h "a rights. The suit has never been declc
ed, we believe.
I'm his features. the nephew, now Ju'
deaVd, bore striking resemblance to Napt
leon L He possessed the same shape
the head, and perfect regularity OF lei
ture 8, bronze countenance and dark eye
! of the peculiar tint which distinguishe
Napoleon 1, whom he also closely resen
bled In de pertinent The deceased leave
son. Jer1ime Napoleon, who graduated
West Point and is now an officer III Il
French arm y.-M Y. TribtHs.
} AArsKIcEEs n EGYPE-Can any one a
, connt for thu eastern plgrimaoes OF Il
, .o,,t ,,r tbir ty ex-oficers of the FEEDER