Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-05-07
NO. 1os.
THE DIAMOND ROBBERY.
A TRUE STORY.

In March, 1850, there arrived at Con-
stantinople, by the Austrian Lloyd's steam
er Vorwarts a gentleman who styled him.
self Count Steffano Perragi,
He took a suite of rooms at EMesirie's
fashionable hotel in Pera, and, by his
lavish style of living soon became the
centre of attraction He said he was
Colonel of the Austrian Imperial Guards,
and a member of the Diet. He had come
to Turkey on private Government affairs,
and was furnished with numerous intro
ductions to the foreign ambassadors and
princes.
a month after his arrival, he headed
subscription list with the sum of five thous-
and piastres, in aid of madame Sophie
Cartenagg, the widow of the late Monsieur
Cartenagg, formerly banker of Berlin, who
by the death of her husband, found herself
in strange land, with her three young
children destitute of support" In some
such manner ran the heading of the SUBJ
scription list
Count Perragi hamanely took upon him.
self the task of soliciting subscriptions;
and incredible as it may seem, collected
the sum of thirty-iiv thousand dollars in
about twenty days!
One morning, Perra2i suddenly disap-
peared. Suspicious having arisen, the po-
lice authorities were instructed to find out
Madame Cartenagg. But alas for human
credulity. the police swore by the beard
of Mohammed, that madame was a myth,
and the Crescent City knew her not Done
to the tune of $50 1000! Thus ends the
first act in this strange drama.
| Now for the second act. Not far from
the Cafe de Paris stands the shop of M. M.
l lo(t L,.<l- L
Imperial Majesty the Sultan. Opposite
stood the pharmacy of DIR. Jacob Valpass.
Five minutes walk from these two estab-
lishments stands the Hotel Europe
In the latter place, Madame Estelle
Deorest and her sickly son Albert had
hired a magnificent suite of rooms for the
winter. She was quiet melancholy sort
of lady, of about thirty. All her thoughts
seemed centered in her boy. But, oh how
surprisingly lovely she was! They say
that the walters at the Europe made quite
handsome thing out of her by allowing
sundry sparks to peep at Madame
through the keyhole as she sat in her ele-
giant morning costume at breaksast. She
paid all her bills regularly, saw no visitors
and received no letters. So much for
Madame. -
NJ. DeGranti, Jr., was rather a fast
young fellow, very rich, and very fond of
horses The elder brother was at this time
absent in Paris.
DIR. Jacob Nalpass was man of thirty
two, and considered very clever. His ia
ther had left him some considerable
property, but, as he was passionately de-
voted to his profession, he still continued
in practice. We have now sufficiently
described the four principal actors in this
drama.
1t was after ten o'clock one night, and
Doctor Jacob Valpass sat in his study.
A person requested to see him. A tall,
deep veiled lady entered. DR.. Valpass
politely offered her chair, and'asked her
the nature of her business. With deep
sigh she threw back her veil, and the
doctors weaker human half surveyed that
dazzling beauty in bewilderment.
She told her story in quiet, brief man.
ner. She had an only son on whom she
doated passionately. He was subject to
fits of monomania. And most extraordin-
airy as it might seem, his desires lay in the
fact that nothing but dimonds placed about
him would satisfy his cravings. She had
consulted the best medical men of Europe
and they prescribed change of scene.
She had travelled considerably, but without
any salutary effect upon her boy. She
had been advised to consult DIR. Valpass,
and as her son had just recovered from
one of these periodical fits, she earnestly
requested him to visit her at the Hotel
Europe.
Doctor Valpass took charge Of this Gu
rious case and soon became very intimate
with Madam Deorest To be brief, poor
yo1l -,
after their acquaintance he proposed to her
and was accepted. Thus stood matters in
December, 1851, and so closes the second
act. 4"
The last scene opens on the 4th day of
ting on his gloves, preparatory to entering
his carriage, when he saw BIS affianced
bride rushing madly towards him, He ran
out and met her.
.What is the matter, EstellaP"
..Oh, darling he is worse. q, come to
him! come him ~ cried the frantic moth
lone moment; step into the carriage
| will be with you immediately"
He crossed over to the establishment Of
NM. DeGranti.
"Let me have that diamond necklace.
these bracelets, this brooch and these rings.
Quick. DeGranti. am in hurry only
want them for an hour"
but doctor, these are worth millions.
and" urged the broker, rather at a loss
what to do.
"Give me pen, ink and paper. Here is
my note of hand for the articles. How
much are they worth ?'
"At rough calculations, twenty millions
of piasters."
VERY well; here you are; now quick.
the articles"
Ten minutes after, the doctor and mad
anne reached the hotel, and found Albert
in the hands of two domestics. The med
ical man took charge of the yelling boy
and dismissed the servants. - ''a = -
He drew forth his treasures and placed
them about the boy. 1t was wonderful,
The boy danced with glee, clapped his
hands, and gradually became pacifed.
He then slowly left the room with down
cast head. The enraptured mother flung
herself into the arms of her savior. and.