The New York herald., 1874-09-21
THE PERKINS AMERICAN BOURBONS.
Trial for Swind1ing Before the Paris
Police Court.

Trial for Swindling Before the Paris
Police Court.
Paris Sept. 4) correspondence OF London Stand.
ard.l
The art of swindling has seldom been practised
with more ef1rOntery and success than by an Amer.
lean citizen, Mr.. Perkins, and his wife, who styles
herself Maria Isabella GarowsH de Bourbon, and
who seems to have some claim to relationship
with the Oldest and most lustrious royal houses
in Europe The romantic adventures OF MI Per-
kns and his wife were yesterday detailed at con-
siderable length before the Correctional, Court OF
Paris. The mother of Dona Isabel was q daugh-
ter of Francisco de Assis the brother of eX-Queen
Isabella's husband. Some thirty years ago she
married Polish noble named Garowskl. They
had but one child, Dona Isabel, who, when she
came OF age, married at Lisbon Mr.. Perkins, who
is said, with what truth cannot ascertain, to have
been Consul General at Lisbon for the United
States But though she became by virtue OF her
marriage plain Mrs. Perkins, Dona Isabel was
mindful OF her illustriOus origin and the fact that
she was able to call the eX-Queen her aunt appears
to have suggested to her husband and herself tn e
idea that 1t might be useful In helping them to
i've comfortably ON What ihackeray used TO call
"nothlng year,"
In October. 1871, Mr.. and Mrs. Perkins arrived
in Paris. and took up their quarters at fashiona.
bic boarding house III the Champs Elysee, kept by
a french widow OF a trustiu disposition named
Meilhau. During the first month OF their stay
everything went on quite smoothly. The Per-
kinses paid for their board ana extras with admir-
aDie punctuality; but presently MIR. Perkins
sought an interview with his landlady and eX-
planned that owing to the state OF affairs in Spain
remittances did not arrive so regularly was
desirable. Would she mind giving him ana his
vile a little credit? AS to her being ultimately
PAID, she need have no apprehensions on that
score. He did not want IT generally mentioned,
but the TACT was that his vile was the own
niece OF the Queen OF Spain; her marriage with
hlm mad caused little GOODNESS between Mrs.
Perkins and her distinguished relations, but u-
timatey it would be all right. Mrs. Perkins was
about TO make him a father, and the happy event
would bring about reconciliation. Moreover he
had obtained the concession OF submarine cable
between France and Engand-and in short she
! need not be unuer the slightest uneasiness. The
landady swallowed all this implicitly, and felt so
overjoyed as having such distinguished guests that
| apartments supplied them with ready money, and
actually PAID their servants wages-they kept not
kins had SO deiicately alluded only took place in
! 1873, Just at time when the bill mad reached
alarming proportions The baby was born, how
! ever, and the ex-Queen Isabella was one OF It's
sponsors; through her influence the Pope's Nuncio
cnristened the distinguished offspring OF the house
! OF Perkins, and grand banquet took place ut the
| boarding house in honor Of the event The ever
truslul andlady, at such proof OF the reality Of
the parentage or her guests, actually raised money
to supply their wants, and t was only month
! ago, when her creditors became Obstreperous, and
1ndtng t impossible to get penny out of the Illus
/ trious Perkinses that she listened to advice and
| reluctantly lodged complaint, setting forth that
| MIR. Perkins and his vile mad lodged in her house
Tor nearly three years, and that what with board,
money lent and so on, they had done her out OF
10000 francs. The wife was not included IN the
prosecution, though there Is no doubt but what It
was case of dur fgntlad fdcti. She wrote to the
project OF Grenoble, introducing her husband and
one OF his "pals" as distinguished foreigners, and
asking him to assist them III getting the concession
OF the local railway.
She signed this s.Isabel G.. de Bourbon"
The project was entirely taken in by the letter,
and wrote back, evidently fancylng he was
addressing the Queen OF spain. apoiogiziDg for
not being able to comply with her request. The
Court DOStDOQe1 It's Judgment Tor u week.
Mr.. Perkins has been sentenced to imprson-
nent The Rnurhnn lady was acnuitted.