The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1875-09-09

One OF the Leaders of French society whose
star Paicd with the Empire.

Prs Correspondence Of ne Londoa DUR N,ics
\ lady, who once cut very great figure
IN Pa-i-ian society. and whose salon about the
time of the Treaty Of Paris was the constant
rendezvous OF many uiplomatists. has had a
long aud brilliant career ANONYMOUSLY cut snort
low the A~sZe Court OF Pau. which has found
her guilty. Of the mean crime OF roboing her DIV
Ing cook. and Of the legally more serious one Of
forging ner signature alter her death. This adj
ventures was known at vati us times as Count
oss de Matignon, Countess de Roux dc Coincy.
Countess de kersahec. and Baroness de SAINT
Martin. In re- litv she WIS never entitled To bear
anV title. she was nv birth Belgian, uumed
Marie Louise Forgcur. and the widow Of all Oh
scure person named BslgOne. During the En-
nire she was several times convicted OF swind-
ling but owing to MYSTERIOUS protection, she
never underwent the sentences pronounced
against her.
with the empire her star paled. She went to
Pau ~ the autumn Of 1869, accompanied ny n NJ.
Martin. tue SON OF a Paris agent de change. They
put up at the Hotel de france, the most expen-
sive hotel ~ the place. and spent money enough
to get ready credit when they returned thither
after the outbreak Of the war In 1870. N. Martin
was at that time an invalid and seldom appear-
ed out Of his room. put the lady succeeded IN
Running up heavy bills and rowing money in
all directions. She. 10y n pltusibls story, got
5.oo0f from her physician, Dr. Names. instead 81
paving her bill. But II for none OF these
things III I she was prosecuted. II was proved 10
the satisfaction OF judge and Jury that when
hrr cook. an old servant, named Catherine
Grbaumont was dying, and unable TO
speak, she rited her boxes, and took away a
considerable sum In gold. besides valuable
securities. Not contenfed with this. she forged
a paper representing the cook 10 be her debtor
10 the extent IT 5000 francs, and tho strength
~ u sought 70 attach some properly which she
knew the cook had left ia the hands Of no.
tary. when the forgery WAS disc pYered she alb
seconded, end 10 wa, not tin long ifterward that
she was discovered NJ We saes and arrested,
her companion. N. Martin. neing IN the mean
while dead. a en- .rge was made agains; her 81
h wing toi-oNcd The COOK, whose body was dis
inferred Tor examination; bat dtCump sutton
haG gone too far Tor .nalN.i- o. prod zee any re-
rul s.. some eVtucucc was offered 10 the lulgc
az Instruction That thc priSorHr had been heard
10 Say ueml Elk was "a very safe poison 70 Use.
bat ne did not e GROUNDS 20 sustain the ciui.
4 curious uiecD OF evidence was given hy ".
nucout, q resident of Ner- allies. who depoSel
iat his " f. luIk refuge ar Pm curing the war.
one uay ia \ August. l-sf Madame Ducuut was
sitting In the Versailles gardens. when the prls-
oncr, who has two dogs with ner, adrnitly en-
Outraged them T. ply with Madame Ducouts
cIidren. Presently she claimed acquaintance
Was Countess de kersabicc, and mentioned
the names Of so many trends 81 Madame
DucOut at Pau as To DIS arm suspicion. She
sad that Lord Pamerston mad been her most
intimate friend, and yrs her trustee, and
tn on his death the trust Gevolved upon Loru
stanley. She was invited. a Countess de kor-
sabiec, to tue house of NJ. aud Madame Ducout.
and told such plausible storl,s about her fortune
that tneN commissioned her To sell for them
some pictures and vases for which she said sine
could got high prices from amtteurs. These
object. were sent by her order to the care If
Princess q rtorysNH tone ot ner dupesl, at tno
Hotel Lamperi. The court sentenced the false
Countess TO ten years ot thai intermediate i'm
lgI-JnWent between simple confinement aud
usrd Labor called "reciusiuu,' witch VIII not
admit VI her ueing treated "a iirst-class mis-
a. Hfft "a. Il