Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1876-02-10
EyentfuI Career OF an AccOmplis he'd
SWfndier.

The old saying that truth is stranger
than fiction" has been once more borne
out by case which came before the
Paris tribunal yesterday, and which
novelists hard up for materials would do
well 10 study. The real name of the hero
IL supposed to be Nau, but during his
eyentful career he has appeared before the
public under various more or less high
sounding titles, of which Dorsainville,
Dclafeld and Catalina Faure are samples.
He changed his name according TO the
necessities Of the moment, but, unfortu-
nately for him, with little success, since
none OF his ingenious transformations
saved him from the clutches Of the law.
However, there Is one thing that he can
boast of and that Is Of having appeared
before nearly all the police courts of Eu-
rope, and having experienced their diff
ferent systems Of punishment. On the
present occasion he styled himself the
"Ccmte q. Nau, Advocate" Why he
added the latter qualification was a puzzle
even to his own counsel. From the most
Trustworthy information that could be OBJ
tanned, Nau is a citizen OF Hayti, and the
son OF q domestic servant. At the age Of
eighteen he got into trouble at home and
had to leave his native island TO avoid
being arrested for swindling. He first
went 10 New York, but, finding the
American climate unpropitious to his
temperament, he crossed the Atlantic,
stayed few months in London and then
came to Paris 10 try his fortune. Nau IL
said 10 be very elegant in his manners,
and Of distinguished appearance. He
ut once found the gay French capital to
his liking He came out rs great
foreign I" SWELL on the boulcvards, and
had no difficulty In making host
OF miscellaneous friends, among them
young man named Hervieux, the son
of a well-to-do tradesman in the Faubourg
st. Honorc, who introduced him 10 the
family. Our hero soon made himself at
home with the old people and captiyated
the heart Of their daughter, charming
girl of eighteen, named Pauline. The
father, a simple man, listened to the glow.
ing account Nau gave of his wealth and
expectationsinH ayti, and accorded him his
daughters hand, joined TO a very respect
able dowry The marriage took place In
January, 1853, and on the very day after
Nau threw of the mask and came out in
his real character. He began by spend
ing all his wiie's dowry In amusement
and debauchery. Then he pawned all
her jewels, which her father was forced
TO redeem three times 10 escape family
scandal However, the father eventually
got tired Of paying his son-in laws debts,
and refused all further supplies. Nau
then deserted his wife and children and
returned TO the boulevards I'm quest Of
fresh victims. Being unsuccessful in his
marriage adventures, he again had re-
course To swindling, was arrested and sent
10 jail for three months. On leaving
prison he passed himself off as bachelor
and got introduced 10 the family Of q
rich jewelers. establishment In the Palais
Royal. His winning manners and dis.
iingnished appearance again made him
the pet of the house, and, as in the Eau.
bourg ST. Honore, he ended by demand
ing the jewelers. daughter The jeweler
consented, and the wedding was on the
eve Of accomplishment when the jeweler,
thanks to the sudden interference ola third
friend, who knew the Hefyieux family
above mentioned, discovered the real
character of his projected son-in-law,
and Nau had TO beat hasty retreat.
lie now abandoned his schemes of mar
riagc, and returned 10 his old pastime
Of swindling. But here he was not more
fortunate, and soon found himself again
In durance vile for couple OF years
Tired and disgusted with the gay French
capital, he, on regaining his liberty,
braved the Channel passage and resolved
to try his luck in London. AT first he
failed in making dupes, but by dint OF
perseverance he again wheedled himself
into The good Cruces Of respectable
family and married the daughter. Need.
less TO say, as soon As he had squandered
Gil she possessed he deserted her As he
had deserted Pauline Hervieux. His
career from this moment was succession
Of petty swindles. lie turned up at Liv.
erpool, Geneva, Rotterdam, Brussels.
Dresden, Berlin and Mayence, and In all