The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1880-10-14
A Baron Turned Burglar. ---A Singu-
lar Story.

Tested the metropolis, and stepped in
crime as deeply as any of them, it was
only when the grave was closed upon
him that his true identity came TO light,
and in a Blackwelrs Island convict was
found TO have sinned and suffered a
Belgian nObleman. The burglar, Harry
Howard. whose death was recently an
DOunced, had by thatname been known
20 his criminal associates, but it was
after he had been buried that the
woman who had shared part OF his
Changeful fortune in life revealed his
secret, and her story being put into the
hands of the police TO be sltted, the
following strange history came to light !:
Fifteen years ago, at the age OF
ihirty-three, the Baron Herman de
Reifenberg left home in Brussels, Bel
uium, and with a weH-flled pocket
book and q good bank account behind
him landed in this city. He had au
agreeable face, the manners of a gen
tleman, plenty of money, and a resi-
dence il Brussels that was spoken of as
a marvel. His relatives were noble,
and comprised the best families of his
native town. In city like this one can
readily guess with what a reception
such man would meet. He was feted
and paraded in the best society, and
squandered his money and enjoyed his
slightest fancies TO their fullest extent.
In this he was Joined by q circle of
friends who from the first formed lit
tie court for him. He had concealed
his title of Baron and assumed the name
of Louis de Laurie, the name of for
mer companion of his now dead. 1t
was by this name he was known, and he
continued to hold it until the time Of
his death
At intervals remittances were re-
.ceived from his property and quickly
disposed of by the Baron. Three years
after his arrival he made the acquaint-
ance of a Miss Annie Sweeny, and after
q speedy courtship they became man
and wife. With his bride the young
Baron travelled all over the country,
and, returning to New York City again,
the couple took apartments in hotel
up town. A year after their marriage
\ boy was the fruit of their union. Sud-
denly there was a stop in the receipts of
funds. Letters and kilograms were dis
patched, but there was no replynOr any
funds received and De Laurie began to
4CLIH LldI nc HUI ItdGutl inc DOLlO4I
of his resources.
Here was dilemma. His friends and
family refused to contribute any more
10 his extravaganza and he was finally
left without a cent and in debt for his
board bill He then left the hotel and
took up quieter quarters, dispOsing Of
valuables to sustain his family for the
time being. The Baron was splendidly
educated, speaking several languages,
and he next endeavOred to turn his
talents to some account. An advertise
zlent was placed in one of the morning
papers that secured him good position
but he had no sooner obtained this than
he began habits of dissoluteness which
speedily led to his discharge. From
this time he steadily went downward.
The few wears made a terrible change
IN his appearance. One would not know
N that wrinkled face and disordered APP
pearance the former gay and dashing
chevalier. His wife, too, had lost the
beauty that characterized her early girl
hood and had fallen into the same habits
IS her husband. In very short while
their home was the scene of the great
est beggary; but even in their degreda-
ton they cared for the little child
Louis. In this way they continued TO
struggle, until at last during a pro-
Eracted spree of both the father and
mother, they were all turned into the
street for non-payment of rent. Their
condition now could not be any lower.
They sank to the condition of beggars
and became druukardS of the lowest
type.
II was while in this strait that the
Baron appealed 10 Mr.. A. De Bracke-
Eeer, President of the Belgian Relief As
sociation, at No. 90 Warren street. The
latter was acquainted with his early
history and had known him and his
family in the old country. His sympa-
thy was aroused and he Immediately
supplied from his own pocket the nee
sessary wants of his countryman. He
slso endeavored to persuade him to re-
1urn home. where his relatives would
take care of him; but to all his entrea-
ties the man only replied that he would
starve first. But the applications for
relief became so frequent that Mr..
Brackeleer was at last compelled TO re-
fuse any further assistance. The
gvretched couple was then living at IS
Mulberry street. in the very center Of
She Italian quarter. De Laurie be-
came known TO his Italian neighbors as
s. man of education and a linguiSt and
they kept him busy when not drunk.
writing letters for them. He was al
W-avs Kind and courteous, even in his
most drunken moments, and was very
popular among these poor people. IN
this way he managed to put in two of
his last years of existence, until finally
n worse change came.
He formed the acquaintance of dan
Eerous characters, and became a thief
and a burglar While committing
burglary he was caught, and under the
name of Harry Howard was sentenced
on the 18th of June last to six months
IN the penitentiary. Three months after
his conviction he was taken sick, was
consigned to the hospital, and died
three days later.
A simple paragraph in the Herald, an
nouneing the death of a convicted bur
ylar, was the first Information his wife
had of his death. She was afterward
summoned by Coroner Brady, who held
an inquest, but even to that official she
never revealed the dead mans identity.
She next called upon the Belgian Con-
sui, Mr.. Mali, at Ne. 353 Broadway,
4nd asked that the family in Belgium
be made acquainted with the particu-
lars of her husbands death, and ar
engagements be made TO disinter the re-
mains and send them back to the old
country. The Consul promised to do
all in his power, and referred her to Mr..
DE Brackeleer, who now has the case in