Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-12-21
A CLEVER sCOUNDREL,s GA.
HEER.
How Maurice sIaurls, the Mar
quis dc CaIenxanz0,"
Lived BY hia Wits.

How Maurice Maurls, the Mar
quis dc CaIenxanx0,"
Lived by his Wits.
Now York Tribune.l .
Maurice Mauris, an Italian, who has
been until very recently a frequent
contributor to the New York press, is
sought for by the police. II is charged
that he lisa forger. having committed
his crimes chiefly in this city, Balti-
more aud Boston. Two weeks ago
Mauris was in Baltimore, whore he
asked a newspaper friend 20 cash a
check for $l25. The editor did not
have SO much money, but he intro
duced Mauris to a friend who had.
The check purported to be signed by
Charles Scribner's Sons, and Mauris
said that it had been paid him for an
artic' which had just been accepted
by them. He announced that he was
on the way to Washington to write a
sketch OF the Guiteau trial for the
Evening Post. The generous Italian
then gave his editorial friend and two
companions a dinner at Mount YER
non, at which the choicest wines and
viands were served. The next morn
ing it was learned that the check for
Sl25 was a forgery, but Mauris had
disappeared.
Within tho last two weeks Mauris
has passed forged or worthless checks
upon a number Of persons; for $75,
upon a restaurant keeper at Phila-
delphia by the name of Joseph NAL
costa; for SIS at the same place upon
a Dir. Paul, and for $3.50 upon Irving
Evans, Of Boston. Three OF these
checks purported to be signed by
Charles Scribner's Sons. He has also
borrowed money Of several persons
under false p%retenses. The police
have been looking for him carefully in
this city, Baltimore, Philadelphia and
Boston, but he leaves no traces be-
hind him. lie always succeeded in
deceiving people easily, because he
has many wealthy acquaintances, and
he is so well known as a writer.
Mauris is a mar Of about thirty-five
years Of age, with black hair inclined
to curl, with a black moustache and
goatee. His features are small and
delicate. He looks more than his age
for crow's-feet are %perceptible around
mis- eyes. His address is pleasing, his
manners are polished and he almost
invariably creates a pleasant impress
sion at first. He has lived in this city
four or FIVE years, and has done a num-
Der of questionable things. His
adroitness, however, has always saved
lin from exposure until this last
business in forged checks. When
Mauris first came to this country he
caused it to be rumored that he was
the son Of Victor Emanuel. On
a book which he compiled one Of the
Handy Volume Series, called French
Men of Letters" he gives his name
as Maurice Mauris marquis di CAL
enzanzO)." He touchingly dedicated
this with a grateful heart, to a we'll
known editor, with whom it is said be
once made a voyage to the Bermuda
Islands. He drifted on to a paper
after awhile, where he remained until
last February. He did not have q
regular position there, but he con.
tributed a good many articles, mostly
on foreign subjects. These showed
that he either had a very extensive
knowledge of European affairs, or
that he had admirable scrap books.
He also wrote a series of articles on
American watering places from a for
eign point of view. His English, how
ever, was bad TO the last, and was a
perennial cause for exclamation on
the part of the unfortunate newspaper
men to whose ht his copy fell to edit.
Mauris's career on the paper with
which he was longest connected ter
minated very abruptly. He made out
a bill every week Of the matter he had
furnished, and it is said that he YVES
in the habit Of charging for articles
furnished by other men. One day the
managing editor began 10 verify his
bill, aud Mauris, without waiting for
the result, walked out aud did not
appear there again, not even to collect
his last weeks pay. An examination
showed that he had been making over
charges for six months.
"Ah, but Mr.. Mauris il a fine gen
tleman," said his last landlady yester
day, although be docs owe me $3.50.
He was so polite that l could never
have the heart to turn him out OF
doors, He was always willing to
work, although he was ofnoble family
and | trusted him. He wasn't like
his friend, the Marquis Antonio Lau.
rate, who was also nice, but too lazy
to do anything but gamble. Aboul
june the Marquis, or Mr.. Mauris al
you call him, wanted to go to Saratoga
but he didn't have the money. II,
i spoke to me about it. | told him he
couldn't afford it. All, madam h,
replied, L shall make more money
+, there, and | shall sell M
. play [ knew he had a play
so | got a nan to cash a mote
, which he had for about 5000; and
!, would you believe it, it wasn't wortl
a cent and the man Endorsed it, Mr.
, Olivotti, the bricabrac man had to pa,
it. But the Marquis had bough
some good clothes with the money ant
gone to Saratoga. | knew be haC
friends there, and | thought he woult
|. board with them and it would moi
; cost him much.
; 1.-THE Marquis was engaged to
beautiful American girl, and sh
threw him overheard when she hear,
, some of these things about him.
!, think that made him desperate. II
was such a perfect gentleman and s.