The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-04-17
BOBS UP SERENELY.
An Old Indianapolis Favorite Turns Up at
CovingtOn, Ky.-The Willy Madame
Durand.

Most of the Journals readers will remember
Madame Durand, who about one year ago came
to Indianapolis and established ian empo-
rum of fashion" or "magazine of art" at Stewart
Place, by means of which she ruthlessy swim
died large number Of sewing girls and young
women who allowed themselves to be entangled
in the meshes of her ingeniously-woven net.
The following, taken from yesterdays Cincin-
natl Enquirer, will be of interest to the
Madame's many victims in this city:
'The success of this woman of many aliases in
CoviDguon has attracted considerable attention
to her and her mOdus operandi. She did not
have matters all her own way among the Ken
tuckians, and she probably left disguised with
the many she found who were not gullible, and
who would not regulate their manner OF con-
TO call her finely -arranged SYSTEM and she
especially disgusted with the Enquirer for med
ding with her little scheme ere her plans for
taking French leave mad been perfected. She
will soon turn up somewhere, and those whom
she vlctlmzed will feel kindly toward the indi-
vldual who will interest himself to see that she
is kept comfortably warm, in fact, red hot. That
she and Madame Durand, who Jared SO well in
Indianapolis. are one and the same, there can be
Dnt little doubt, as glance at the following
special will show:
"'During the last week in August, 1882 notices
were freely advertised in the local press that
Madame Marianne Durand had established
temple of fashion and dressmaking studio at
93 Stewart Place, this city. where customers
were assured that patronage bestowed will
merit the most studious consideration" and
every specimen bought will have the distin-
guished impress of elaborate skill and artistic
execution" There were also notices, clothed in
equally f1owery language, in effect that a limited
number of students in the "art of dressmaklng"
would be accepted. Each student was called
upon TO pay So "matriculation fee," and was
guaranteed chart and Instructions, with the
promise that as the pupil mastered the
art the Madame would find employment rang
ing from $15 to $50 per month. "schoor of
twenty five pupils was soon organized. Some of
the girls who had not sufficient money pawned
could
be redeemed after they had graduated. From
the very start the Madame fOated at high
tide Purchases were made at
Gus stores thirty days. time; a
number of sewing machines were leased, and the
pupils were set to work making up dresses for
the Madame, and clothing for her child and
nurse. A residence Immediately opposite the
studio" was leased and furnished, bus in this
case the furniture and carpet dealers were sutfi-
GENTLY cautious to take chattel mortgage
thereon. She also employed domestics, and
everything sailed along smoothly until the morn
ing of September %, when it was found that
during the night she had fled the city, taxing
with her the infant and whatever else was loose
and portable. To cover her flight from the house
she drugged the domestic, named Amanda Lewis
at least Amanda claimed she did. When her
jumped in, but found nothing, while others, and
by far the greater number, concealed their losses
rather than admit they had been duped None
of her employees were paid, and the pupils
not even given the chart for which they had
been compelled to settle in advance. The Madame
was a propose ssing appearing woman, aged
about thirty, with light-brOwn hair, dark-brown
eyes, and an open countenance. She pro-
fessed to hail from Syracuse, N. Y, and was
occasionally seen in company with a man known
by the name Of Manning who disappeared at
the same time she did The baby, so the girls
said, was decided brunette; so dark, in fact
that they were inclined to maliciousy Islander
the hapless little one because it's mother had
"wolfed" them. While here the Madame "Dilked"
her rent and her shoes and board; and she come
it over the advertising men of the press in q
way they despised Only one man in the eatire
lOt-MajOr Richards, of the Daily News-stood
out against her Establishments, and she rated
him like sailor when he wanted cash in hand
or reference. Her profits in this city must
have amounted to several hundred dollars, al
though no one creditor suffered to any great ex-
tent. When she first came here and opened out
she had evidently been playing in hard luck.
but she went away fully equipped with all the
comforts Afterward she was heard of at st.
Louis, then again at Milwaukee, and the atten-
ton which the Enquirer has directed to the
business embarrassments of Mrs. Manning in
Covington has recalled Madame Durand's men,
DRY to the sorrowing.'"
Madame Durand did swindle several of the In
dianapolis advertising men, as the Enquirer's
correspondent states, but Major Richards was
not "tbe only one who wlthstood her blandish-
iDents," the Enquirer to the contrary notwith-
standing. The Journal solicitors refused to take
her advertisement at any price. This fact is
simply stated in order that the truth of history
may be vindcated.