The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-11-22
WHEN
AN EX-CARDINAL.
A Man Who Once Wore the Beretta, but Lost
1t Through Scandalous Life.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal
NEW YORK, Nov. 21-I was crossing Sixth
avenue at Twenty third street with friend on
last Saturday night, and just under the station
of the elevated railroad we encountered we'll
dressed man, to whom my friend bowed, saying
as he did so Good evening" Count" The
stranger replied in German. We paused mo-
ment, and 1 regrded him attentively. His erect
figure, jaunty air and generally young get-up
gave him the appearance of man of forty but
there were wrinkles on his face and a tired look
in his eyes, which showed him to be at least
dozen years older. His clothes were new and
well made, and his face clean-shaved except for
sandy mustache He wore shiny silk hat
and carried light cane.
did you notice that man spoke to-" inquired
my friend as soon as we were out Of hearing
II did. What of him?"
What would you take him to be? Does he
look like professional man or merchant?-or
what9"
"Well," replied carelessly, II heard you call
him Count. and address him in German so it's
just possible that he's barber. He might be
head waiter, if it were not for his mustache. He
looks to me like a man about town. with pro-
nounced sporting proclivities."
That's about what he is now" said my friend.
II should call him, in the slang of the day, a
rounder, but he has not spent all his life in Sixth
avenue by any means. He has had varied
career. l remember him when he was cardi-
nal in Rome"
was naturally surprised to learn this; for an
excardnal is much rarer bird than an ex
king, and there have been very few of the latter
in New York since Manhattan Island was first
settled. At my friends suggestion, I called on
an Austrian of his acquaintance, and learned
from him the following facts in regard to
the man who is, SO far as l know, the only ex-
cardinal who has ever sought refuge in this
country.
Count B., as he is called by his few init
| mates, is a member of an influential Austrian
family. His grand uncle, whose name he bears
was famous soldier in his day, and one of the
generals in command of the Austrian forces at
the battle of Lodi Twenty-f five years ago the
then young count was a captain in the Austrian
army, pursuing career of reckless profigacy
which eventually led to his dismissal from the
service. He had, however, warm friend in the
person of the Emperor, Francis Joseph who re-
membered the services rendered to the house of
Hapsburg by the brave old General in the dark
days of the Napoleonic invasion. Through his
influence the Count was made member of the
College of Cardinals at Rome and duly invested
with the insignia of his office. For some time he
held the high position of Prince of the Church,
until scandal, in which he figured and which
brought about his expulsion. After this
disgrace he disappeared from public
view, and was not heard of for some
time. Then he Mortified his family and friends
cy turning up IN switzerland as the herO--lf the
word may be used in such connection-of an
other scandal, fully discreditable as the first
He inveigled young French girl of good fam
lily into mock marriage, in which his servant
offciated as priest The unfortunate young
woman lost her reason when she discovered the
deceit which had been practiced on her, and is
to day an inmate of an insane asylum.
His family, who keenly felt the disgrace
brought upon them, settled an annuity of So, 500
on the Count upon the condition that he should
leave Europe. He came to New York a few
years ago, and has been living here quietly ever
since among people who know nothing of his
former history.
Verify. New York offers to the student of hu.
man nature many strange phases of life, but 1
know nothing stranger than that which 1 stun
bled against last Saturday-an ex-cardinal-
standing on the corner of Sixth avenue and
Twenty-third street; the head, which had worn
the beretta, now covered by shiny silk hat the
purple mantle replaced by cutaway coat l do
not of course, stand sponsor for the story but
merely relate it as it was given to me.