Savannah morning news., 1886-06-17
THE MAD COUNTS MILLIONS.
ChesebrOugh's Daughter Suing for
Half His Fortune.

From the Neto York Sun.
A suit was begun on March Is in The
Circuit Court of the United States for the
Eastern District OF New York, which in
many respects seems likely to equal in in
terest the famous Madame Jumel case
The complainants in this suit, or "oratOrs
in equity" as they are more properly
called, are Leonora Augusta Arnold, and
herhusband, Thomas b. Arnold, while the
defendants are Charles Augusta CHEESE
brough, Individually and as executor OF
the Will OF Margaret Cbesebrou gh, aud
Elizabeth Lnunsbury, as eXecutrIN OF the
will of Stephen Il. LOunsOury. The ora
tors are represented bv George Norris as
solicitor, and by George Norris, James h.
Averill, and Benjamin f. Tracy as coun-
Iel. while William r. Schley is solicitor for
MIR. Chesebrough, w. Almou Wolff for
Mrs LOunsbury. and George Bliss is
counsel for them bOth. The suit involves
very large amount of money, and Is inter-
estng also on account of the family con-
nections OF both complainants and defend
ants.
Old New Workers who were to any ex-
tent familiar with the queer characters OF
the town thirty-tVe years ago or there
abOuts should recollect the Count Cheese
Drough, an eccentric, as well knwOn In his
day among the frequenters OF the then fash
ionable restaurants and theatres as the
slime Kiln Man." the "Gingeriread
Man. or Mcdonald, tne "Mad Poet"
himself. 1t is his daughter, Mrs. Arnold,
Whois one of the "OratOrs" in the action
mentioned above brought to obtain large
property which she AYERS should come to
her under the will OF her grandmother, the
Counts mother.
In spite of his f0reign-sounding title,
Count ChesebrOugh WAS by birth an
American and New Yorker, His father
was Andronicus ChesebrOugh, an old
merchant of this city. who gave his eldest
son the name OF Blasius Moore. Androni-
Gus Chesebrough died in the summer OF
1885, leaving all his property to mis- wife,
Margaret.
Blasius Chesebrough was well and lib
orally educated, bred TO the law, though he
never practised, and had enormous "eX-
pectations" from his mother, who al
lowed him a handsome sum each year.
Early in the fifties, through political and
family influence, he obtained the appoint
ment of bearer Of dispatches to the United
States Minister to Austria. On his trip
to Vienna he was accompanied by Fred
erick Wood, an actor, as secretary and
companion.
SO fascinated was young Chesebrough
by the glitter and pOmp Of nobility as eX-
hIbited at the Imperial Court that he de-
termined to gild his plain republlcanlsm
with hIgh-sOundinR title. Accordingly,
he persuaded his mother to purchase for
him a Counts patent Of nobility invOlv
ing under that ultra-mllitary rule the
further rank of Lieutenant Colonel In the
Austrian army. The regiment in which
he had purchased this titular rank was
then quartered at Milan, to which city he
repaired. and there he INDUCED in every
folly and extravaganza that tiighty and
llI-disclphned mind suggested and prac-
ideally unlimited means rendered possl-
BILE.
lie did not remain long abroad, but re-
turned to this city to lead life OF eX-
bravagance and dissipation, exhibiting at
times in his wild capers plain evidences
of an unsettled mind. His eccentrlciues
were usually the outcome OF excessive in
Iiulgences in brandy. Evenln his sober
moments, however, he was at times odd in
the extreme. For instance, he exhibited
the utmost adherence for butter, and
would not allow it in mis- house, substitut-
ing for it olive oil. He prOtessed to be-
lieve in the doctrine of metempsychOsis,
and would bow to a COW in the street with
as much humility as any East Indian. On
indifferent subjects, however, he could and
did talk in the most rational and enter
tanning manner, showing clearly that his
eccentricities did not indicate a mind ir-
IeGeemably impaired. In his tipsy RACES
he was known to destroy bank bills of
large denominations, on one occasion
making away with lve 800 bills. AT the
lime he did so he was il gambling sa-
loon kept by a sOn-in-laW Of the notorious
fKonk Titus"
Count Chesebrough had a mania for
Hpages;'' one he attired on stage occa-
siOns, and when he visited the theatre. in
The uniform of a Lieutenant in one OF the
Austrian cavalry regiments of CrOats,
with green-braided jacket, knee breeches,
top boots, and fur-trimmed cap with
golden tassel, He himself on such occa-
sions wore the splendid white full-dress
uniform Of a Lieutenant Colonel in the
Austrian army. The Count affected the
society of actors, and is said to have num-
bered among his acquaintances such men
as w. Il. Blake, John Brougham, Charles
WalcOt and Lester Wallack. Joanna
Baillie's dismal tragedies were his favor
lite reading, and great portions OF them he
could repeat from memory. He was also
90 mean ShakespeaTean. At one time
Count ChesebrOugh attempted to start
theatrical company, OF which Henry
Erattan Plunkett, who called himself an
tlegitimate son of the great Grattan, act
ed as manager. The scheme failed, how
ever, and some Of the actors obtained
Judgments against the Count for breach
oi contract on his part.
In 1853 while attending the dancing
bCuOOi Ol ClknOf DiIOCCO ID DOnu street,
Count ChesebrOugh met Miss Josephine
Cregier, the daughter OF Mrs. Rachel
CFegier, connected with the Vosburgh and
other old New Jersey families. Miss
Lregier was exceedingly attractive, and
the Count fell in love with her. The com
plainants in the present action above
aver that the Count married her. Tue de-
PENDANTS deny the marriage. AT all
events, Count Chesebrough procured for
Miss Cregier a costly outfit, and in a car
riage built especially by Brewster. and
much resembling the gorgeous sleighs
used by the mad King of Bavaria, they
travelled from this city to Philadelphia.
Their progress must have been truly re.
markable, for fastened at the back Of the
carriage were two pigs and three ducks,
whose outcries served to vary the mOnOto.
ny Of travel. The page on the carriage,
as 1t neared village, sounded iscOrdant
blasts upon horn, and large and demon
Etrative crowds We're attracted. At rren-
ton tits said that the Count had TO obtain
protection from the Mayor TO get his equip
age out OF the town.
The hotels at which Count Chesebrough
and his companion stopped were often the
scene OF violence on bis part against her,
and II bis page aud the hotel servants had
not inierlered, she might have met her
death al his hands. TOall remonstrances
tne Count was accustomed TO say that bv
the English common law he bad "a right 10
treat her as be chose. in 1851 mis- violence