Daily Republican., 1889-03-28

The New York World publishes
remarkable story OF lawsuit from which
the following abstract Is taken:
Margaret Chesebrough, rich widow,
died in New York In 1859. Her husband
had been prosp porous New York mer-
chant aud had died some thirty years be-
fore, leaving her worth several millions
OF money. Mr.. Chesebrough left reside
his widow two sons, Charles A. Cheese
brough and Blazigs NJ. ChesehrOugh,
who, to the astonishment of oil his
friends, suddenly one day while abroad
acquired the title of count, and, return
Ing 10 America, demanded that he should
he recognized as at least an otishoot OF
the Austrian nobility" 1t is thought
that he really bought and paid for the
title.
lie was a crank and a sperdthritt and
a rouc. During all his mad career, how
ever, although he was involved In innum-
cradle affairs with women Of one sort or
another, 1t was never claimed by any body
that he had ever married.
BY the terms of his mothers will, "the
Count" and his brother Charles were to
share the income from the estate during
the joint lifetime, and on the death of
either the principal was to go to the law
full Issue Of the deceased, If any were
left, or, in the absence Of lawful Issue,
was to go to the surviving brother ALSO
lutely.
+ Count died April 16, 1865, and as
| no widow or children appeared to claim
the properly, his brother Charles, entered
into possession thereof. The Counts es-
tate was valued at S2,500,0J0, aud con-
sisted mainly OF real estate in New York
and Brooklyn and other parts of Long Is
land. Much OF the property is located ON
the Bcwery and Fourth avenue, New
York. II is undoubtedly worth to-day
close upon u 100000.
Mr.. @. A. Chefebrough, of Northport,
L. l., remained in undlsturbed possession
Of the property for twenty years lacking
nine days. During that time he had
never received any intimatlon that he was
holding the proper y to the detrfment OF
anyone having legal claim upon it. He
was, however, surprised after twenty
years OF unmolested enjoyment of the
property TO find HE rights assailed, and
through HIS lawyers be has Tough. the at
tack with bitter eGrnestness during the
past three years.
Suit was brought into court by the
alleged widow OF Count Chtscbrough,
who was a Mias Josephine Cregler, once
n beautiful resident Of Baltimore. She has
daughter who Is married to Thomas
Arnold, a brother of President Arnold of
the New York Board of Aldermen. She
declared that this daughter was the legitl-
mate fruits of her marriage with Cheese
| brouPh. In her youth Josephine Cregier
was known as "La Gazelle That the
Count was at one time passionatcly fond
l,oi her can be easily understood by all who
come within the power Of her luminous,
fawn-liko eyes, which nearly three-score
years have failed to dim
In November last she had sworn that
che was married to Lord Chesebrough in
the city OF Baltimore, and had lived with
him as his wife for years. When the
took the witness chair last Friday, she
was still sweetly confident of her ability
10 maintain these claims. Suddenly her
long chain OF evidence was broken.
The weakness Of her claim WAS first ex-
posed to her through the reading of a
mass of testimony which had been taken
since November In Baltimore, showing
conclusively that her claim OF having
married the Count IN that city was false.
She perceptibly trembled, but held her
peace. Then came the startling evidence
that her own mother had sued Count
Chesebrugh for betrayiDg Josephine and
that the Count had given 81, 700 for the
benefit of the daughter, now Mrs. Arnold,
born to Miss Creaier. Her cheeks paled
aud she trembled like an aspen, The
lawyers for the defense were merciless.
"Do you still claim to have been the
lawful wife OF Biazius M. Chesebroughl"
they asked.
NO." she replied in an almost inaudl-
Bile voice.
"And your former testimony was uu-
true, was 1t noti"
'It was" replied La Gazelle. 81 gave
1t to shield my daughter"