Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-10-13
HEIR TO A MILLION
A Pennsylvania Convict tbe
 Owner of a Great Estate.
ROMANCE IN REAL LIFE.
The Strange Story of Edwin St. Rayn,
 Formerly an Actor, Now in Prison.

He Rescued a Beautiful Girl and Her Father from Ruffians in New Orleans Eloped With the Maiden, the Father Not Consenting to the Union--A separa- ton EnSues, and St. Rayn Becomes a Rover--Arresteda and Convicted, Though Innocent--Laft a Fortune by the Repent ant Father of His Wife.
 NEW YORK, Oct. 13.-The good luck of Edwin St. Rayn, formerly an actor of this city, is just now much talked of among theatrical folks.
 St. Rayn is said to be the heir to for tune of over $1, ,OOO, 900, and 8 firm of New York lawyers, acting for the estate which he has inherited, have located him after long search.
 He is an inmate of the Western Peni- tentiary in Allegheny City, Pa. He al- leges that he is an innocent man and did not commit the crime for which he is serving a sentence of one year and half.
 Several professionals who were seen had no difficulty in recalling St. Rayn. They said that five or six years ago he was fair actor in travelling companies starting out of New York. Bob Hilliard said that he had known St. Rayn, and Fred Bond also recollected an actor whom he believed to be identical with the alleged heir to great estate.
 The story is romantic one and has been investigated by a reporter of a Pittsburg newspaper, who vouches for it's accuracy. He also interviewed St. Rayn in the Western Penitentiary and was furnished by the prisoner with facts, dates and documents corroborating it in it's entirety.
 Some months ago Louis De Amboise, a wealthy Cuban planter, died in Havana, leaving his fortune of over a million dol lars to one Edwin St. Rayn, an American actor.
 The trustees of the estate have since been searching for the legatee and believe that at last he has been dis covered.
 St. Rayn says that he is a native of New York City, and that his real name is J. Edwin Rayn. Six years ago the company of which he was member was playing in New Orleans.
 One night after the performance, St. Rayn was going home to his lodgings when he cameu pon three roughs who had attacked an elderly gentleman and a::young lady who accompanied him.
 It was in a dark and unfrequented street, and the assailants were rapidly overcoming the pedestrians.
 Fortunately St. Rayn carried heavy walking-stick, and he rushed to the res. cue. His blows caused the roughs te rush of; but not before one of tnem had severely stabbed the actor with pocket. knife. The gentleman proved to be Louis De Amboise, and the lady was his only daughter, Edith.
 They loaded St. Rayn with protesta- tions of their gratitude, and insisted upon conveying him to their hotel, where his injury was attended to- Miss Edith promptly fell in love with the actor, but her father said nay.
 He desired the girl to marry Horace Leigh, her cousin, whom she disliked. When St. Rayn had recovered he eloped with Miss De Amboise and they were married.
 St. Rayn lived in Cuba for year or two and then went off with theatrical company. He says that in his absence Horace Leigh convinced Mrs. St. Rayn that her husband was unfaithful to his marriage VOWS, and she secured di- | vorce.
 St. Rayn travelled all over this coun try and finally turned up in Westmore- | land County, Pa., two years ago. There he was charged with committing an offence of which he asserts he was en tirely innocent, claiming to have been | the victim of a conspiracy. While in prison De Amboise and Mrs. St. Rayn both died in Cuba. In his vii De Amboise states that he did St. RayI a great wrong in helping to separate hi wife from him, and he desires to make all the reparation in his power. H' therefore left the estate to the adventur | ous actor, whose whereabouts have just | been ascertained.
 It is said that St. Rayn has secured counsel, who are making efforts to hav him set free on habeas corpus proceed ings
 St. Rayn's strange story is corrobo rated by some people at Jeanette, Pa., t. whom he related the circumstances som time before the death of his weath, father-in-law.
 | Upon his release St. Rayn promises t produce papers which will prove his iden