Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1892-09-04
Am ODERN MONTE CRISTO
THEODORE PRYCE IS SAID TO
BE STILL ALIVE.


DENVER, Colo, Sept. 1.-THE grim
penitentiary Of Canon City, In which
are all OF Coloradols oonvicts, is evi-
IDENTIFY In tho lists as competitor OF
the famous Chateau d. If, which served
as Monte Cristo's grave until he donned
the guise OF death to escape its musty
dungeons.
Is Theodore D. T. Pryce aliyc9 Is
the wealthy Englishman, son Of peer
aud hoir 70 large estates, for whom
Lord Derby intercoded, but who, In
spite Of all the efforts OF his titled
friends, was condemned 10 die for muir
der In the first degree-is he now IN
London enjoying his llbertyS
The story reads like a romance.
Theodore Pryce, after rowing all over
the world, found employment, n little
over eighteen years ago, at the ranch
Of II. H. Heavo, a fellow-countryman,
who had settled, on q large scale, in the
Wet Mountain valley. For lew
months PryCe got along well with his
English friend, but whisky one night
led 10 murder, and Pryce soon found
himself on trial for his life. Every of-
fort was made 10 save him. The for
eign minister IN England, Lord Derby,
interceded ia his behalf through the
British ambassador at Washington, and
implored fair trial and not undue Sc
verify. English attorneys OF ropute
Travelled to Colorado 10 try TO save his
neck Money was thrown about Law
ishly.
Henry NJ. Teller, who has since boon
secretary Of the interior, and who is
now ColOrado's senior senator, used his
utmost powers of argument and elo-
quence, but tho case was plain that the
Jury could not help themselves and
rendered verdict Of guilty in the first
degree. This only called out more
strenuous efforts In hehalf Of the un-
fortunate foreigner. Petitions and
letters poured upon Gov. McCOoks
table, and finally the sentence was
committed TO life Imprisonment.
Pryco remained in jail and was for
gotten by all except his friends until
May %, 1882, when the announcement
was made that he had starved himself
10 death rather than work. A coffin
was taken from the prison ana buried,
II was said 10 contain Pryce'a wasted
form. A few who remembered the
great trial followed the outcasts al
legged funeral
Whom did they buryp
For now, after ten more year,, well
known English resident Of CplOraCo
Hlys that he met Pryco some Time ago
Ia London, and that the funeral Of 1882
was only fake
"There can be no doubt about IL at
nj, ~ says this man, Mr.. Leonard Hun
bar, wealthy ranchman. II knew
Pryce in England when he was boy.
| knew OF him in Colorado. VOL, Oc-
cslsionally go back homo, and always
stay awhile in London. | Htrolled into
clubhouse one night with some
friends the very last time | WIS over,
and who should | see but Pryce. |
couldn't possibly he mistaken. He saw
me, too, and recognized me right away.
lo just stared AZ me minute as II
dazcd, and then got hastily up and left
the place, without so much even as rails
ing his head TO look cine again"
Neither is Mr., Henter the only En-
glishmAn In Colorado who has heard Of
such story. A well-knowu private
detective In this state is investigating,
although In whose behalf no declines g
say.
Tho story Of his death doesn't sound
altogether right, with this new light
thrown upon II. There was no tcle'
gram announcing IL sont 10 the Denver
papers, but n few days after IL occurred
a little local Item appeared, This APP
pcared ON May %, 1882 II certainly
does not sound reasonable that after
being eight years In tho pcnitentlary d
man who was then only 20 YEAR,
old would sulrve himself Ia death be-
cause he didn't want to work, Such ,
story would surely merit moro Credenc,
II it had occurred In the FIRST year of hii
incarceration There is not mucl
doubt but that tho grave will be, after
ten years Of quiet, opened again and III
investigation set on foot to ilud on
whethor this English lordling is still
alive, and whether his brains or hi
money helped him to freedom.
mats for The Autumn.
The ulsase has gone forth in bot
Paris and London that the hats for tn
fall must be small aud simple TIL
days OF flowing brims and elaborat
Z GO oAA