The evening world., 1894-01-20
FROM LOUIS XVI. DAYS
Mrs. Plain Seeks the Solution of
an Interesting Mystery.
ROCKFORD Children Struggled Here
During the 'Reign Of Terror"
She Married the Descendant of One
and Property Is in Litigation.

MTS. ftOSdlle 4 ain VI Jus DTlERS ave-
nue.. Brooklyn, has been trying for just
a week to see Supt. Byrnes to ask him
70 assist her in communicating with a
family of the nobility of France. possibly
some branch of the descendants of Louis
XVI. Up to this morning she had not
succeeded. Her story is strange in
teresting.
In 1890, just at the beginning OF the
Reign OF Terror in France, two children,
brother and sister, were brought to this
country. The boy was seven and the
girl was six years of age. With the
children came an old servant of their
parents. who took the children to Phila-
delphia and gave them in charge to the
Quakers there.
The information which the servant
gave regarding the children was meagre
They were children Of the ROCKFORD
family. strict Royalists. Their parents
had been beheaded for clinging to the
falling fortune of Louis XVI. The little
ones had only been saved by the efforts
Of relatives. who had struggled them
aboard a vessel in baskets that were
covered with willow boughs.
Fearing that harm might come to the
~ was tlouShl dhN lodplt W
change their name, SO they were given
thai Of De Ford.
In 1893 Suzanne De Ford, or Roche
ford. the girl. being then In her sixteenth
year, was married to Bartholomew Plain
Of this city. Mr.. Plain, at that time, was
the proprietor of the only art store In
the city. 1t was located on a high hill,
where Chatham Square Is now.
Mr.. Plain was In the habit of going
through the different cities to receive
commissions for the purchase of i'm
ported paintings. 1t was while on noe
Of these trips that ne met Suzanne. with
the Quakers, In Philadelphia. A son was
the result of this marriage.
The year after. the marriage a sum OF
money was received by the young wife
from a Baltimore banking house. With
1t came a communication stating that
this was a portion of a trust u left In
the bank, the interest of which was to
be paid annually.
The Plains wrote asking for more def
mite information, but We're told none
could be given under the conditions OF
The interest was paid regularly. but
nothing could be learned as to who had
placed the funds with the bank.
Il December. 1903, Jerome Bonaparte,
the youngest brother Of Napoleon, came
In that same month he married Eliza
beth Patterson.
Just at this time the Qpakers with
to her. saying. that Bonaparte had been
making inquiries at the bank relative to
the two children. He had also endeav-
pers left there with the trust. money.
saying that II these were not delivered
10 him 1t would involve International
complications, Mrs. Plain was advised
After long consultation it was
early part Of 1904 20 only IA to nd fnd c Jerome
in gaining possession Of the papers.
In 1886 Mrs. Plain made another effort
to find out something regarding the year
ly allowance. She went to the Balti-
more clearinghouse and demanded to
After a lengthy consultation. 1t was
finally decided that she should return
home and information woul be sent
secret.
1t was several months before she
where she would be given information.
To Newark she went. There at the
house named, she met two women and
priest. He spoke to Mrs. Plain sternly.
telling her that the allowance would
continue during her life. btu that she
never did, In 1916 the husband died.
During all these years nothing had
later, however, the first news came of
him to the son of Mrs. Plain;
In 1856. when John c. Fremont ran
for the Presidency, he published for
campaign purposes an autobiography. In
that he said his father had married
the daughter of Judge Ford, of South
Carolina. the Judges name had been
De Ford. but he had never used the
DE.
Continuing. 1t said that Judge Ford
was a French refugee, and told the story of
how he. with his sister, had been brought
TO America at an early age. that he
had, after many attempts. gained pos
session Of papers. and been recognized
by the Bonapartis:s as of noble blood.
The son of Mr.. and Mrs. Plain, who
was horn in 1870. and was named John
Peer Plain. had meanwhile married.
His son was named Francis Is. Plain.
II is the wife of this latter gentleman
who now tells the story. f. Il. Plain Is
a retired merchant.
Daring the past year a gentleman CIV
ing the name of the Count Mont Nor
ence called upon +. B.. Plain, He said
he was in search of the heirs OF Suzanne
De Ford. There was property In ntiga-
ton in France. There was a conference,
and the Count was TO return in a week.
He did not come hack.
Mrs. Plains object in desiring TO see
Supt. Byrnes was to see whether ne
could not assist her in clearing up what
Is still n mystery.