The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1896-09-08

HhNn tue NfM NFh MNFlls
In olden times this strange anomaly
would have been impossible. since the
mere fact Of being branded as felon
on the shoulder and forehead and hay-
ing occupied a seat In the galleys ear
risd with It the loss OF all nobility priv
ileges. titles and ptrogatiyes.
II Is In Italy and Russia that in
stances Of this kind are the most fire.
quent. owing. In all probability. TO these
two countries being afflicted with a
larger number OF princes than any
other. Thus. at the great penitentiary
Of Maddelena, near Naples. there are
two Sicilian princes who are dukes "a
well. namely Don Francesca aud Don
Pietro De Villarosa- Notarbariollo. who
are undergoing term OF penal servi-
tude for the cowardly murdered young
infantry lieutenant named Leoni, who
was betrothed to their sister. the prin-
cess Katarina. The assassination took
place at Palermo. In the magnificent
Vlllarosa palace owned BY them. and
where they had invited the young OIL
Ger to dine In the most friendly man
ner After dinner and after Leoni had
broken bread with them the princes
took his life by stabbing him in the
back as he was about TO leave the PAL
ace.
The trial was TO have taken place at
Palermo. but the two princes, like
many other great Sicllian mobiles. we're
affiliated with the Maha which rem
dcred II absolutely Impossible for the
government to secure Witnesses for the
prosecution or jurors willing to risk
their fortunes and their lives by rem
derlng a just verdict. II therefore be-
came necessary to change the venue to
Naples. whore. owing to the relations
that exist between the Sicillan Malta
and the Neapolltan Camorra. conyic-
ton was obtained with the utmost diff
iiculty.
Another prince confined In the same
convict prison Is the prince and duke 81
Caraoclolo d Bella. sentenced TO ten
years al hard labor Tor the murder OF
his wife. The latter woman oonsld-
orahly younger than himself. was re
nowned for her beauty and wealth
The Princess Regina d'Avalos. which
was her maiden name. was regarded as
the greatest helress IN southern Italy
Orphaned az an early age. Regina had
already Witnessed one sanguinafy trag-
cdy before she had attained her i4th
year. la her presence an aunt-a wo-
man Of the most incredible violence OF
temper had ehot down and killed In
cold blood one Of her farm ballins.
who had been guilty OF some gross IN
eOlence
When Regina grew up u was detcrm-
inod that che should marry and the
bridegroom chosen was a Lieutenant
In the navy. who was a brother Of her
aunts husband On the morning OF
the wedding day, however. the licuten-
ant was found In his apartments with
hls brains blown out and q revolver al
his side. Il was clear case OF suicide.
but no explanation was ever youch-
safed as to the cause OF his act, most
extraordinary rumors being current on
the subject
Eighteen months laterthe young prin-
cess married Caracciola "a Bella. But
the union was an unhappy one. Hence.
when one day the princess was polls
oned, leaving a will In which she be-
qucathed every cent OF her immense
fortune TO the husband whom she de-
tested. suspicion vas naturally aroused
against him on the discovery that the
drug that caused her death had been
purchased by him. he was arrested on
charge OF murder. convicted and SEN
fenced to a term Of penal seryiiude.
There are at least a score OF princes
Neapolltan, Slcilian and Roman doing
time, not including those hali-dozen OF
more who are paying the same penalty
for completely In socialist and anarch-
Is, outragos, who. although treated as
ordinary felons, may be regarded as po-
liiical prisoners.
Prince Eristof DC Courlc. whose title
IL OF the most authentic character. and
several OF whose relatives occupy OH
ccs OF great dignity al the court OF Rus
sla. served two years In a German poni-
Tertiary for frauds committed at Ber-
lln and subsequently underwent six
months' imprisonment In France for
oflonses Of similar character lie
likewise suffered ignominy OF arrest In
England for swindllng. In spite OF all
OF which he was received with open
arms by New York society. the German
ambassador Count Arco, who was In
happy Ignorance OF hls criminal ante
oedents. actually giving dinners and
lunchoons In his honor and officiating
as his social sponsor. He was on the
point Of contracting a wealthy mar
rlage In this city when he was un-
masked In the nick Of time by n London
clubman who had known something OF
hls previous history and whose state
ments were by the most fortunate OF
chances verified by the Scotland Yard
detective. Inspector Jarvis. who hap
pened to be in New York after other
game. but who had been the very man
TO clap the handouts on the princes
wrists In England
There have been some rumors Of late
that Prince Nicolas savine. formerly
lieutenant Of the Cheyaller Garde de
flmperatriee at ST. Petersburg. has
succeeded In enecting his escape from
saghalien and that he is now In this
country Six years ago he was SEN
fenced by the courts OF 81. Petersburg
TO penal servltude f5f lie for long