The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-05-14

AN|| kEANWa.A AAlA4lENNuA4 1N8Nye
a colossal fraud has just been exposed
Ia Paris, says the New York Herald,
With Inimitable selt-assuranCe the In
veutor of this gigantic swindle, this
amazing hoelS-pOcus, has come forward
and told = wondering world how for
years ne has been dipping credulous
GOulS. and duplnG Them so effectively a.
b win praise and blessings from some
Of the most potent persons living.
This interesting individual Is Leo Tax
II. A well known man he Is, and one
who Is 4 familiar figure in more than
one European capital. Much has been
heard OF him lately In connection with
the my1teriouS Diana Vaughan. Jour
nHla throughout the world have told the
extraordinary story of Dlana's initia-
ton into q dIAbolleal society and OF her
subsequent conversion TO the Roman
Catholic church. Many sensitive souls
ahuddercd as they read her horrible tale
and general wonder was expressed that
IN these enlightened days any persons
could DO found willing to Join such q
mOnstrous and sncriligious organization
e. Oha described.
90 the weird tales OF devil worship and
Of uncOnny nocturnal ceremonies went
the round OF the press, and the excite
ment gradually increased until a few
days ago. when Il was buEzed abroad
that the marvellous Diana would hold a
meeting In Paris. and would there and
than reveal all the secrets OF diRboliBm
and the causes Of her conversion. An
Invitation to attend the meeting was
cent 10 several journalists. as well az 10
several well known Catholic clergymen
and free thinkers.
There was nothing unusual about the
wording Of this invitation except the
rather singular fact that the generous
Diana announced her intention OF offer
ing a prize. for which the journalists
were TO draw. lots.
An IntSFOSting Programme.
sun Diana had promised to show
thsm some wonderful sights that even
Ong, Onong them being certain extraor-
binary pictures. including photographs
Of Goblet d'AlvieIla in the costume Of a
1lRRus and OF his compact with the Ser
rent. portraits OF Albert Pike, Lillana
Pike. John Vaughan and Diana Waugh
a. hePself, grouped together in the gar
Den Of 4 certain Nathaniel Levin. OF
Charleston, 8. c.. and reproductions OF
Thomas VRughan'S compact with Luci-
fer and Of the hFBt pages Of the Book
OF Apadno." written by Lncifer. Fur
thOrHnre, the audience expected TO see
DbofORFHph representing Diana receiv-
~ from the internal Asmodeus dia-
don of steel. which had been fashioned
a TIE subadueou8 gmlthy At Gibraltar.
This photograph. Il was said. was taken
By John Vaughan and with Luclter's
consent.
Finally glimpse Of the following pic.
lures was promised:-The departure OF
q. Serpent.rose on Its mission. a oLesS 1!Hl
81 The Grand Master Of the Perfect TIL
anEie. a scene taken from the Triangle
CaIeas CaraccIolo, OF Naples; Eden 1.-THE
earthly Paradlge) a. Il exists at present.
Ewes apple tree, Rntediluvian animals,
and a photograph by q certain Wash"
InTton gentleman OF curious sights seen
By him In the Garden OF Eden.
A Wis PrseautIOR.
Al last the evening Of the meeting
came. and a select audience gathered In
the hall Of the Geographical Society to
hear Diana's confession. When they
were all seated lots were cast for the
prize. and Il was won by All Kennel, a
Correspondent OF the Constantinople pa
per IkdaEn, Then IL became known thnt
every one had been obliged to leave bis
cane or umbrella in charge OF an attend
ant at the door. and the result was
natural buzz OF surprise. Why had such
an order been give? Surely no one SUP
posed that this meeting was going TO pc
Z, sort Of Donnybrook Fair!
The audience began TO grow tmpa-
Nient, The Gtaid clergymen looked eX-
pectnntly toward the raised platform
ne little group OF free thinkers smiled
ineFedulouhly; the Journalists wondered
whether, after all. they were not vast.
inR their time. Suddenly blSck-robed
fiEure moved quickly through them and
assembled the platform. II was Lee
TaxIl.
Every one there knew him, and for a
minute or two no one wondered at his
appearance. A stout champion OF the
church he has apparently been for some
yearS, fighting for her with all the
Weapons AT his command. and especially
nroyInr useful 10 her by his thorough
knowledge OF the inner workings OF Sc
cret societies.
or devil worshIppers he was the pro.
nnunced foe and many alleged secrets Of
theirs were revealed by him TO church
dlRnitaries. Moreover. he claimed "a
have been a Free Mason in his early
years, and his antaEonIsm 10 that order
after he became a Catholic. made him q
marked man. Again. he was supposed to
have been instrumental in converting
Diana, and. hence, on this august occa-
sion, II was surely fitting that his chould
take front place So they waited pa
tiently TO hear him.
"I am Diana Vaughan"
But hardly hnd the first words come
from his lips when look OF utter aston
ishment swept over the faces before
him. And no wonder. for these were his
astounding words
Ladies' and gentlemen. you desire to
see Diana Vaughan. Look at me! l am
Diana Vaughan"
The audience was actually 80 para.
lyzed with establishment that not word
was uttered, and Taxi went on as calm
ly as though he were delivering a lee
ture on the mountains Of the moon.
After informing the audience that
there was no such person Rs Diana
Vaughan he launched into a history OF
his career. To fool men had always
given him pleasure, he sald. Thus on
one occasion he had frightened the PEG.
ple Of Marseilles almost TO death by toll
ing them that the Quays Of the city were
in danger OF being destroyed By sharks
and on another occasion he had BAN
boozled the greatest ArchReolOgists IN
Europe by q cock and bull story Of q
----------