The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-09-08
Duke and Duchess Of Rio
Grande In Jail.
VERY PECULIAR COUPLE.
WOMAN HAS TALENT AND Is
KNOWN IN CHICAGO.
Man Said to Be Brazilian Nobleman
In Disguise Minister Deposed on
Account Of Intimacy With the
Servant Girl-Young Westwocd's
Record In Chicago Mysterious
Murder at Colorado springs-Con-
fessed Too Late.

London, Sept. THE Duke and
Duchess of Rio Grande were arraigned
in the Marlborough police court this
morning, charged with defrauodng ho-
tells and boarding houses. The duke is
said to be q Brazilian nobieman. and
the duchess 1T is asserted. is q niece
of ex- Uaited States Senator Q. D. Con
ger oS Michigan.
The prisoners were brouant UP in
the midst of q motley assemblage of
ragged criminals. They had slept in
cells at Holloway and showed the eff
fects of the uncomfortable nfght they
lad passed. Nevertheless. She duke
rested his chin jauntily ON his gloved
hand He is a sIisoFt dapper man WITH
pGmpadour-cut hair, pointed beard and
WaNed 1noustaelie. The duchess IS a
handsome woman about so years of age
With refined features. Her face was
sweden With weeping. The duchess
said her father lived in q village in
northern New York. and was an artist
and q member Of iiile Artists Board of
wards at the Chicas 80 exposition.
A fpotelloeeDer and the dandladfes OF
two boarding houses confronted the
couple in court today. Mrs. Elizabeth
sranasey, enc of the landladGes. said a
lady 0tfne female priS5ner) with an in
fart and nurse, went to her house on
June 70, at night, and engaged a ROOM
saying that her husband was dining at
the club. The husband (tthe man pris-
oner) arrived late, explained that he
had been yachting and that his bag
gage was delayed They stayed at
Mrs. Standfey's till Aug %. making
many excuses when asked for money
or wG1en asked Why their baggage was
net forthcoming. Mrs. STANDBY was
compelled TO have the duke and duchess
expelled from her house The laudrady
said she fei's sorry for the lady, as her
husband neglected her shamefully
While residing with Mrs. STANDBY the
duke and duchess gave the names of
Monsieur and Madame Edgar Serge de
Mel The lady said Tier husband was a
duke ami q count THAT he mad half a
dozen titles and some emperor was
about to confer another title upon him.
This portion of the evidence caused the
presiding ma gfstpate to remark sarcaS-
Sicaa!-T. "and that viii make seven
titles"
After testimony from other iandqadies
who had failed to be paid, the defense
claimed the prisoners offered security in
bills. but the magistrate said it was a
clear case of defrauding the hotel and
boarding houses, and he re1na nC1ed the
prisoners for a week, Offering, to release
the female prisoner on ESQ bail half
the amount of the entire charge against
the prisoners. The latter were eventu-
ally returned to Holloway jail in the
black maria.
An American who refused to give his
name was present in court todaY. He
said: II wifi find baM for the Wnr,ran.
but the husband may ret in jail. she
is we'll known in Chicago and is
woman of the highest talents and char
acter. She became fascinated with the
worthless man, her husband, married
him AID had perfect faith in him. I
presume he is a duke. 1 have lived in
Brazil and know that anyone can get
titles there"
The female prisoner appealed to Che
United States embassy for protection
on the ground that she was am Arneri-
can, but the embassy officials replied
that she had forfeited her citizenship
by marrying a foreigner. The embassy,
however, Will be represented at the
trial. The woman is we'll known in
New York as Mss Clara Conger. She
married De Mel there in 1884, The
Brazilian minister says there is no
such title as the Duke of Rio Grande.