The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-09-08
NOBILITY in COURT,

Duke and DHehsss OF Rio Grands Before
London AIAglltrats for pslraadInK
Boarding House Ksepers-DueheIa an
American Woman.
LONDON, Sept. 7.-The Duke and
Duchess of Rio Grande were arraigned
in the Marylbone police court this morn
Ing charged with defraudlng hotels and
boarding houses, The duke Is said to
be Brazilian nobieman and the duchess,
II is asserted. Is a niece OF ex-United
States Senator Omar d. Conger OF Mich
igan- The prisoners were brought up
in the midst of a motley assemblage OF
ragged criminals, They had slept In
cells at Holloway and showed the effects
or the uncomfortable night they had
passed. Nevertheless, the duke rested
his chin Jauntlly on his gloved hand.
He Is short, dapper man with pompa-
dour cut hair, pointed beard and waxed
moustache, The duchess Is a handsome
woman, about 30 years Of age, with re-
fined features, Her face was swollen
with weeping, The duchess said her
father lived IN village in northern New
York, and she added that he was an ar
tlst and member Of the artists board
OF awards OF the Chicago exposition.
hotel keeper and the landladles OF
two boarding houses confronted the
couple In court to-day Mrs. Elizabeth
Stanley one of the landladles, described
her experience, She said lady (the fe-
male prlsoner) with an infant and nurse
went TO her house on June 20, at night,
and engaged a room, the lady saying
that her husband was dining at the club.
The husband (the male prlsoner) arrived
late, explained that ne had been yacht
ing and that hts baggage was delayed.
They stayed at Mrs. Stanley's house
until August l, making many excuses
when asked for money or an explanation
as to why their baggage was not forth
coming. Finally Mrs. Stanley was COM
PEELED to have the duke expelled from her
house. The landlady said she felt sorry
for the lady, as her husband neglected
her shamefully. While residing with
Mrs Stanley the duke and duchess gave
the names of Monsieur and Madame
Edgar Serge de Mel The lady said her
husband was duke and a count, that
he had half dozen titles and that some
emperor" was about to confer another
title upon him, This portion OF the evil
dence caused the presiding magistrate to
remark sarcastIcally: "And that viii
make seven titles"
After testimony OF other landladies
who had failed to be paid the defense
claimed that the prisoners offered secur-
ity In bills, but the magistrate said 81
was a clear case OF defraudng the hotel
and boarding houses, and he remanded
the prisoners for week, offering Ia re-
lease the female prisoner on ESQ bail,
half the amount OF the frauds charged
against the prisoners. The latter were
eventually returned to Holloway jaii in
the black Maria,
An American who refused to give his
name was present In court to-day. He
said: II Will find bail for the woman
but the husband may rot In Jail. She is
well known in Chicago and Is a woman
Of the highest talents and character.
She became fascinated with the worth
less man, her husband married him and
had perfect faith In him. presume ne
is a duke. have lived In Brazil and
know that any one can get titles there"
The female prisoner appealed TO the
United States embassy for protection,
on the ground that she was an Amerf-
can, but the embassy officials replied
that she har forfeited her citizenship by
marrying a foreigner. The embassy,
however, will be represented at the trial.
The woman is well known in New York
as Mrs. Clara Conger. She marked De
Mel there In 1896.
The Brazilian minister says there Is
no such title as Duke OF Rio Grande.