The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-09-08
TWO ALLEGED FRAUDS
'sDUKE AND DUCHESS OF RIO
GRANDE" IN HOLLOWAY JAIL.
Charged with Swindling London HO-
tells and Boa riding HOuses-A
Surfeit of Titles.

LONDON, Sept. THE Duke and Ouch
ess of Rio Grande were arraigned in the
Maryleybone Police Court this morning
charged with defrauding hotels and board
ing houses. The duke is said to be a Bra
lillian nobleman, and the duchess, 1T is as
serted is a niece of ex-United States Sem
ator Omar d. Conger, of Michigan. 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 of the uncomfortable
night they had passed. Nevertheless, the
duke rested his chin jauntily on his gloved
hand He is a short, dapper man, with
pompadour cut hair, pointed beard and
waxed mustache. The duchess is a hand
some woman, about thirty years of age,
with refined features. Her face was swol-
len with weeping. The duchess said her
father lived in d village in northern New
York and she added that he was an artist
and a member of the artists board of
awards of the Chicago exposition.
A hotel keeper and the landladies of two
boarding houses confronted the couple in
court to-day. Mrs. Elizabeth Stanley, one
of the landladies, described her experience.
She said lady dhe female prisoner), with
an infant and nurse, went to her house on
lady saying that her husband was dining
at the club. The husband (the male pris-
oner) arrived late, explained that he had
been yachting and that his baggage was
delayed. They stayed at Mrs. Stanley
house until Aug. l, making many excuses
when asked TOR money or an explanation
as 10 why their baggage was not torthcom-
ing. Finally, Mrs. Stanley was compelled
to have the duke and duchess expelled
from her house. The landlady said she felt
sorry for the lady, as her husband neglect
ed her shamefuly. While residing with
Mrs Stanley the duke and duchess gave
the names of Monsieur and Nine. Edgar
Serge de Mel. The lady said her husband
was n duke and count, that he had half
a dozen titles, and that some emperor
about to confer another title on him.
This portion of the evidence caused the
presiding justice to remark sarcastically
and that will make seven titles.
After testimony from other landadies
who had failed to be paid, the defense
claimed that the prisoners offered security
in bills but the magistrate said it was a
clear case of defrauding the hotel and
boarding houses, and he remanded the pris-
oners for week, Offering to release the fe-
male prisoner on ESQ ball. half the amount
of the frauds charged against the prison
ers. The latter were eventually returned
to Holloway jail in the Black Maria.
An American, who refused to give his
name, was present in court to-day. He said:
Il will find bail for the woman. but the
husband may rot in Jail She is we'll known
in Chicago. and is woman of the highest
talents ana character. one became laScl-
mated with the worthless man Cher hus-
band), married him and had perfect faith
in him. l presume he is a duke. l 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 American, but
the embassy officials replied that she had
forfeited her citizenship by marrying for
eigrer The embassy, however, was rep
resented at the trial. The woman is well
known in New York Mrs. Clara Conger.
She married De Mel there in 1896. The
Brazilian minister says there is no such
title as the Duke OF Rio Grande.