The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-09-09
A DUKE AND HIS DUCHESS
THEY WORKED THE DELAYED
BAGGAGE RACKET IN MUGGY
OLD LONDON. =
PLENTY OF TITLES BUT NO BREAD.
Hotels and Boarding Houses De.
frauded and the Noble Pair In
jail, Where the Duchess, an 4
American, Can Repent. \

London, Sept. THE duke and duch-
ess of Rio Grande, so-called, were ar-
raigned in the Marlborough police court
this morning, charged with defrauding
hotels and boarding houses. The duke is
said to be a Brazilian nobleman and the
duchess, it is asserted, is a niece of ex-
United States Senator D. NJ. Conger of
Michigan.
The prisoners were brought up In the
midst of motley assembly 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 nous
tache. The duchess is handsome woman
about 30 years of age, with refined fca-
lures. Her face was swollen with weep
ing. The duchess said her father lived
in village of northern New York, and
she added that he was an artist and
Il member of the artist board Of awards
of the Chicago exposition. A hotel keep
er and the landladies of two boarding
houses confronted the couple in court to-
day. Mrs. Elizabeth Stanley was one of
the landladies and she described her ex-
perience. She said lady, the female
prisoner, with an infant and nurse, went
to her house on June 70 at night and en-
gagged room. The lady said that her
husband was dining at the club. The
husband 1.-THE male prisoner) arrived late
and explained that he had been yachting
and that his baggage was delayed. They
stayed at Mrs. Stanley's house until Au-
gust l, making many excuses when ask
ed for money or an inquiry about their
baggage. Finally Mrs. Stanley was
compelled to have the duke and duchess
expelled from her house. The lnndlady
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 count.
that he had half dozen titles, and, more
than that, "sOme emperor" was about to
confer another title upon him. This
portion of the evidence caused the pTesid-
ing judge to remark, sarcastically: "And
that will make seven times" After tes-
timony from other landladies who had
failed to receive pay, the defense claimed
that the prisoners offered security in
bills, but the magistrate said 1t was a
clear case of defrauding the hotel and
boarding houses, and he remanded them
for week, offering to release the female
prisoner on 50 pounds bail, half the
amount of the frauds charged against the
prisoners. The latter were eventually re-
turned to Holloway Jail in the Black
Maria.
An American who refused to give his
name was present in court today. He
said: will find bail for the woman, but
the husband can go to jail She is well
known in Chicago and Is a woman Of the
highest talents and character. She be-
came fascinated with the worthless man,
her husband. married him and had per-
feet faith in him. have lived in Brazil
and know that any one can get title
there"