The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-20

herself with such cleverness and detail that
even a lawyer might have been deceived.
NJ. BRAND also stipulated that the count
ess" should repay him 100000 francs when
she got her money, and while waiting for
that happy day 1t was agreed that he shou q
snare the countess s. roof. In order 10 90
this BRAND deserted his wife and children.
The countess took an apartment at No.
50 Avenue ces Champs Elysees, the most
fashionable thoroughfare in Paris, and at
once made greet flourish among the local
tradesmen. who gave her unlimited credit.
She had many servants in gorgeous hVery-
Il valet, coachmau. foOtman, groom, etc
and impressed all who came in contact with
her as lady of the highest degree
Nearly twenty years had gone by since
Marie left her chickens and rabbits to seek
adventure in the metropolis. The homeiy
little country girl had blossomed into tall,
far-haired distinguished looking woman
Not handsome woman, yet having Ter
SOnal magnetism that faScinateS all whom
s sia seeks TO ATTRACT For short but r nrll
lived a truly royal scale. Marie's car
Tiages and dresses were the talk of the Bols.
But the $4,000 francs could not last long at
that rate and the settlement of the "COun-
tess's' estate seemed further off than ever.
About that time BRAND sent telegram TO
a. lawyer whom the Countess" said had
charge of the estate. asking him 10 hurry
up the settlement. The lawyer testified in
court that he did not answer the dispatch,
thinking he had to do with mailman.
AT last the $4,000 francs were all spent,
and MN. Oppenheim would have to be in
formed of Brands embezzlement. Marie
once more worked her inventive genius to
extricate herself from this predicament. She
went herself to NM Oppenheim and said;
Il learn that NJ BRAND has robbed you and
that the money he advanced to me TO pay
my expenses while waiting for my znheri-
lance was not his money. The unhappy man
has deceived me, and in his zeal to nelp me
did not hesitate to assure me that he had
a private fortune of 100000 francs. l. there
fore, accepted his offer, determined, of
course. to repay him later. But now know
the truth. l come to tell you that consider
it point of honor to return to you the 30 1000
Countess de Chaleon's word"
CAUGHT THE BANKER.
Thereupon she showed MN. Oppenheim
the famous papers, and the bankers in turn
fell into the trap. They had complete faith
in the inheritance story and in the countess.
They pardoned BRAND, and one of them had
so much confidence in her that he handed
the countess package of bonds worth
100000 francs to keep for him in her ward
robe. These bonds the countess restituted
later
One of the brothers in, court explained
the reason for their credulity and interest
in the adventures He said the countess"
was always able to touch the sympathetic
cord, and she made herself out such an
anectionate mother, so fond of her little
ones" that he felt sure that such a mother
could not deceive. The bankers, however,
soon saw that their confidence was mis-
placed for BRAND after his pardon took
IurJner sum OF 0U,UUJ francs. InlS time NM.
Oppenheim lost patience and took legal pro-
ceedlngs. A complete expose came. The
'countess's" papers were shown to be as
false as her so-called inheritance and she
was arrested with BRAND and sent to
prison.
Their trial. which took place at the Seine
assizes last month"; was sensation such as
even Paris, with it's myriad of sensations,
rarely has. At the end of the proceedings
there seemed no doubt of the result of the
trial, and the verdict returned by the fore
man took the judges breath away. Not
guilty. was his statement, though the
prisoners counsel had not dared to ask for
more than a light sentence. The bench was
obliged to abide by the jury's verdict but
expressed it's judicial opinion by awarding
the damages of one franc and costs asked
by Baron Oppenheim, who appeared as
plaintiff in the civil suit.
After such a narrow escape it might have
reasonably been supposed that their expert
ence would have been a lesson, and that in
future less would be heard of the countess.
But evidently it was not. Only few weeks
after the acquittal both she and BRAND
were again arrested for swindling.
This time the pair were operating with a
bagatelle of $1,000 francs, but instead of an
acquittal Marie received the sentence OF
four years Imprisonment, BRAND being con-
demned to fifteen months, because, like
that the woman tempted him. When eX-
amined in her own defense Marie and her
accomplish. quarreled with zest that en-
livened the proceedings. The prisoners
counsel made a brillinat plea in their be-
half but the evidence was too strong, and
thus society is rid of the countess for some
time to come