The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-09-07
DUKEAND DEAD BEAT
Brazilian Magnifico and
His Pretty American
Wife IN a London
Police Court.
SWINDLED BOARDING HOUSES
Senator Conger's Family Interest :
ed in the Woman-A Va
riely Of Titles.
IBy Gable to The Associated Press:

LONDON, Sept. Z, 1S97.-The Duke and
Duchess of Rio Grande were arraigned IN
the Narylebone 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-senator
Conger of Michigan. The prisoners
were brought up in the midst of mot
ley assemblage of ragged criminals. They
had slept in the 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, with
pompadour cut hair, pointed beard and
waxed moustache. The Duchesse is a
handsome woman, about 80 years of age,
with refined features. Her face was
swoolen with weeping. The Duchess
said her father lived in village in north
ern New York. and she added that he
was an artist and a member of the Ar
lists Board of Awards of the Chicago
Exposition.
A hotelkeeper and the landladies OF two
boarding houses confronted the couple in
court today. Mrs. Elizabeth Stanley,
one of the landladies, described her APP
prisoner), with an infant and nurse went
to her house on June 20, at night, and
engaged room, the lady saying that her
husband was dining at his club. The
husband Ghe male prisoner) arrived late,
explained that he had been yachting and
that his baggage was delayed. They
stayed at Mrs. Stanley's house until Au-
gust 10, making many excuses when asked
for money or for explanations as to why
their baggage was not forthcoming
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 ne
elected her shamefully. While residing
with Mrs. Stanley the Duke and Duchess
gave the name of Monsieur and Madame
Edgar Serge de Mel. The lady said her
husband was a 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 evi-
dence caused the presiding Magistrate to
remark, SarcaStically:-
And that will make seven titles
Continuing, the landlady said the Ouch
ess assured her that Mrs. Colonel w. H.
best friend and would pay her board
But Mrs. Reynolds called and no money
was mentioned.
A clerk Of the Royal Hotel Black
friars, testified that the Duke and Ouch
ess arrived at that hotel on May II. They
represented that they We're from New
York haTng arpived b the steamer
tinued, stayed at the hotel month; they
failed to pay their bills s-nd gave the
names of De Neil. The husband was
much away and the couple were finally
elected and their baggage was retained,
owing to their failure to pay their bills.
Another landlady testified that the pris-
oners represented themselves as the Duke
and Duchess of Rio Grande and told a
similar story about their baggage having
from this house also.
The defence claimed that the prisoners
offered security in bills, but the Magis-
trate said it was a clear case of defraud-
he remanded the prisoners for week,
offering to release the female prisoner on
ESQ ($250) bail, half of the amount of the
frauds charged against the prisoners. The
latter were eventually returned to Hollo-
way Jail in the Black Maria.
Two Americans who refused to give
their names were present in court today.
One of them said
the husband may rot in Jail. She is well
known in Chicago and is a woman of
the highest talents and character; be-
came fascinated with the worthless man,
feet faith in him.N presume he is
Duke. I have lived in Brazil and know
that anyone can get titles there
United te states states Embassy for protection, on
! the ground that she was an American;
| but the Embassy officials replied that she
| had forfeited her citizenship by marry
eve ever will be represented at the trial.
| The woman is well known in New
| York as Mrs. Clara Conger.. She married
De Neil there in 1896. The Brazilian
| Minister says there is no such title as
/ T,1lr Of Cranda