The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-04-23
ARRESTED FOR FORGERY
FRENCH COUNT LAUTRECK TAKEN
IN CHARGE AT CHICAGO.
Little known About the Crime OF
which He Is Accused-He Stout
ly Asserts His Innocence.

CHICAGO April 22.-Comte De Coulouse
Lautrec was arrested to-day at the Audi
torium Hotel on a charge of forgery. 1t
Is charged that the count visited Quebec,
Canada, two weeks ago and forged papers
to secure money. The amount of the al
legged forgery is not given but 1t Is said to
be large. Detectives have been tracing
Lautrec, and to-day one of them saw him
enter the Auditorium Hotel and ask for his
mail. The detective requested the police to
arrest the man. The prisoner was taken to
the HarrisonSstreet police station and
locked up. The Countess Lautrec is now
stopping with friends in Chicago.
Lautrec Is a Frenchman. His marriage
occurred eight months ago in Paris Coun-
tess Lautrec is said to be the daughter of
the Countess DIntreville, one OF the
wealthiest women in Paris. She was with
her husband when he was arrested and
broke down when she realized what was
taking place. She returned to the house
OF her friends.
The prisoner denies that he is guilty Of
any charge and says that he does not even
know what the charge is. He also states
that he has never been In Canada The
police know very little about the case and
have wired the authorities at Quebec to
see whether the count is wanted there and
If so what charge, but have not re-
ceived an answer.
The count made the following statement:
II was born Of French parents in Poland.
My people fled from France during the rev.
olution and acquired large estates in Rus
sia. I was educated in the Universite
Polytechnique de Vienna, where received
the degree of civil engineer. I have fol-
lowed that line of work ever since both In
Europe and America. 1 have been inter-
ested in some Of the most noted engineer
ing feats of Europe, and have also been
employed on many of the large railroads
of this country. I served as captain of the
Horse Guards in the Russian army for
three years. Coming to the United States
some eight years ago. I worked my way
west as far as Chicago. When the war
with Spain broke out I wished to go to
Cuba with the army.
ST took out naturalization papers and
applied for a commission, but could not
get an appointment that I would accept.
/ got a passport however, and went to
Cuba, and from there to France. Then
| rope. Returning to Paris from my native
!! land I met and made suit to the young
countess, now my wife. We were married,
and after an extended trip through France,
| Germany and England sailed for New
| York. From there we went to Philadel-
phia. where we stayed until we came to
| Chicago, two weeks ago. While In Paris /
secured an appointment as American rep
| resentative for one of the largest engineer
| ing firms In France. / am an American
| citizen. claiming residence in Chicago. and
| have. never seen Canada. According to
| international law they cannot take me to
| Canada to answer to any charge, not even
| if I had killed ten men,"
| The count is about forty-three years of
| age. He is handsome man and dresses
| we'll. His wife Is only twenty years old,
and speaks nothing but French.
| The information upon which Count
Lauterec was arrested was telegraphed to
the Chicago police Saturday 1t is alleged
| that the Count. under the name of v.
| Castand. disposed of worthless Cuban
bonds. receiving several hundred dollars in
| payment from persons in Montreal. The
! Canadian authorities claim that Count
Lauterec and Castand are the same per-
son. =
| When the count was taken into custody
| he was asked by the officers IL his name
| was Castand, and he denied it, The mail
he received at the hotel was addressed
Count de Toulouse de Lautrec," and, ex-
| hibiting the letters to the officers, he
showed them the proof of his identity.
The count says he never was known by
the name of castand, and he is of the opin-
ion that some clever swindler has repre-
sented himself to be the Count de Toulouse
de Lautrec. He is in no fear of the out
come of the charge against him, and he
believes he will be given his liberty to-
morrow when the case is called.