The Savannah morning news., 1901-01-14
"a PARTISAN ROMANCE"
The Career of n "PrInce" who Makes
Our Hungry JOes Seem Very
shabby Professionally
From the London Standard

shabby Professionals.
From the London Standard.
Paris. Dec. 2l.-If the story related by
evening is correct. an Individual named
Laforge who was arrested at Asuieres
yesterday, understood the vanity of his
| fellow-countrymen, and knew how TO take
| advantage of it. According to Mr.. Coche-
fert, two years ago Laforge was little bet
ter than vagrant. Being often without
lodging, he slept in the open air or I'M
der a bridge, He was known TO the po-
lice, but he suddenly disappeared from
Paris, and was not heard of again till
few months ago. He was then very
different man. He had always plenty of
money, was Well-dressed, kept carriage
and had a little yacht on the Seine. His
pied terre, in a fashionable quarter of
Paris was elegantly furnished. and he no
longer called himself simply Louis Leon
Laforge, but Don Leon, Prince Laforgs
de Vitauval. Due de Saint Leon. IL he
had contented himself with the glory at
tached to so great a name he might have
lived happy in the generous hospitality
offered him by a credulous people. His
ambition was, however higher He
founded the Order of the knights Of
Saint Leon, of which he was naturally
the grand master. He soon found means
to get himself admitted into French So
ciety. where on festive occasions he APP
peared dressed In a gorgeous costume COW
cred with gold lace and, of course, wear
ing the Grand Cross of his order. In re-
turn for the civilities which were laVished
on him, he distributed freely the insignia
of the Order of Saint Leon, and. il is
said, received in exchange several for
eign decora lions.
The influence of the prince" in his
household grew rapidly. He was always
addressed in the third person, every one
bowling before him. He was on visiting
terms with many of the rich, and even
noble, families of France, and is describ-
ed as having on several occasions made
his appearance at the reception held Mt
the Elysee and various ministries On
one of these occasions when he was at
a ministry, where he had, as usual, been
announced by the usher as Prince de
Saint Leon, a gentleman whom he had
recently decorated came up to him 10
complain that his secretary. Louis Revol,
who had assumed the title of Count de
Grigny, had called upon him, claiming
300 franc as chancelery dues for the or
der. After listening to the story, Don
Leon, Prince Laforge de Vitauval, re-
Piled, II hope you will have him arrest
ed. The individual who called on you
must be a swindler.'
The list of the alleged dupes of the
Prince" and his secretary is said to be
very long, Laforge being accused of no
fewer than forty offenses. He would
however, probably have remained 1t
large, as people do not care to proclaim
to the world they have paid for the dec
orations they are vain enough to covet
ard wear with ostentatiou, had it not
been for the fact that embodened by his
success, he, it is said. sought to gain
he hand of the daughter of a very rich
gentleman. AS is customary in France
before consenting to the marriage the
father made inquiries concerning the
sutton. The result was of such a nature
as to cause him not only to refuse the
Princes" demand. but also to commune
cate with NJ. Cochefert, chief of the de-
tectlf department. so happened that
VI. Cochefert had just received the con-
licences of the Princes" Naval Attache
louis Revol, alias Count de Grigny, who
had been arrested for having illegally
1onned the naval uniform That being
he case, NJ. Cochefert had no hesitation
N at once arresting Louis Leon Laforgc
alias Don Leon Prince Laforge de Vitau-
val. The arrest took place only a few
lays before the knights of~the Order If
ST. Leon were, it is alleged intending 10
give banquet at the Grand Hotel in
honor of the grand master of that order