Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-11-10
Prince Hohenlohe Offered S10,'
600 to Secure His Engage
ment to the HeireSS
SHE HAS TWENTY MILLIONS
Miss Goelet Refused to Consider the
HohenIohe Proposal and Suit for Fee
DiscIoses the Story-Grand Duke
Boris Said to Be Devoted Admirer
of Miss Goelet.

San Francisco, Nov 10.-A remark
able story has just come to light, sub
Stimulated by documents, of a bargain
entered into three years ago by Prince
Hugo Won Hohenlohe of Germany,
nephew of the late chancellor, with an
agent in London, by which he agreed
to pay $4,000 for securing considera-
ton of his proposal of marriage to Miss
May Goelet, New York heiress. The
agent was Captain Ladestas de Pork
ony, former military attache to the
German embassy in London. Porkony
licitor, as his assistant, and it is
thought O'Brien, who is now in Califor-
MIA on business caused the matter to
come to light. Captain Porkony ar
ranged with two leading society women
of London to get Hohenlohes proposal
to Miss Goelet, who was then in Lon
don. One of these women is described
as greatly interested in charitable work
and having been as well known as Miss
Goelet. Generous gifts to her favorite
charities enlisted her aid, and siise
sounded Mrs. Goelet in January, 1899.
The result may be seen in this letter:
"Belgrave Square Is. W., Jan. II,
1899. Dear Sir: saw Mrs. Goelet yes
terday and she begged me to say how
flattered she felt at the proposal with
regard to Prince Hohenlohe, but that
her daughter was still very young, and
as she had never seen him she must de-
cline the proposal. Should they meet
hereafter 1t would be different matter,
but without any personal knowledge on
either side the thing would be impossi-
BILE. Miss Goelet is charming girl in
every way, but is very English in her
feelings and views and dislikes the
marriage de CONVEYANCE system
abroad extremely. / do not think she
will ever marry unless she falls in love
with man."
The writer of this letter a few days
later learned for the first time that the
prince was so. She wrote another let
ter, saying she feared Miss Goelet
would not consider his proposal at all,
because he was old enough to be her
father. The prince was pertinacious
and tried to arrange an interview with
$4,000
Goelet learned his age.
Then Hohenlohe returned to Berlin.
but forgot to pay his agent. Suit was
brought and portion of the amount
was paid, but it was not unlil proceeds
ings were threatened in Berlin that
Hohenlohe's aunt paid several hundred
pounds to settle the claim. This story
has special interest because of Prince
IL Lab vie n N1rUnOrt
and the reports of favor he found in the
eyes of Miss Goelet, and was enter
tanned by the Vanderbilts.
Three other titled clients of Captain
Porkony, who wished to exchange their
names for good American coin, were
Baron Richard Won Kappers, who
wanted to get California heiress with
$500 a year; Baron Eberhard Won
Dunckelmann demanded a girl with
$500 0O0 and Prince Heinrich Haron Of
Bohemia also decided to secure Miss
Goelet and her fortune, but was also
debarred like Hohenlohe by his age.
When Grand Duke Boris was in New
port last summer the following was
published concernir . him and the rich
est of American heiresses:
Miss May Goelet is said to be the
magnet that holds Grand Duke Boris to
this country, despite the repeated init
nations from his cousin, the car OF
Russia that he should hurry home. Re-
ports of the attentiveness of the grand
duke to Miss Goelet have reached the
royal ear, and there are fears in st,
Petersburg that the possible heir pre-
sumptive might take an American
bride If the grand duke should take
such step he would have to renounce
mis- right to succession to the Russian
throne. During his stay in Newport
the Russian nobleman and Miss Goelet
have been often in each others COM
pany. On their rides in Miss Goelets
automobile or on horseback the for
mality of a chaperone has been dis
pensed with. Miss Goelet is the daugh-
ter of the late Ogden Goelet, and heir
TO his millions. II is estimated that her
fortune amounts to S20,000,000. She is
row 90 years old, and her fortune re-
mains in the hands of trustees until she
is 25 years of age. She is petite, smart
looking and vivacious. She dresses well
and has a decided charm of manner
On her various trips to Europe her en-
gagement to different English noble
men has been rumored, but always de-
MED. Among those with whom her
name has been mentioned were the
duke of Manchester, the duke of ROE
burghe and the earl of Shaftesbury
Mrs. Ogden Goelet, her mother. mas
given several entertainments in honor
of Grand Duke Boris during his stay at
Newport"