The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-12-23
HUMBERTS TALKING BOLDLY.
SAY THEY WELCOME INQUIRY
INTO CRAWFORD SWINDLE.

Brother says No Such Large sums -
Reported We're Handled BY the Family.
Special Cable DsspaieAss TO TIE Sun.
PARIS. Dec 22.-The Madrid correspond.
ent Of the Figaro sends an interview which
he had with Roman d'Aurignac In prison
there. D'Aurignac IL the brother OF Nine
Humbert and Ia accused with others OF tho
family OF completely in the swindle by
which si2, 900 900 was borrowed on the
fake Crawford legacy.
He said the Humberts were In excellent
health. and were grateful at the way in
which they had been treated. They were
astonished at the arrest OF Parayre. the
former steward. who. they said, was abb
solutely innocent Of any wrongdoins. Ro-
main d Aurignac said tho stories about the
family were grossly exaggerated. He
continued:
We have never handled 70 many millions
as has been said. Our transaotions were
perfectly legal. The bankruptcy which
followed and the present action were due
solely to the vengeance Of the banker Cat
tani, who lent my sister 200 900 francs at .
rate OF interest so high that the sum due
amounted TO 800. 900 francs. Even when
this sum was paid We still owed Cattani
800 900 francs, which he demanded i'm
mediately. My sister asked for delay,
but her request was met with threats Of
legal proceedings and the campaign against
US commenced forthwith in the press and
courts which were in the pay Of Cattani.'
In conclusion D'Aurignao said The
French Government knew perfectly well
that we were in Madrid. We wrote many
letters to Paris without ooncsalment. Our
arrest meets the needs Of the political com.
binations Of the hour
Nine. Humbert in an interview said they
were honorable people. As to financial
affairs she would say nothing until they
arrived in Paris. She declared that they
had intended all the time to give themselves
up to the authorities a. soon As the formali-
ties of the prosecution had been arranged.
The idea Of appearing in court OF law did
not brighten them, she said, a. they were
sure to be acquitted. Their case had been
poisoned by private vengeance and po-
litical passions. What they desired was to
have light thrown on the case a. quickly
as possible.
Nine. Humbert asserted that she had been
robbed of the whole Of her daughter fort
une. She added:
Il want to return to Paris in order to I'm
mask at any cost the real criminals. Those
who have insulted us shall pay dearly for
their iniamy. The securities We gave Nine.
Mugica constituted our entire fortune. We
shall ole it to our creditors
La Pdtric expresses the opinion that M.
Patenotre. the late Ambassador to Spain.
caused the arrest Of tbs Humberts in order
to embarr ass NJ. Delcasse, the Minister OF
Foreign Affairs. who recalled him some
what abruptly The Humberts will leave
Maarid for Paris tomorrow.
The Gauiois prints an interview With NJ.
Patenotre. who emphatically denies that the
G ,vernment knew the Whereabouts OF the
Humbcrts. or that he had the Humberts
arrested in order to avenge himself on the
present Government. He also denies that
there 10 reason to connect the arrest with
the possible return Of NJ. Waloeck- Rousseau
TO power, char acterizing these reports a.
stupid fctions. He said the truth was
that the greatest Ell orts HAD been made to
effect the arrest Of the swindlers and when
all the facts were known the lovers Of scan
dal would be disappointed.
Frederic Humbert and Roman d Aurignac
declare they will make revelations which
will aStonish Paris.
Police Inspector Hennion has gone to the
Spanish frontier to await the handing over
there OF the Humberts by the Madria
author lies.
MADRID. Dec. 22.-The French Consul
here visited tie HumLe in Jail this morn
ing. The prisoners asked that the news
papers be sent to them. The request was
granted and the prisoners read them with
great ayiulty.