The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-09-11
They SAY
SHE MUST
SETTLE
Alleged That Widow Of Presl-
dent Of Louisiana Lottery Co.
Appropriated Funds.

New Orleans. Sept. 1.-THE grand jury
yesterday announced and Indictment In
blank for perjury. Today II was an
nounced that the indictment was against
Mrs. Rosa La Blanche Dauphin, widow
OF Macmillan Dauphin. for many years
president OF the Louisiana state lottery.
and that IL was not made public yester-
day In order TO enable the district attor-
ney to get the necessary requisition pa
pers from Gov. Heard to arrest Mrs
Dauphin. who is said 10 be III in or near
New York.
The Indictment is the result OF one of
the most bitter and sensational cases ever
tried in Louisiana. Mrs. Dauphin. born
Rosa la Branche, Is of an old creole fam
lily and is worth $500 900 or more. She has
been a resident OF Bay st. Louis, Miss,
and thus beyond the jurisdiction OF the
Louisiana courts as was also the large
fortune which she is charged with hav-
ing stolen from the Dauphin estate. Dau-
phin, who was president OF the Louisiana
Lottery company, died in 1891. He was
supposed to be in good circumstances, but
not wealthy, and his estate was inven-
toried at 800, 900, his widow and a friend
being executors There were others heirs,
including Dauphin's mother.
The estate was settled up and the widow
as legatee came into possession of the
rest of the property after the other heirs
were paid. Eleven years after the settle
ment among the effects OF Judge Porche.
an ex-justice of the Louisiana Supreme
court who had been Mrs. Dauphin's law
yer In the probate case. an old and badly
worn paper was found. giving list OF a
large number OF bonds which apparently
formed o part OF the Dauphn estate. pur
which had not figured in the inventory.
Mrs. Dauphin was called on to explain.
She failed TO appear before Louisiana
court on the ground OF ll-health and ner-
vousness; but. piece by piece. the trouble.
buried for IL years. was brought TO light.
and from a single fossil bone the whole
animal was reconstructed. Dauphin had
never possessed a bank account. He kept
his money and securities In a box In his
room, and was a much Weather man
than many supposed. From that box
his widow. II IL charged. had stolen from
the estate and secreted S2l4.ooo In gilt
edged securities and 900 In cash
In order to cover up her work she sold
the bonds, invested and reinvested the
money in new securities so that no trace
could be found Of II, following the ex-
ample OF her husband I'm keeping no bank
account. but having frequently 10000 in
cash with her. She proved o good specu-
lator and increased her fortune.
BY dnigent Investigation Judge Lazarus,
counsel for the heirs. succeeded In trac-
Ing every bond for more than II years
past into Dauphin's hands, then into Mrs.
Dauphin's possession. where they had no
right 20 be. and finally 10 the present
holders. The case was 30 clearly proved
that the court awarded judgment against
Mrs. Dauphn for sSss.ooo, the entire
amount.
Her handsome home was seized. only 10
nnd that she had removed everything OF
value. For weeks she has been shadowed
under the belief that she was seeking 10
escape 10 Central America with the money
and bonds which are supposed to be con-
cealed about her. When she went 80
New York u was thought 20 be her In
tention to go 20 Europe. The matter was
aid before the grand jury and the re-
.ult wac an indictment for perjury In the
case delivered before a commissioner In
Mississippi. For that perjury reauisi-
ton has been sent TO Gov. Odell. and
Mrs. Dauphin will be brought back 20
New Orleans for trial.