The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1902-06-16
A GIGANTIC sWINDLE,


conducted on large scale, sometimes
rises above the general dead level, and
there was some genius in the parson
who some years ago managed to ac-
quire quite a sum by extracting gold
from sea water, But he was split upon
by his accomplish, But these and
many other schemes for getting money
without working pale into insigniti-
canoe before the gigantic swindle
which has been, Carried on in Paris for
the last twenty years, from which
Madame Humbert and her confederates
reaped $lO,0OOO0O and cut the grandest
kind of a splurge In the society of the
capital .t. .......
Before the crash came Madame Hum
bert owned a mansion on the avenue
de la Grande ATmee, three chateauX in
various parts Of France; nunting box
a one thousand acre vineyard, a steam
yacht, carriages. horses, automobiles.
In Paris she owned house investments,
she was at the head Of large wine bust
ness, she founded an insurance COM
car, land in the Caucasus, and 1900
acres OF vines in Tunis. She was a
leader in society, and entertained no.
bility and even royalty. The great
singers of the opera, the great actors
and actresses OF the capital sang and
recited at her entertainments. Her
picture gallery was famed for special
collections of certain artists. Her hus-
band was a deputy, her father-in-law
an eX-minister Of justice, and gold
Aowed from her Golfers like water for
twenty years.
And this prosperity, these estates,
these chateaux, these parliamentary
successes, these grand society fetes
were based upon nothing, and the cash
10 carry on was obtained by loans from
bhe most astute bankers and financiers
in France with an extra million francs
or two from London money lenders. 1t
seems absolutely inconceivable that
such swindle could be carried on for
so long time, but the simplicity of it
was probably what helped it to sue
cess, and the enormous sums involved
helped to prevent an investigation.
The process invoked the law of
France to assist in the swindle, whose
provisions for the protection Of liti-
grants enabled Madame to carry out her
scheme. Some twenty years ago Mad
anne Humbert filed will naming her
self as sole heir to the estate Of one
X. H. Crawford, deceased, in the Unit
ed States and valued at $2oooo,OOO or
lOO,OOOOOO francs. There appeared two
nepheWs of the mythical Crawford and
produced another win to the mythical
estates which divided the estate be-
tween Madame Humbert, her sister
Maria dAurIgnac and these two neph-
e"s' upon this ground a contest was
hesuh IN court and according to GUS
TOM an order was issued directing title
uee"s securities and all papers inyoIv-
ing the @-0,oOO'v0o We're sealed up, and
deposited IN an enormous safe, also
sealed Dy the court in Madame Hum
peFI mansion.
me" ihe s"lnoIe began. on the
Sli eng IN Oh F-0'Ooo,Voo Of securities, seal
Z" ~ '"e c"u'" ID re" millions We're .
easily "D'"lNed' Various ways by ac- .
uohS against one another the opening
u Ihe SaIe was delayed for twenty .
years III the pressure became too I
5'e''' MauaIhe Humbert and her ac-
'',eS Si'e"uS departed and action
was '"Neh 10 pie3k open the safe. 1t
'on'd'leu d lew. worthless papers and
q piece oI sllaih Je"eHy worth one dol
lar' ! mere were no millions there
never hau Deeh any millions and the
various DahhS are trying to hide their
losses
All 'ne various properties the cha
'''uN ''e vineyards the lands, had
peSii NOR SasFh 10 run value, The
a. 80 "''i'S'oh Hdu Deeh Sold, the pic