davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-02-06

Marie Daurignac, Therese's sister The
testator further expressed the earnest
hope that one of the nephews should
marry Marie so that the wealth might
be kept practically intact in one fam
lily. Naturally Nine. Humbert an
nouneed her intention of fighting this
will, and she did fight it for about sew
enteen years. The Crawfords, too.
while never for moment abandoning
a title of their rights, were exceeding
ly generous foes. Either was willing to
marry Marie. but she would make no
selection and kept putting both Of them
off. They had engaged able counsel,
and one of the most bitter legal con-
tests ever waged in France began.
Nine. Humbert now had tangible evil
dence of wealth, and thereafter when
she wished to borrow money she simply
got her sister Marie to add her sigma
ture. Thus the creditor appeared to
be thoroughly protected. for if the
Humbert will was declared valid he
would surely get his money, while if
the other will was held to be good Ma
RE would get one-third of the rich
Americans estate, and he would be
paid anyway What further helped
along this little game was the habit
Nine. Humbert had of announcing
when some cantakerous creditor had
compelled her to settle that the CraW-
fords had kindly, in view of their affec-
ton for Marie, taken up her notes, TAX
ing as security a lien upon the estate
which was executed jointly by Marie
and herself.
Prior to this. when the Crawfords
first appeared upon the scene, the sup
posed heirs at law after a good deal of
spirited legal wrangling and upon the
intercession OF mutual friends entered
into what will always be famous in
French legal history as the Crawford
compromise" By the terms of this
document it was agreed that all of the
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-02-06

forty-seven years of age, with much Of
that embonpoint which the society wo-
man breads and which appears to be so
inevitable. She is careful in the selec-
ton of her words. but is very quick at
repartee. She is rather homely. and
her black hair, brushed straight up
from her forehead, gives her rather an
austere appearance. She is the embodi-
ment of energy, and her graceful ges-
ticulation while conversing is credited
by her enemies with being the secret OF
her power over men and women alike.
BY these same enemies Frederic
Humbert her husband, is regarded as
one of the principal swindlers of the
group. While his father, the senator,
was alive, to him were attributed the
sharp legal devices which fooled the
lawyers of several nations. But after
the elder Humberts death things went
along as smoothly as of yore. and then
it was alleged that Frederic had in
herited his fathers ability and was fol-
lowing in his footsteps. At any rate
he is a quiet. rather taciturn Individual
His greatest weakness was his desire
to have himself regarded as a great
poet and great painter. His paint
inss were either thoroughly retouched
or entirely repainted by an artist
friend and one of them was crowned
a the Academic. His poems were fire.
quently published-"at the usual rates.
for advertising matter-and his infiu-
ence was great enough to obtain from
some reviewers favorable mention
OF the Daurignac brothers, the elder.
Emile, is said to have known nothing
of the swindle until after the death Of
his father-in-law, Senator Humbert.
Then Emile fioated a little loan con
Germ which took in quite pile of mon
ey. all of which was, however, eventu-
ally returned to the depositors. The
other brother, Roman, is really the
-amoosin' cuss' Of the quintet con-
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-02-06
AURIGNAC, FREDERIC AND THEREsE HUMBERT.

q to happen is Therese Humbert, whom
the police OF the largest cities declare
to be the most shrewd and skillful
sWindler the world has ever known.
Every newspaper reader is familiar
with the So called Eumbert- Crawford
litigation in France IN which the sum
OF 800 900 600 was alleged to have been
involved but very few persons have
more than the vaRuest sort of idea of
the methods by which this gigantic
bunko game was engineered. The sto-
ry if attributed to Dumas would bring
down upon the memory Of that writer
the criticism that it was altogether too
improbable to be entitled to comment,
especially since in its tangled web are
TO be found the names of two of the
most prominent officials of the national
judiciary. two presidents Of France, in
Vulnerable senators and deputies a
couple 81 YTiEne ministers and generals
galore, Including the very humorous
but at enc time all powerful Beulanger.
The facts in the briefest possible form
are as follows.
Back in the seventies there lived on
g small farm some distance from Tou-
louise, France, a dreamy individual
named Daurignac. the father of several
boys and girls of much native ability,
though with a single exception Of very
little education. Therese. the eldest
daughter. even at this early date dount-
mated the family, although she was
then mere slip OF a girl. Her father
was forever praung to those of his
neighbors who would listen Of large
fortune which would eventually be his
Details as to the source were lacking.
and the neighbors didn't care very
much about the story anyway. But it
made a great impression upon Therese.
Her mother died, and she became the
AevsekaaBer Of the family. Her arst
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-02-06

stupid tool Of her ambitious sister, and
Eve. the daughter of Therese. Eve is
really the one pathetic figure of the
case. She probably never once suspect
ed that her parents vast wealth was
derived from any but the most legiti-
mate channels. It was rumored a t the
time of the flight of the Humberts that
Eve was the afhanced wife of Paul
Deschanel. perhaps the most brilliant
Young statesman of France It is said
that. whether or not this engagement
ever existed. it does not exist now The
young woman is universally popular,
and is said to be in a precarious condi-
ton of health as a result Of the terri
bic strain to which she has been put
OF the principal actors in this drama
at naiIHans TAarese Hunbert is about
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-02-06
BOLD HIGHWAYMEN.
Hold Up Kansas City, Has, Ex-
press Agent for $3.50.

Kansas City, Kas.. Feb. 6.-The Wells
Fargo Express comDany's Office at 535
Minnesota avenue was entered last night
at II O'Clock by unmasked highwaymen
who at the point Of revoIvers forced the
agent, J. F. Bowers, to give them S45c
in bills
Bowers was alone in the Office at the
time He had just opened the safe ana
was counting some bills which ne placed
in an envelope as the men entered. They
walked hurriedly up to the counter and
the taller of the two asked what IL
would cost to send $50 to New York
Before Bowers could make answer the
pair had advanced to the lower end IF
the counter near the safe where he stood
and had drawn reVolVers on him.
Give Us all the money you have III
that safe" commanded the taller of the
robbers, and be quick about it
Bowers handed out the bills which he
had just counted and placed in the en-
velope and which amounted to $3.50.
Is that all the money you have in
there2. asked the tall man, who did all
the talking.
Bowers informed him that it was.
Then let US out the back way or }
VIII blow your head off"
Bowers hastened TO obey. The back
door Of The express Office is fastened
with large wooden bar. This the
agent raised and the pair passed
through.
AS the 'neaVy SET man stepped out
he turned and, with an oath. strucN
Bowers blow on the right temple with
his fist. which felled him to the floor
Scarcely had the highwaymen gone
when William H. Sweet, a driver for the
express company, entered. Bowers told
him what had occurred and the two.
thinking that perhaps the highwa ymen
were concealed in the rear of the Of1ic. Il
got their revOlyers and made a search.
They found no trace of the robbers =.
however, and returned to the office.
Then Sweet started for the police sta :
ton, but, meeting Officer Thomas Daley
on the way, went back to the Office with
him. Officer Daley searched the prem
ises, but could not find the men. The
other police stations were notified. as
were also the Kansas City, Mo, police.
In telling of the robbery to the police
and to a reporter Bowers said he
thought the highwaymen must have
watched him through the window when
he opened the safe to count the bills.
He said that neither of the men wore
a mask One of them, he said, was tail
and slim and wore a sandy mustacac.
The other was heavy set and had i
full, clean-shaven face. Neither wore
an Overeoat, and both wore dirty whlts
hats. The suits of both were black.
Y. NJ. c. A.-Baker game. tonight.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-02-06

securities belonging to the estate be de-
posted in the enormous fire and bur
glar proof safe in Nine. Humberts
house and that the doors should then
be sealed. Thus the willy Nine. Hum
bert had not only secured legal recog-
milton of her rights, but she had also
succeeded in so arranging snatters that
she would always have valid excuse
for refusing to show the securities to
skeptical money lenders
With the intimate friendship of such
women as the wives of Presidents
Faure and Garnet, it Is not remarkable
that the career Of the Humbert woman
was a triumphal progress. Until with
in a few months of her flight last
spring, when the safe was opened and
q brass button and securities valned at
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-02-06

ator Humbert was made minister Of
justice, and Nine Humbert's fortunes
were put on the up grade in earnest
Humbert authorized the smashing Of
the Union General bank. and his enc
mics contended that he was not wholly
disinterested.
Be that as it may, the younger Hum
berts now moved into a magnificent
house and gave receptions which were
attended by the best people of France.
Senator Humbert did everything in his
power to add to the prestige of his am
bilious dauEhter-in-Iaw, and that he
succeeded the events of the years fol-
lowing amply attest.
Nine. Humberts second loan, so far
as the records show, was obtained in
1852 from a doctor in Narbonne She
professed to be greatly impressed by
the beauty of the country about Mar
bonnie. and it therefore surprised no
one when she again appeared there a
few months later with the avowed pur-
pose Of purchasing the famous old Cha
teau de Celeyran. She got it for 2O0O-
zoe francs. and when she offered in pay
ment q note for that amount with in
terest. said note to become due when
my present suits al law shall have been
finally adjusted" the attorney for the
owner accepted it with a bow Of graft
tude as profound as the one with which
Nine Humbert accompanied her ap-
parently perfunctory remark to the eff
feet that the obligation was AL on her
side. How true that was the innocent
attorney did not suspect
The news OF the purchase Of the cha
teau was naturally the talk Of the
neighborhood. and Nine. Hunbert
profting by this fictitious reputation
for wealth and the implied coincidence
in her Portuguese story, condescended
to accept the offers of leans frem her
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-02-06

the marvellous Therese he believed I'm
plicitly in the inheritance story. At
last details were given. The fortune
was to come from Therese's godmother
an old woman, who owned enormous
orange orchards near Tarbes. Con
STAINS, the man who later on as prime
minister smashed the Boulanger pow
er, informed Senator Humbert that he
represented the Tarbes district and
that there was no such estate. But
Humbert persisted despite this warn
ing, and it is this circumstance, taken
IN connection with subsequent acts of
his, which has caused tens of thou
sands of persons to aver that Senator
Humbert was as deep in the mud as
Therese was in the mire.
At any rate as the result of her ac-
quaintanee with him there were three
intermarriages of the two families
Therese herself captured Frederic
Humbert. the senator's only son: her
brother Emile married Alice. the SEN
ator's only daughter, and the. senator
nephew married Therese's sister. This
nephew has been dead for a good many
years So it would appear that at the
beginning at least Senator Gustave
Humbert fully believed in the story of
Therese about the enormous pr0spec-
tive inheritance. On the other hand, it
should be stated that later on, when
Therese displayed government bonds Of
large value. it was alleged that these
belonged to a sequestered estate and
that Humbert had permitted her to
have them for no other purpose than
to impress credulous dupes
After her marriage Therese and her
husband removed to Paris. where they
lived near the senator Then this am
bilious creature began to branch out
But the godmother story was aban-
doned. ana instead Therese deliberately
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-02-06

attacked the memory of her mother by
asserting that the fortune was to come
to her through a wealthy Portuguese
whose relations with her mother had
been very intimate. On the strength
of this yarn a loan of about So 600 was
secured from Paris merchant. This
gentleman was a hard headed indfvid-
ual and laughed when an extension was
asked for on the ground that another
large estate was about to come to Ma
RE from a wealthy American. So his
little account had to be settled This
was the first occasion on which an
American was mentioned by the Hum
berts. In the following year. 1882. Sen
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-02-06

corning which all France, II not all the
civilized world. is now talking. He
went OF on a hunting expedition some
where in South America and returned
to Paris to find his sister almost pay
ing storage on her money" He fell
into his new life readily. haunted the
stores until he had succeeded in aequir-
ing large collection Of skins of fierce
wild animals, and then he equipped
quarters in a style BETTING the daring
huntsman that he wasn't Hts tales of
hairbreadth escapes would have nut
Baron Munchausen to the blush
These are the seemingly very ord5
nary persons who have. directly or in
directly, assisted in the most gigantic
swindle Of the sort the world has ever
known. WALTER n. L.EsTER.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-02-06

exploit consisted Of bunkoing the mer-
chants of Toulouse out of fine we'd
ding rousseau for herself. At the time
she hadn't the most remote idea of
being married, but she told a plausible
story and got what she wanted. The
merchants thres tened criminal proceed
ings, and old man Daurignac was even
tually obliged to sell his farm in order
to satisfy their demands. The family
then removed into the city of Toulouse.
where began the acquaintance with the
Humbert family.
Senator Humbert was a dignihed
gentleman of exceedingly fine legal at
tainments. but under the influence Of
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-02-06

deanery, beginning, it is hoped, on tho
first Monday in March. In addition to
the above Dean Kaye Will illustrate one
of the comedies of Shakespeare each
evening, Abbey's famous pictures being
used in lantern slidSs. The story Of the
play viii be given and d brief account
Of the characters as presented in the
pictures. That it may be determined
whether there is any interest in such a
plan, Dean Kaye asks that all who are
faVOrab bly, minded will meet him at the
deanery next Monday evening at
clock to discuss the matter
City Ticket Office, Union Pacific
Railroad. 525 Kansas avenue.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-02-06
KANSAS CITY's REMEDY.
Lawyers Sue Telephone Company for
Poor Service.

Kansas City, Feb. GA damage suit, the
outcome of which will be watched with
unusual interest by the people of Kansas
City. especially by those whose tempers
have been ruh1ed by the poor telephone
sci vice furnished them, has been filed be
fore Justice Wieman. against the Kansas
and Missouri Telephone company.
The suit has been filed by Everett Moves
and w r. Heath Of the firm of Noyes &
Heath, attorneys with offices in the Long
building In the petition the attorneys
claim that the defective and at times al
most worthless service furnished them by
the telephone company, through their
phone has damaged their business $3.50.
by not being able to communicate with
their clients This sum, which Includes 80.
paid the company after the phone became
absolutely useless. and the cost of the
sues.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-02-06

K the average lawyer
what chance there
would be that q com
paratively uneducat-
ed country girl with
no beauty of face or
form should within a
period of a little more
than twenty years be
able to induce reput-
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-02-06
Dean Kaye's Plan.

Dean Kaye has planned course of
ten evenings with the Tuscan or Flor
entine Painters illustrated with lam
tern slides and presenting examples of
the work of all prominent artists of that
period. These talks will be given at the
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-02-06
COAL PRICES DROPPING.
Here Believe the Great In
convenience Is at an End.

New York, Feb ct is the general
opinion among local dealers that the
great inconvenience caused by the scar
city of coal is at an end, and that from
now on the price will continue to drop.
especially if the present mild weather
continues.
In some places yesterday hard coal
could be bought for $3.50 a ton, and one
dealer put his price at 81 with 1000 tons
on hand The price of soft coal was as
low as $3.50 ton, while independent
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-02-06

edly shrewd hnanciers to accept her
paper for obligations of more than
s140. 600 900 and he will tell you that
there would be no chance of such a
Still all this has actually
happened. and the woman who caused
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-02-06

dealers were retailing coal at Sc and
$3.50 a ton. The present condition of the
weather is responsible for the drop in
prices, giving the railroads an oppor-
tunity to rush the supply. The city is
overrun with agents who represent coal
dealers. They are doing their best to
get trade This IS said to be a highly
encourag ing sign.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-02-06
sufrage ain Wedneadav.

The woman suffrage bill has been set
down for consideration as special or
der at 3 O'Clock Wednesday afternoon
It will be looked after by Cyrus Leland.
Mr.. Leland was absent at the time the
matter came uD and Representative
Bennington. in behalf of Mr.. Leland,
asked that it be made a special order.
The request was, of course, readily
granted.
City Ticket Office. Union Pacific
Railrnad h25 Kansas avenlle
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-02-06

WE WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR MAIL ORDERS E. MONTGOMERY
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-02-06

Y. NJ. G. A.-Baker game tonight.
Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1903-03-13
BUSINESS LOCALS.

Don't forge; Ia spend tao hour, with
I;7m deli the wi4sri ON Fnday even ug
March 20 for !ou will gr, the Worth OF
our money.
D.. <. +. Wilson returned FROM lily
iurr-!"y might and will remain III F.iHo
abou, - wcck. Those desiring hi pro.
+ .sl nj services should call during
tina. time.
Tic To II place to get !"ur work
done ia at the Golden Rule Shaving
i'ar!ors by l.. e. tiayer. First class work
To al. Next door to the Bakery Saloon.
Ia" Heed iito!iicn have started . Iray.
'ug business III Elkn They will do
all aoTH IN their line "u snor, uu'i."
y share It ti, public patronage ia So.
hciied.
y. =. Gu!dscg,r. ar ,!ouc- ulh Stand
IL prepared I" 20 b!ac,: .~mIfhr.! ~ all
q! it, branches a; prices in -mIt 'hc
tim's ~iiur-- shoc!us arri wagon wurE a
specially. vi work Guaranteed Takc
y"r.r work t" Mr.. GuIdarg"i's -hop if
you want II done well and 1T reasonable
prices.
Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1903-03-13
u

Senate messages taken up out ~ or
de-.
! Is LOO Holmes Creating a school
81 mites {" l.. locs,.d 4, Virginia City.
Passed.
SBT-wa,> ,nd Means Committee
General appropriation bill. Pass,
ed.
y 4 81 Cnshinr-tielaiIne !" pTr-
chasn. the agricultural building H.
State property to lie used a. II place :"
sta=e Sat- recor5s. Fas"rahl! rer.m.
merdsd from the Cnm;uit;ee u: the
WEulc
\ Il l2i Burllne;on-Fot painting
Capitol building. Favorable.
: b 80 iti-R-lating tn the practice
VI medicine and surgery IL TIE State Of
Nevhds. prcvi Ting Tor tI, appointment
OF a baard nf medical examiners Tor
salt regulation. Passed.
Sub Tor 4 & jlcEson-CouceruIuC
tie duties -. ;he State BraTi NJ Canvas
scrs. Passed.
- Rntuor-MiSrug 4: a mus ir-
a!snDHr "a collect hospital lees from pei
o = ID certain cases.
= p BruUEhcr-hu act prvi lang
'u- he appointment IT a special State
c~g-w:as:On 70 secu,r lie pa! meR' 81 :hr
Nevada xar claims. Passed.
SB5 iIardiH-knowa as the lncu;-
por.;.oD hull. The bill took three Lour-
:" = al and wN placed to cote without
arEullv"'. The measure Vas ie'catcG
ny a vu:" 81 j. 20 II. Notice u recon.
side -l,-.u Nas EIken.
Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1903-03-13

\ 4 10 Po-ue-To prevent knpiiuc
~ enclosures. Posed.
II d lS> Riley-Ac, 70 provide Cor rx-
animation OF mining engineers.
y B& DOlt-fn prevent the spread
OF diseases in apiaries. PASSED..
y. . l6i McCarrac-hc; Ia uvyi.ic
Tor printing and diS;r:tutiou Of Ire A.
sernbly Journal.
5 L - Rod-Au act "a prevent book
making "u az outside & the State.
] Passed..
Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1903-03-13

SB3 Freuien,hai-IIs ST. Louis
fair bill, Bill passed the Senste with
10000 appropriation: amended in As
sembly to SN.0po. Refereed to Com
mittee OF the Whole.
4 b $50. Ayerill-Act regulating
roads.
\ Il l3n. COoke-Act liking salary %
Washoe county ~oonstsbles; also Ia,
fixing salaries OF justice OF the peace
Referred to "ashoe county delegation,
\ BGI-Act to reimburse Battery 4
for money expended. Committee on
Claims.
i35, McCourt-Act regulating
estates Of deceased persons Judici-
AIRY.
\ Il lS5-Act tn consolidate certain
Offices in Lincoln county. Referred to
Lincoln county delegation.
S ll6. McCour;-in act 70 pre- ven,
common carries from carrying goods
beyond their destination. Referred to
committee on Federal Relations.
ACL II, Notewarc-An &C, to pay
transportation OF livestock.
\ B l43. Notewarc-An act TO pay for
eItraiiiou u: criminals. Judiciary.
S I6, Dangberg-Granting franchise
through Ornshy and Douglas counties
for a railroad. Amended in Assembly.
Amendment voted down in Senate.
- n "a TI,.. E-,.ss. ..L.--
through EsmeraIda county. Same &C
tion rs preceding bill.
Recess until . T.. III
Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1903-03-13
SATURDAY !.
INNATE.

The Senate met Mt tho usunl honr
this morning md transacted the follow.
ing business
Senate bill; II, Raiiice- Making j. u
misdemeanor 10 collect hospital fees IN
certain cascs Prevents the railroad
ron collecting hospital fecs from con
tract laborers and then placing patients
In county hospitals. Passed.
Senate joint concurrent resolution.
5,FrcudonthaI-Am Of tho con.
~stitutiop so az TO provide for a dircc,
vote Of tho people in certain matters.