Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-17

| say, SIX nOntnS OF yedT-OH CoHulttoH
| that she keeps her mouth shut during the
proceedings Then, once the trial is ended,
| they will sock 1t to her with ten years OF
| fifteen years and transportation for life!
afterI'
| "WiIl the astute Therese fall into this
| gross French police trap, which has
| ruined thousands, nevertheless, before
| herr" asked.
''All will depend on whether she has
really the great fortune sailed down that
she pretended to have" was the Partisan s
cynical response
There you have it! The Parisians still
more than half believe in the mysterious
fortune. OF course, they do not imagine
that 1t came from any Crawford or that it
was left to Therese Daurignac-Humbert as
legacy. The tale as it circulates in Paris
is still more mysterious than that imagined
by Therese herself.
A Tale of Mystery.
Nearly thirty years ago-in 1S74-the tale
runs, the heirs-at-law Of certain Alexan-
Dire Sabathou were called together at Toul-
ouse by a notice Of the commissary of po-
lice of that city. He told them that their
relative having accumulated a vast for
tune in South America, had died intestate,
and he invited them to furnish proofs Of
their relation to him.
But when they returned with their proofs
this government official told them with
embarrassment that there had been an
error, and that Alexandra Sabathou had
died pauper in the municipal hospital of
Perplgnan. Discovering this latter state
ment to be thoroughly false, the heirs
formed syndicate to hunt for the millions.
Suddenly, then. Nine. Martin, rich lady
Of Toulouse and relative Of Sabathou, but
not in the direct line, proposed to them to
go to Paris at her expense and have the
investigation made at first hand in the
archives of the Cour des Complies and the
ministry of foreign affairs.
Sne went to Paris and at Onca had re-
course to Gustave Humbert, the father-in-
law Of Therese Humbert. She remained
there several months, and her consultations
with the future senator and high official Of
the Cour des Complies were so continuous
that she was supposed to be staying at his
house. Then she returned to the heirs, tell
ing them: THE Inheritance Is not myth,
but 1t is for you only a souvenir AS a.
result of inexplicable defects, either Of
locks or employees, the securities composing
the great fortune had disappeared from the
ministry of foreign affairs said Nine
Martin, after several months hobnobbtng
with the elder Humbertl
The Magic Year.
Now the legal limitation Of time for the
prosecution Of claims to the inheritance of
such personal property in France is thirty
years. We have here. say the Parisians.
an explanation of the shameless, reckless
borrowing of the Humberts When the
1iio5iC year VI 1SVf SllOulU BWlIS TOuHU
they might bring out without fear the mil
lions stolen by their father-in-laW in his
capacity of trusted public official!
The Sabathou heirs, at least, are con-
WINGED that Gustave Humbert used his off,
cial position to defect Alexandra SABBATH
GUS millions of securities to his own fam
1ly This, they say, is why he had himself
named procurator general Of the Cour des
Complies in 1877, because the settlement Of
such unclaimed inheritance Is in it's prov
ince.
Fantastic as 1t may appear, this explana-
ton has the merit of explaining many mys-
teries Thus Therese Humbert up to within
month Of her flight from Paris was heard
to say again and again: 1.-THE time is draw
ing near. In 1904 we shall be rich and
tranquil Again. certain Dr. Deraumond
(son-in-law of the Nine Martin already
mentfoned after sustaining serious BUSH
ness losses, used to continually demand Of
his creditors that they should wait until
1904 He pretended that at that epoch he
would surely come into possession of an
immense succession, retarded by formali-
ties which he never clearly explained. The
Sabathou heirs say this was to be his share
Cor Nine. Martins share) in her division
with the heirs Of Gustave Humbert.
Part Of His Plan.
Again, say the Parisians, the establish
ment Of such great annuity company as
the Rente Viagere by the Humberts was
part of the old senator's original plan for
getting rid Of the stolen Sabathou securi-
ties when the time should be ripe.
Before the fateful year of 1904 should ar
rive the Rente Viagere (whose statutes date
back to 1888 would be in full flush of
widely extended financial operations. With
its numerous connections, its suboff1ces all
over France, its loans and investments in a
thousand names, it would be ready to serve
as an ideal melting pot for any quantity Of
old, unclaimed inheritances!
Frederic Humbert. the husband of The
cred since the flight, seems to hint at some-
thing like this. The letter is addressed to
Emile Daurignac, the gentleman Of the
family, though the active administrator of
the Humbert annuity company. The COM
pany had taken over numerous real estate
properties in payment Of annuities and in
the family'S sudden need for ready money
Roman Daurignac, the other brother, pro-
posed to mortgage one of them.
My Dear Emile (runs- the letter)-We
must not accept; we must refuse all mort
cages, for the reason that we ought to see
further than our noses. The Rente Via
gere is our sole hope, our only future -
Do not let US spoil our future for 100 600
francs. A tot (yours),
"FREDERIC HUMBERT"
DO you believe this?" I asked my Pa
rdsian.
why otherwise should Roman Daurig-
mac continue boasting, in his Spanish prison.
Of the millions Of securities they saved
from seizure by their fight?" he answered.
But" 1 objected, 1.-The Rente Viagere.
the melting pot, is smashed, and before
the fateful year of 1904 arrives the trial
will have been finished"
Are you sure?" asked the Partisan
A M ~ ~