The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-08-22
Madame Therese Provides Sensation
al Climax to Trial of the Hum
Fl bert Case in Paris.
Declares the Missing and Apocryphal
Millionaire Crawford Is Really
M. Regnier.
The Identical Man Who Acted as
Intermediary at the Sur
render of Metz.

Paris, Aug 22.-In the course of
speech in court to-day Madam Therese
Humbert announced that the real name of
Crawford was Regnier and that he was
the intermediary between Prince BIS
marck and Marshal Baza1ne at the time
of the surrender Of Metz
The expectation that to-day would
bring the conclusion Of the Humbert trial
renewed intense public interest in the
case. The courtroom was again crowded.
Among the throng were number OF
American lawyers and tourists who Sc
cured favored places thru the efforts or
the United States embassy.
The prisoners maintained their usual
outward aspect of calm. Madame Hum
bert walked In haughtily and surveyed
the crowd with a scornful air. DR.. Flo
ouet who examined the prisoner before
she came into court found her to be In
good health and showing no signs of
nervous breakdown under the strain OF
the elimination Of the trial.
Advocate Hess addressed the court at
length in defense Of Roman d Auragnac,
pointing out his brotherly devotion thru
out the trials to his sister, Nine. Hum
bert. Counsel severely criticised the dec
laration of Mr.. Patenotre, the former
French ambassador at Madrid that he did
not know Madame Humbert and invited
the jury to request the presiding judge to
give them certain private letters In one
OF winch M HESS dSSeI teu VM ( eLISiiOtlO
thanked Nine. Humbert for adornments
which she had sent him for his salon.
Outside the courtroom the public every
where awaited the verdict and discussed
the prospects. At the conclusion OF the
pleading Nine. Humbert arose. amid an
intense hush thruout the courtroom, to
make her promised revelations. She
seemed to be laboring under a great effort
and paused after her first emphatic state
ment that the Crawfords and the millions
existed. Then she began formally:
Nine. Therese Speaks.
Gentlemen of the Jury: When wanted
the address of M. Crawford he answered:
You cannot know me. I am not called
Crawford. I am not known by that name.
"'Then what name?' asked.
"He replied, MY fortune was made dur
ing the war Of 1870 by investments of
rentes which were then very low and a
large quantity was bought here"
Madame Humbert paused again lengthi-
ly, and then continued:
Ills name Is Regenier, the 1ntermed1-
-ary Derwrcrr H4e,rel,epI .TJcneina and tho
Germans. had already transacted bust
ness with one Regnier, who appeared to
me to be q mysterious parsonage and who
said to me: -
BE careful, madame, not to confuse
me with the notorious Regn1er.
THAT Is how I suddenly learned Craw-
fords name. I never told my husband
I swear on my daughters head. This is
the first time he hears the name"
Addressing the presiding Judge, Madame
Humbert went on, exclaiming: What
saw Is true. The Crawfords exist, the
fortune exists, and I. Madame Humbert
will bring actions against the Craw-
fords.''
Turning to the jury again. Madame
IIumbert said: Gentlemen, will not say
any more. It is enough to tell <ou thai
the fortune exists and that I never
cheated any one Now you have the
whole Humbert case and the whole Craw
ford case"
All the members o. the Humbert famil!
were found guilty.
The court sentenced Nine. Humbert an(
her husband each to five years 1mprison
ment and to 100 francs fine.
Emile dAurignac was sentenced to
years imprisonment. Roman d'Aurgina'
was sentenced to three years 'imprison
nnent.