New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-08-10
PRINCE HERE AS BANKER
Scion of the House of Sapieha an
american Business Nan.


tons Of the United States from the Polish prov
inces Of Austria Russia and GERMANY has lust
lost his father, Prince Adam Sapieha who was
OF the most picturesque and romantic figures
of the old Polish aristocracy. Prince John will
therefore, like the Roman Prince del Drago. who
also makes his home in the United States and
who has just lost his mother. lie prevented by
mourning from taking any active share in the
gayeties of New-York society next winter
The old Prince Sapieha was a hve-year-old child
when his father and mother. who had taken a
prominent part in the instruction against Russia
Of 1881. were forced to fee tor their lives, the
princess in particular and her young child ex-
periencing the most extraordinary adventures be-
fore finally finding refuge in London. where the
boy educated. Thirty years later Prince
Adam, who had meanwhile become much trav-
elled man of the world figured of the
leaders of the Polish revolt against the Car in
1853. was captured. and while in prison, awaiting
trial and probable execution. managed to effect
his escape. disguised a woman. and to reach
Paris, where he was received a welcome guest
at the Tuiler1es and enjoyed for time the par
tcular favor Of Napoleon ILL., who believed that
by fomenting Polish nationalist aspirations in the
western provinces Of the Car he could exercise
pressure upon the Russian Government.
The prince. however, finding that Napoleon had
real intention OF helping the Poles. and that
he Indifferent to their aspirations so far
they could DO used in furthering the interests
Of French diplomacy. left Paris settled in the
Polish provinces Of Austria where he owned large
became
OF the Galician Diet, as well as OF the Austrian
House of Lords, besides which Emperor Francis
Joseph conferred upon him the Order OF the Gold
en- Fleece and the dignity of a Prvy Councillor
The prince lost a considerable portion Of his
fortune years ago through the collapse or
the so-called Credit Bank of Galicia at Cracow;
and he had no less than seven children 1t is not
astonishing that his son, Prince John, who Is
unmarried and the youngest but one, should seek
in the United States, where, of course,
he ryhi he hear
the banking institution with which he is con-
nected. enjoying as it does oldtime prestige and
honor among the Polish emigrants in America
The Sapiehas who trace back their descent In an
unbrolsen line to the fourteenth century, and who
became Polish princes in 1850, have now had their
title as such recognized both by the Austrian and
Russian governments. the branch to which Prince
John belongs forming part OF the Austrian arts
tocracy, while there are TWO other pranches thaI
are enrolled among the nobility of Russia
The Marouise de Mores. who prior to her
marriage Miss Medorah Hoffman,, Of New-1orK' Is
now being sued in the French courts by Colonel
Rebillet a former member OF the General stan
and commander OF the Legion OF Honor Tor nav
ing denounced him as one of her husbands as
sassins The colonel. who is a respected oIlcer
with brilliant record of service, claims from the
narquise damages to the tune Of 100000 francs ana
the publication by the defendant, at her cost or
the Judgment IN his favor IN at least two hundred
newspapers.
MARQUIS MOres,
years in this country. both prior and subsequent
to his marriage with the daughter Of the New
York banker Louis Hoffman,, and who was one
OF the associates OF President Roosevelt IN the at
ter's ranching and cowboy days out West met MS
death in an attempt to make his way from Tunls
across the Sahara in order to join the late Mahdi
at Omdurman. and thus to strike blow at British
interests there
The French authorities did all they could to pre-
vent him from embarking such harebrained
expedition for which he was untitled. having no
knowledge whatsoever of Arab character or OF
desert life Indeed, the French military officials In
Northern Africa did everything in that line short
of locking him up. 1t is pity that they did not
resort to this extreme measure. for in that event
De Mores would probably be still alive and his
widow and three children-the eldor two born In
New-York-would not now be mourning his loss.
The marquis complained so bitterly in the last
letters addressed to his wife friends at Paris
OF the obstacles placed in his way by the French
authorities in Algeria and Tunis. who were thor
oughy aware of the perils by which he would
be confronted and of the certainty of his being
overtaken by disaster, that when, as predicted he
was robbed and murdered by his native Tuareg
escort shortly after leaving Tunisian territory his
widow gathered the idea that the officers who had
tried to prevent the departure OF his expedition
were responsible for his death.
Unfortunately, she did not keep this impression
to herself It came TO the OF the leaders OF
the anti-Jewish movement, which was then at its
height and in which the marquis had taken
I,
nress as well as the Nationalist newspapers
insisting that the marquis had been purposey put
cut OF the way by the government through the
agency OF some Arab tribesmen who merely acted
in obedience to orders.
The nnarouise seems to have taken all the utter
ances of the Nationalist and anti-Semite journals
concerning the matter and the fanciful stories
which they concocted for building their theory
as gospel truth. They confirmed her in her mis-
taken belief that It was the French officers who
had opposed her husbands project who the
instigators Of his murder, and, imbued with this
conviction she came to the conclusion that It was
her mission to bring to justice her husbands as
sassins and 10 avenge his death.
It was in vain that government officials who re-
suected her grief endeavored to reason with her.
and that both her American father. Louis Hof-
mann. and her French father-in-law. the old Duke
of Vallombrosa- sought to point out to her the
mistaken character OF her assumption She de-
voted a large sum Of money to the capture and ar
rest of the Arabs who had acted as her husbands
escort and who had murdered him, convinced that
,,,ben brought to trial they would in sef-defence
,pcrin,inate the French officers, Colonel Rebillet
among the number whom she believed TO nave IN
situated his murder; and the French Government.
Ii,,e its conscience entirely clear in the matter.
and realizing that the bringing to justice Of the
Tuaregs in question could only tend to dispel all
1,r,nies concerning the affair, rendered her every
resistance with the result that the assassns were
caught and tried at Susa.
The proceedings demonstrated the lastly OF the
charges made by the widowed Marquise de Mores
80 CoIonel Rebillet and other French officers
a., AIarfa and Tunis of having instigated the death
80 de Afores and it is on the strength Of the evil
dence given at the trial at Susa which resulteo IN
the conviction of the native muroeFers ana IN tne
,roof that they had been instigated soIeIy by mo-
lives of robbery and fanatic hatred OF the inhdel
that the colonel Is no" su'N7 ~
heavy damages.
- 80 he Feared that the suit will be followed by