The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-10-09
MYSTERY WITH MILLIONS IN IT
THE MURDER, FORGERY ANDPLOT
WHICH KEEP PARIS GUESSING.
Holder OF q Title and Fortune Founded
In the Reign OF Isabeils III. or Spain
Alleged 70 he an Impostor-suits
{ Brought to Eject Him-And All That
Now Declared TO He Another Plot

Paris must have It's sensation, and the
latest Boulevard thrill Is uncommonly
romantic. This sensation has to do will
the mystery OF tho Casa Riera millions
piled up during the merry days Of Isabella
H.. OF Spain.
The sensation had been going along
rather eaaily--a kind Of a milk and water
sensation, the Boulevards voted it-unti
last week. when pouf! came the climax
And now 1t involves a charge OF forgery
and counter charge OF another forgery.
1t eptangles syndicate controlled by some
OF the most prominent figures In Partisan
society. Back OF 1t all Ia a romance OF
two capitals which includes a double muir
der and the Vaccinations Of q typical Eu-
gene Sue villain.
To begin at the beginning, in the eos,
when the corrupt and merry court OF 1sa-
bella II. was about to fall, the richest man
at court was the Marquis de Casa Riera,
before his prosperity plain Thomas Philip
Mora. He was peasant by birth, but o
financier by right Of genius. He started
his fortune early in life, and built 1t
up by operations in the Spanish colonies.
Hemade this fortune 80 Indispensable to the
court, that Isabella advanced him rapidly.
He became at last grandee OF the realm
and a court chamberlain.
The Marquise, his wife, was a peasant
Girl, daughter Of farmer. He had marked
her for his own when she was little girl,
had her educated as lady should be- and
married her when she was 1S. Their house
was q gay one. One Of the picturesque
figures In their suite was handsome West
Indian mulo.to, the Marquiss valet and
practically his maj domo. The valet was
almost as we'll known in Madrid as tn @
Marquis himself.
The time came when the first child was
born to the Marquise Tradition in Madrid
says that 1t was quadroon. and that the
Marquis took the vengeance Of Spanish
gentleman built on peasant groundwork.
He killed his wife, her child, her negro
paramour and another negro servant whom
he suspected of being an accomplish. He
went straight from their murder to the
Queen and told her everything. As a
grandee, he could hardly be touched by the
law of the old monarchy. Besides his for
tune was needed by the dying dynasty
The Queen kept his secret, but ordered
him to leave Spain.
q This story is accepted in Madrid 1t is
borne out by circumstantial evidence.
For neither the wife nor the valet was ever
seen again, and the Marquis never lived
again in the mansion in Madrid.
He Went to Paris and took most of his
wealth with him. He invested in city
property, built a mansion and improved
the surrounding lands, and his wealth
grew Whea, after the Revolution, the
dynasty war restored in SPAIN he went
beck there TO sit in the Senate, in which
his rank gave him place. Alfonso NIL,
1t is said, made good use of his wealth,
Up to this point the story is accepted
as true by all persons concerned. The
quadrupe murder has never been denied
In the '7Os the Marquis came back to
Paris from Spain with two men Of mystery.
One was introduced by the Marquis as
Don Jose Mora. his nephew and heir. The
other, following Spanish custom, was q
major domo, a sort Of steward OF the house
He, too. was supposed to be a relative. He
was called Don Alexandra. According to
those who are attempting to break his
clair4fs-4for he IA the present holder Of the
estate-he was deep, mysterious villain
Of unknown origin, one whose plots IN"
yolyed forgery, perjury and sudden death.
AS alleged by the claimants, here is the
subsequent story Of the fortune CT Casa
Riera. ..
In 1881 the old Marquis died. A will was
produced at once It made his nephew
Don Jose Mora, sole heir to his properties
and the title. 1t had not been registered.
which did not render II absolutely nu ii;
but about that time there appeared another
tered, and which gave the property to first
cousin, a ninety-year-old peasant OF Bar
eelona. Old, and probably ignorant an he ne
took possession Of the e3ta.e. In TWO
months he died suddenly,
Then Don Alexandra, tn e heavy villain,
came out and annoCnced-the opposition
says for the first time-that lie wasa brother
OF Don Jose and therefore an heir. At the
same time, he produ ced another alleged
brother, one Don Gonzalo. Neither OF them
could produce eny legal documents to
prove this. They had fairy story to tell
about archives destroyed in the wars which
had devastated Spain.
Don Alexandra must have been per
suasive talke r az well as heavy villain,
for he won over the French courts, always
rather lax IN sr oh matters, especially when
claimants ore foreigners. The notary who
adjusted the case nut them in possession.
This was done quietly, and there are
promptly died. The story is touched up
at this point with accounts OF ararrels
hctween the consprators. Don Gonzalo
left widow and Two children. They did
not press any claim.
Tho widow takes centre stage ct this
point in sensational marriage. She wanted
to marry Capt. Angeotti. There was
opposition brought about, for some reason
OF his own, by Don Alexandra. Lovers
have way of beating opposition in Spain.
All that f. necessary to legal marriage
there is a promise before priest in tn e
presence Of witnesses. The desirous yculg
couple simply stands DIP during mass,
audibly exchange vows, and II IL done.
The widow and the CAPTAIN ado pied this
measure. And then the Captain died. Just
why he, too died so suddenly is not ex-
planned.
For some reason Don Alejnndro was
good to the double widow He let her live
In the mansion at Madrid in which the first
Marquis committed the quadruple murder.
Afterward he had the house torn down,
and moved her into the Marquiss Partisan
palace. There she lives now with her
children and is known as the Countess
Mora. Alexandra, third Marquis de Casa
Rierl, lives in Paris, but not there.
The estate has grown in value. It did
not take much Of fortune to establish a
Spaniard as rich when Isabella ii. reigned.
But the Investment In Partisan properties
was fortunate. Estimates OF the present
fortune run from $40, 600, 900 to $50, 900 900.
So much for the new claimants story.
1t was sprung this year by certain persona
whose identity remains unknown. A for
mer Spanish Consul named Soulere seems
30 nave been very near the centre of things,
and priest, the Able Gouverd, was either