The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-10-02
MARQUIS ACCUSED or FRAUD.
Wealthy PARTISAN CHARGED
WITH BEING AN IMPOSTOR.
Succeeded to Title and wealth OF Dc Casa
=. Riera, VINO Rose From Poverty to He
Grandee OF Spain--Banished for XIII.
ting wife, VINO Bore Him Black Son.

Special Cable Despatch 10 THE SUN.
PARIS, Oct. IAN examining magistrate
Is investigating a case which 10 exciting
Paris as the Tichborne trial excited England
In 1871. The venerable Marquis de Casa
Riera, who lives In a palatial house on the
Rue de Bevir, and whose fortune is esti-
mated at $sO,0Oo,oo0, Is charged with being
an impostor and with having succeeded to
the fortune and title by fraud.
Vast estates In France and Spain are in
volved. They are now held by the Marquis,
who asserts that he is the lawful heir to
the late Marquis de Casa RE a. who died In
Paris when over 90 years Of age
The history Of the late Marquis is ro-
mantle. When only a handsome miller's
boy, 20 years Of age, in Catalonia, he was
attached to the suite Of great lady. He
eventually became an army contractor and
arnassed a large fortune.
Finally he was made grandee Of Spain.
He built q superb place at Madrid and
married a handsome young woman many
years his Junior. A few years later, when
his young wife gave birth to colored son,
the old Marquis sent for her and her para
mour, who was black cook employed by
him, and another servant, who was an
accomplice, and killed all three with q
dagger.
AS he was a grandee Of Spain, only the
Sovereign could deal with such a case.
Queen Isabella sentenced him to banish-
ment for life. The Marquis realized on a
considerable portion Of his wealth, came to
Paris and managed his affairs so SUCCESS
fully that his fortune was colossal one
when he died.
In his will he left the whole of his fortune
to his sisters sons. jose, Alexandra and
Gonzalo. In the order named. Jose died
few days after the Marquis and Alejan-
dro accordingly came to Paris and took
possession Of the estate. This was the
present Marquis
A financial syndicate has taken up the
case Of a claimant named Pedro. He has
produced the death certificate of the real
Alexandra, showing that he died in a village
near Barcelona in 1878, three years before
the death Of the late Marquis. Alexandra,
the present holder Of the title, declares
that the certificate is a forgery which he
has had cancelled and the authors con-
demned.
The claimant further declares that the
real Alexandra was born at Barcelona in
1928 whereas, the present Marquis, &C.
cording TO the royal Spanish decree in
vesting him with the title when he succeeded
to it, and the French decree making him
Commander Of the Legion of Honor was
born in Madrid in 1s43. Thus the Alejan-
dro alleged to be real by the claimant, il
alive, would be 81 years Of age, while the
present holder of the title does not look
to be more than 20.
1t Is furtho alleged that the Humberts,
the notorioue indlers were aware of the
present holuc alleged act Of usurpation
and used their knowledge on several occa-
sions to make him provide million francs
worth Of bonds, which the Madame showed
to credulous customers. The case ia eIcit-
ing enormous interest. especially as the
Marquis has been attacked from three diff
ferent quarters by persons who have taken
up the interests of pretended heirs.