The San Francisco call., 1904-11-04
BLACKSMITH OPPOSES MARQUIS
Brands Man of Title as a Fraud
and Files a Suit or His Estate

PARIS, Nov. 3.-One of the most
singular features of the legal fight now
being waged between the poor Spanish
blacksmith Pierre Riera, and the Mar
quis de Casa Riera, for the latter's vast
fortunes and estates, is the fact that
the noblemans comparatively youthful
appearance, upon which he especially
prides himself, is being used as a
weapon against him to justify the
blacksmiths claim that he is an i'm
postor. The Marquis, if he be the in
dividual he has long represented him.
self ito be, is now eighty-one years old.
But he is remarkably vigorous and ac-
tive and looks like a well preserved
man of sixty.
who alleges that he has documentary
evidence to prove it, that is his real
age. If he is only sixty it is certain
that he is not the Marquis de Casa
Riera and the blacksmith will gain the
title and the property and the fortune
of between $50 100000 and s40,000,000
which goes with them.
But ii is not alone the striking dis
parity between the apparent years of
the Marquis and the age he says he is
Willtn ndS CduSSQ ILldIlg lIlIuGDlldl pei
sons to back the poor man in his fight
against the rich man and supply him
with the means of prosecuting his
claim. Recent evidence that has been
gathered has satisfied many Shrewd
lawyers that he really has a good case
and stands a fair chance of ousting the
Marquis and occupying his palatial
residence in the Rue de Berri.
TRAGEDY DARKENS STORY.
The story, as it has now been pieced
together, on which the blacksmith re-
lies to win his suit is as weird and
dramatic as many famed works of fic-
,tion. 1t has aroused intense interest
in the trial, which will begin in few
weeks and bids fair to become as ia
nous in legal annals as that fight of
the butcher claimant for the Tichborne
millions.
The story opens with the first Mar
quis de Casa Riera, who was man
of humble origin, but rose to be a
grandee of Spain and chamberlain of
the Queen. The source of his great
wealth has always been a mystery, but
il is alleged to have originated in the
theft of an immensely valuable casket
OF Jewels from his royal mistress.
However acquired, he gained a large
fortune and lived in great splendor,
about the middle of the last century,
III Il palace III the Odlle Qcl AiCdld,
Madrid.
When he was fifty he married
beautiful girl of eighteen, a daughter
of one of his tenant farmers. Eleven
months after her marriage the young
Marchioness was found murdered in
the palace, pierced by a dagger in a
score of places A baby had been born
whose paternity. on account of its
color. the Marquis disputed There
~ in hnncnhoid
who met with a sudden and violent
death at the same time as did the
Marchioness.
WILL OF THE MARQUIS.
The Marquis did not deny his guilt,
but on account of his position and
what were regarded as extenuating
circumstances he was allowed to leave
the country and settled in Paris, oc-
cupying the sumptuouS hotel in the
Rue de Berri, in which the black
smith confidently expects he will re-
side some day. The palace in the
Gale del Alcala remained tenantless
for twenty-five years, save for the
memories of the grim tragedy that had
been enacted there, and with its doors
walled up. 1t was known as the
house of silence until it was torn down
and rebuilt.
The Marquis died in Paris at a great
age in 1881 and for sixteen years prior
to that he had been totally blind He
had executed two wills. In the first
he bequeathed his property to a cousin,
who is still living, a nonogenarian at
Barcelona. In the second will, which
is dated two years before his death, he
left the bulk of the property to his
nephew, Jose Mora Riera, and in
case of his death to another nephew
Alexandra Mora. A third nephew.
Gonzalo a brother of the other two
was bequeathed a million francs.
Jose Mora survived his inheritance
only forty-seven days, dying suddenly,
and report has it unaccountably. in
Madrid. The estate was then taken
possession of by the man who claimed
to be Jose's brother. Alexandra. and
who for some twenty three years has
been known as the Marquis de Casa
Riera
POOR RELATION BOBS UP.