Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1906-12-12
THE TITLED sPENorHRIFT.
HOW Count 5oni castelane Made
the Gould Fortune "Skjddoo

INC Souio fortune "Skiddoo"
Az the nearing of the Castellane
CREDITORS cases to-day Maitre Cruppl.
us Mime Gouli's lawyer, told how
Count Bonn fell into the hands OF
the mohey-ienders ana how he was
orl'en 10 desperate straits TO raise
money. Count Bonf, the lawyer said.
was even compelled to descend into
trade 10 raise money, and bought
and sold goods just like the common
tradesman whom IT. Is the fashion
OF the French aristocracy to oe.
nounce. Maitre Cruppi talked tor
four hours, mostly with the tech.
meal reading of the civil code, the
marriage contract. and other dry ,,oc.
| uments. In the middle OF his speech
| me judge went to steep and slipped
III MS chair, and several persons
| among the audience Snored.
| CrnpDi demonstrated how Coun,
Boni had been the victim OF usurers,
lsidore Ziegler. the principal cred.
ltor, Claiming over a million francs
| Tor sums advanced with which tc
manage the counts household AFFAIRS.
Alesler showed himself the cher
lof the band OF mney.lenders, ahd
I Crnppi said that Zlegler was n sly
ION, FOR he advanced the least pos.
SIDE amount of money himself and
always got somebody else to furnish
me FUNDS. Cruppi advanced proofs
OF usury in the following trans
actions: In one case Count BON
gave n note for $4,000 francs, but
actually received in two payments
only 29,OOu francs. Again he gave
note for 2l.OO0 francs and received
actually $4,000 francs. Being unable
TO pay this when due, the money,
lender eXacted a note renewed al
zo,o0o francs. The sum total re-
ceived BY Boni, however, was only
1900 francs.
on another note tor SIS ,UUU francs
boni actually got 20,UUU francs
Countess Anna denied any partIc
ipation In or benefit from these loans
and said they were made without
her knowledge or consent. She re-
FUSED, therefore. 10 be held respon
siDie for the same. Concerning the
tradesmen's bills, said Maitre Crupp,
countess Anna is always willing
10 pay the same when they are lie
climate demands.
Cruppi showed how dressmaker
Claiming nearly 10000 francs. d,
not furnish any dresses to the count
J ess, but lent the money to Boni
so, TOO, an antiquity dealer claim
ing payment for numerous objects
OF furniture, really sold the countess
lohiy Two. The other items OF the
Dill figuring as pieces OF furniture
were disguised loans. ~.
one dealer claims that ne sold
the Castellanes two sofas, one tor
hoOoO francs and the oIner for SU,UUlj
francs; chest or drawers Tor
s'ooo francs ana 0esk for 2O,UUl
francs. ~
Countss Anna says the last two
items were delivered at her house,
nut she never saw the others. Notes
ior the same were signed by Count
Boni without his wifc's knowledge.
Another dealer sent his bill for a
COTE pot. 200 francs, and an antio,le
bottle. 10000 francs. but these obtecl.
Boni sent as presents to his women
friends. -
Concerning Count Bonrs extray.
asance, Cruppi said he had not only
spent his wife's entire income, which
she paid directly into his hands out
of generosity. but used I'D his per.
sonal sources OF revenue. Crupn,
detailed mortgages amounting to
nearly f.OU0.00O francs raised by
Count Boni on five separate personal
and real estate properties. Boni
also specnlated in antiquities, but
did not have much luck in these
transactions. He generally lost, and
Anna had to foot the bills. However,
sometimes Boni did make profit,
notably with transaction with Sc.
ilgman. the antiquarian or the Place
Vendome. here Boni bought goods
which he resold, making a profit
OF $4,000 francs. This sum should
have been contributed to the expen.
ses OF the household, but it was