The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1906-11-09
PRINCE MURAT
m DIXIE GRAVE
Prince AchilIe lIurAt Preferred OhIiv-
len in the Republic 90 Empty Hon
Ors in ReFOps.

Ors In ReFOpS.
NEW ORLEANS, La, Saturday
First Judicial District Court Of the
State Of Louisiana. To the sheriff of
the parish of East Baton Rouge, greet
ing. Whereas due proof has been
made before the First judicial Court Of
the State Of Louisiana by Bernard Viii
lars and Jean Bite. Bubreull Villars that
Achille Murat Is indebted to them in
the sum of $44, Sl9. 20, and that said
Nurat is on the eve Of leaving the State
Of Louisiana, and is about to remove
his property out of the said State be-
fore the said debt becomes due, you are
commanded to seize and attach all the
property and goods Of the said Murat if
any you find IN said parish"
This paragraph is contained in a writ
against one of the most interesting
characters of his day, Prince Charles
Louis Napoleon Achille Murat. son of
the King of Naples, nephew of Napo-
leon Bonaparte, rover, bon vivant, and
a one time resident of New Orleans.
This Prince, than whose life story
there are few more interesting, once
owned vast sugar estates in East Baton
Rouge parish, and he practiced law for
a time in Exchange alley, New Orleans,
when that narrow thoroughfare pulsa-
ted with activity 1t was at the time
when that neighbOrhood was in the hey
day of its glory. Murat also lived for
q time in Esplanade avenue, between
Bourbon and Dauphine streets. For
some reason, however, his life in this
city remained in obscurity, and time
has left but faint traces of his memory.
II 10 a fact, nevertheless, that for a
short period he did maintain law Office
in Exchange alley, but pecuniary en-
.barFassments, abetted by rowing dis
position, compelled him TO change his
place of abode, and from there he went
to his Florida estate, Econchattle, near
Tallahassee. Both the Prince and his
wife are buried In the Episcopal ceme-
terry IN that city. Their resting places
ie marked by two marble shafts IN an
obscure corner Of the old buriai ground.
A PRINCE M A REPUBIsc.
The story Of Prince AehiIle Murat IL
recalled by Albert Villars, OF No. 2, ga
Constance street, who has in his posses
sion the original papers Of the arrest of
the Prince who was indebted to the
VIllars family for the purchase Of sugar
estates in Baton Rouge parish, for
which, It is asserted, no settlement was
ever made. Murat died intestate, an
exiled Prince in q foreign land. 1t was
here in the South that he made his |
home, preferring it to any other section |
of the United States, over which he |
had travelled extensively.
Prince Achille Murat was the eldest |
son of Joachim, King of Naples, and of |
Caroline, sister of Napoleon Bonaparte. |
He was, therefore, by blood the nephew |
of the great warrior Emperor. His ac- |
quaintances said that in his mental !
makeup was some of the genius of his
illustrious kinsman, which, had he been
able to make the proper use thereof, |
might have stamped his name on his
tory's page. Yet fate ordained other |
wise, and, like many others, he directed |
his efforts in the wrong direction and |
accomplished nothing His lineage be-
came his only boast his memory of
days agone his only pleasure.
Joachim Murat was one Of Napoleon s
marshals, and man Of power.
Through Napoleon's favor he was
raised to the throne Of Italy; for he was
the spouse of the EmperOr's sister,
Caroline. He was executed. however,
after Napoleon downfall The young
Prince was educated in Austria, TO
which country his mother took him and
her four children after the death of
their rather.
Prince Murat came TO the United
States in 1872. Here he found the
atmosphere more in harmony with his
tastes than the etiquette Of European
courts, and decided to remain for "A
time at least. Visiting the South he
concluded to make it his home. and in
Florida he bought large tract Of land.
He took up his residence in Tallahas-
see, taking out papers Of citizenship
1t was shortly after this that he bought
a large sugar and cotton plantation in
East Baton Rouge parish from the
family.
The act of sale was executed before
Louis T. Caire, a notary public, Feb
ruary 13, 1887. Murat, so the story
goes, gave notes, taking the property
over at once. He harvested the crops,
pocketed the money and was about 10
make his adieus 20 his debtors when the
writ. paragraph from which Is quoted
at the beginning of this narrative. was
served on him. Whether or not he was
eter arrested is not stated. II is
thought that il was about this time
hat he opened lay Office in Exchange
alley.
HE LOVED THE SOUTH
Though he lacked the stability Of :
disposition 20 hold him 20 one place, he n
Sems to have had a preference for n