The Washington times., 1910-12-26
Who's Who Among the
ChoiseulS Is PuZZling
Proposition.
FAMOUS MURDER
IN ITS RECORDS
Name Brought Into Limelight by
New Wearer, Formerly Mrs.
Hamilton Paine.

PARIS. Dec. SThe family OF which
Mrs. Hamilton Paine has become a
member BY marrying its head, the Duke
OF Choiseul-Prasiin, Is one of the Oldest
in France.
Under a republic which practically al
lows any one 10 call himself anything
he pIeases as long as he does not try
10 get the title officially recognized BY
using it as a legal signature, little
troubles are always arising between
members OF the same family IS 10 the
right TO be1r one OF other Of the til. es
which belong 70 the family
Thus an innocent looking little para
graph OF society news which read; The
Duke and Duchess OF Choiseui-Praslin
have taken up their residence in their
new house. Avenue Sylvestre de Sacy.
caused quite a newspaper fight, as it
was followed by a letter signed "Choi-
seul-PrasIin' IN which the writer ex-
pressed his astonIshnnent at the men
ton OF another Duke OF ChoiseuI-Pras-
lin he explained that he was the only
duke and that as he was unmarried
Chis was written early in November,
before his marriage with Mrs Hamilton
Paine), and was not taking up resi-
dence II Paris he could not understand
TO whom the paragraph could refer
Another Disputant.
The occupant OF the Avenue SyIvestre
de Sacy mansion retorted with a letter
claiming the headship Of the family and
the right 20 assume the title Of duke
This brought another member OF the
family into the field with letter differ
enuating between the Duke de Praslin
and the Marquis de Ch0lseul- -Beaupre-
Sommeville. who has taken the sigma
ture Of Duke Of Choiseul" This letter Is
written by Major de Choiseul-
OF the active army, who talks lesrnedIy
OF various branches OF his family, who
describes Mrs Hamilton Paine's hus-
band as "Baston de ChOiseul, Due de
Praslin,' as belonging 70 the younger
branch Of the house Of ChoiseuI- Of
which branch he is the head The ma
jor then ienSthiiy disputes ths right Of
the marquis Of three names 10 call him
self Duke Of ChOiseuI legally. morally,
A letter siEnei --ChoiseuI. due de Pras-
lin and dated from London. where he
had gone for MS marriage with Mrs
logical controversy by pointing out that
the elder branch OF the house Of
ChoiseuI has been extinct for centuries
and never possessed the title Of duke
The letter goes on 10 advise the would
different ducal titles are also extinct
except the writer's
Winds Up Controversy.
The letter does on 10 advise the would
be Duke Of ChOiseuI 10 be content with
bearing the name Of ChoiseuI in any
form and remain known as the Marquis
de Choise1l-Beaupre. as he has been
for 50 long, although really only n
de CEoiseul- -Beaupre-SOmmeville So
much for genealogical battles in a
country without 4 king or last resort 10
settle such disputes
The hoIlse Of Chois -uI vas e power IN
France as far hack as the eleventh cen
tury. II had maDy representatives IL
/ the first CTusades- E.tienne Francois,
/ Duke de Chosseul, distinguished himself
/ pToteSe Of Nine de PoTnpePouTs who oh
/ tanned for him the French embassy at
/ Rome. The POmpddOuT's friendship for
him made him one OF The most powerful
men in the kingdom but intT1gueS al
[ the court brought about his downfall,
and despite his large fortune he was
| found to have let debts which his wife
The family has had three marshals
/ OF France among its members and
/ Count AuEuste de CEOiseUl-GOufTier
/ (I752-1S11) was diplomat and anti
I uuarian who became a member Of the
/ academy The name occurs also in the
/ transfer of Louisiana from France to
the United States But IN spite OF all
these and othe- claims 70 historic re-
nOwn the name OF ChOiseul-PTaslin
j evokes more often the recollection Of
! a murder committed by the holder Of Il
I IN 1sE7. when Louis Philippe was King
I OF the French
Murder Shocks Paris.
On August IS, 1s47, Paris was shocked
/ TO learn that the Duchess Of Choiseul-
! Praslin had been horribly murdered in
/ her mansion, the Hotel Sebastian Cthe
! duchess was q daughter Of Marshal Sc
/ bastiauD. No one was seen entering
the house, but q servant saw some
one leaving at night, whom he believed
TO be the duke This dukes maria ge
lhad at first been a happy one (ten chill
/ dren were bOrn), but a GOODNESS set in
/ about 1870. and in 1871 a Miss Henriette
/ DeIuzy-Desportes was engaged as gov
/ erness 10 the family
She was young. twenty-three, Pa
{ riSian- attractive and educated. to q
/ keen intelligence she added wonder
I fuI energy In a short time she sup
I planted the duchess entirely as mis-
/ tress OF The house. the wife became
nobody and the governess was ON
J ufpOfent Marshal Sebastian and
] some friends interveneG. with the re-
I suit that the gOveTness was sent
/ away with a pension Of $500. and
! the duke and duchess seemed recon
! The duke. However, continued TO
visit Miss Deluzy. and finding her II,
] tears one day asked the cause. She
| explained she could not find another
/ position, as the duchess refused to
! give her a letter OF recommendation.
/ The duke promised her the letter
and went home. About 4-30 a ID,
/ cries were heard from the duchess
room. the servants rushed in. found
! their mistress On the floor. covered
with wounds (nIOTe than thirty were
! counted at the autcnsy). and on their
/ giving the alarm the duke hurried
I IN and showed every sign OF despair
as his wife breathed her last with
out having been able to say a word.
| The servants i'm mediateIy concludes
the duke was the guilty person. and as
4 their quarters Were searched one OF
them told the 7 sistrate, You had bet
ter search the Uule's room" This was
( done, and unmistakable evidence of the
crime was found. Miss DeIuzy was also
arrested
Ends His Life.
The duke was taken TO the Luxem-
bourg prison. where no careful watch
vas kept on him designedly. and he was
/ found one night with bottle IN his