The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-07-20
Bogus Title-Holders Use Ameri-
can Newspaper Interviews to
Boost Their Claims.
pY LA MAnouIsE DE roNrENoY.


- 7 EWSPAPEIS ia this country
n should decline 10 couceda to ans
foreign visitors a uobiliary title
before making some effort TO
Investigate its Authenticity, for other
wise. IN publishing more or less friend
y articles concerning stranger. they
lend the weight OF their approval To
pretensions that are often bosus and
even criminally fraduient. Some Of the
most dangerous OF foreign Guvcuturers
use for the purpose OF dispclling sus-
pic.on here ana abroad. clippings from
leading American newspapers, in which
their bogus titles arc exploited in hat
tcrlng Interviews. Articles of this kind
serve. in fact. as passports and creden-
ual- TO the confidence OF many innocent
people for divers chavaiiers dindustric
attention TO this IL IS because there
has lately arrived in New York an in
diVidual who STYLES himself Prince Paul
de Clairmont. OF Russia. a Serene High
ness, cousin of the Duke Of Norfolk,
and who. like so many other monde
script. Adventures. Insists mat he Is
the original "paul'-thc hero OF a re-
cent cheap and nasty novel by a Cana
dian woman. entitled Three Weeks"
the Prince" who occupied an en-
tire page OF a number of American
papers on Sunday last. his picture be-
ing given along with his alleged coat
of-arms, surmounted, not by a prince
y coronet, but by the five ronged
circiet OF q mere German 'vor." is
likewise known, in England at any
rate. as Jocelyn Preston Arnott. and
when arrested in London last winter
on charge OF theft, he gave at the
Bow Street police court his occupa-
ton rs that of an actor the
accusation Of theft was preferred by
Florence. Lady Abby. who a daughter
Of Lehman Cohen of London, became
me third Wife Of the late Sir William
crippled by paralysis. and who Inherited
his large fortune. Since Sir Williams
death She has frequently invited the
attention Of the public, notably IN con
nect.on with aviation, and at ono time
II was rumored that she was about to
We'd Alice Thaw's ex-husband. the Earl
o. yarmouth. who has since become the
Marquis OF Hartford.
From evidence given In the police
court at Bow Street. il would seem that
tho prisoner had scraped acquaintance
WITH Lady Abby during Il trip from
Faris to London. representing himself
9s Ills Serene Hishness the Prince de
Clalrmont Of Russia" He became the
guest Of Lady ABBY at the Savoy Hotel.
and she continued to act as his hostess
jewelled butterfly brooch, valued at
several thousand dollars was missing
She accordingly accused him of having
stolen IL, and had him arrested The
police submitted In their rcnort that
the prisoners face was painted and
powdered. and added that when they
searched his room at tho Charing Cross
totei. they found powder-puns. rouge.
pencils for tho eyebrows, and namboy-
ant visiting cards bearing the name and
tue OF Prince Paul de Clairmont" lie
admitted having taken away the brooch.
ana also having pawnct IT, surrendcr-
ing TO the police the pawn .sc.-e., but
declared that Lady Abby has given 1t
10 him when lie asked her for some
money. because She had no cash in
nand at the time. AS Lady Abby is
very rich, his excuse did not appeal to
the magistrate. who committed the sol
disant prince for trial at the Genera,
sessions. There the jury acquitted him.
mSiniy on account or the reputation
which Lady Abby has acquired Tor
picking up queer associates. and the
presiding judge took the opportunity
TO add, after the verdict had been
given, that although an acquittal usu-
ally meant that the accused left the