El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-01-17
AND
COUNT HAVE
ROBBED MANY
Two italian Noblemen Are
Given Long Terms For
Swindling.
HANDLED MILLIONS
AND KEPT MOST OF IT

II ONE, Italy. Jan. 17-This week
the assizes courts Of Rome and
Milan have sentenced to long
terms in jail two noblemen, count
Joseph Orsi and prince Charles Ba-
KOunine. whose meteoric careers
have filled the people with wonder.
The count and the prince may be
classed among the geniuses of the age
for swindling. For many years they
succeeded in leading a life Of luxury
and extravaganza by promoting pro-
jects which crumbled one after the
other, with thousands OF victims.
Prince Bakounines life is a romance
which surpasses the bOldest products
OF fiction. Twenty years ago he was
wei known figure in the aristocratic
circles of the Italian capital and, after
much opposition by her parents, mar
ried beauty Of the time, a Miss Can
neto. Her large fortune, consisting
chiefly of iron mines IN Sardinia, he
squandered in few years.
Plays Suicide Ruse.
Nine years ago, following imam
cal reverse the prince was charged
with obtaining money under false pre-
fences. He let the case 60 unde-
ANAl4c4 anu w DIS SEALEUEEu 10 AAfE y earn
in Jail Pending the appeal the prince
disappeared and a few days later his
wife received letter from Monte
Carlo in which he informed her that
he was going to put an end to MS
life. month later the Riviera,
papers printed the story Of how a for
elgner, subsequently identified as
prince BakOunine, had roWed out at sea
alone in q small boat and had jumped
overheard, leaving his clothes in the
boat.
Changes His Name.
For eight years the prince sailed
under the name of prince Wasssillief,
visiting the United States and Canada,
Vainly attempting TO rebuild his and
his Wifes fortune He returned to
Italy two years ago, was recognized
and arrested The Milan courts have
just sentenced him TO three years in
Jail for apprOpriating the money
raised for. the purchase of sulphur
mine in Sicily.
Count SvvindIes Cardinal.
Count Orsi has been sentenced to !
nine years for defrauding e number
of people among whom is cardinal
Merry Del Val, the Vatican secretary
OF state The count emigrated to
Venezuela some 10 years ago after re-
ceiving a, short sentence for fraud.
Castro received him with open arms
and in a few years raised him from
the humble position Of director Of
mines to that of minister of war. The
counts decision as arbiter in a con-
trOversy between the Venezuelan gov
eminent, and a German commercial !
syndicate attracted considerable atten-
ton and the italian press represented /
him as one Of the greatest Italians /
living abroad
Handles MflliOnsg Keeps Much.
His career as a promoter Of almost |
anything, from colonization schemes /
involving the outlay of S12 Co., 900 to ]
railways, navigable canals !
across the Alps and hotels for Cath /
Ole pilgrims dates from the day he 1
donned his uniform as Venezuelan =
minister of war. It has been brought j
out at the trial just concluded at the 1
local Assizes that in his long career !
the count has handled many million I
dollars much Of which he appropriated /
for his own use, and that his victims /
were often widows who entrusted him /
with all they had hoping to double /
their fortunes
Among those who appeared against /
him was count Laugier, one OF his boy l
hood friends, whose fortune of $780, 4
600, disappeared in a few months, and 1
his cousin. a beautiful girl, whom the 4
count had promised to marry, who \
lost $4,000. Cardinal Del Val was 1
not in court to testify against the /
count, but the police sWore that the 1
count obtained from him IS, 900 to de-
fray the expenses OF organizing
company which was to build a hotel for
Catholic pilgrims in Rome.