Arizona republican., 1914-02-15
TRIAL OF THE HUMBERTS

One of the most gigantic frauds swindling operations of the Hum- berts in Paris, which is well within the memory of most readers of this article. These impOsters were able to borrow the fabulous sum of close to SIP 100000 upon the security of a safe containing paste diamonds worth perhaps two dollars, a few shares of valueless stock in a deceased com pany and mass of waste paper
 The start of this sWindle was as far back as 1878 when the Humberts began to reside in Paris The lavish display of the family attracted the attention of those socially prominent and the rumor was circulated that t'ey were fabulously wealthy
 In 1883, at least so the Humberts claimed there died in Nice a New York millionaire named Robert Henry Crawford. who it was stated had left Madame Humbert twenty million dol lars because she had nursed him
 
 millionaire's nephews, however, found a will dated the very same day as the one that gave Madame Humbert the vast sum. and in this will it was stated that the money should go to these nepheWs and to Madame Hum bertS tWelVe-Y Year-Old sister. Marie
 The story was further continued to of hat T between the Humberts and the CraW- ford nepheWs. and the following plan decided upon: Until Marie should come of age, all the bonds. stocks and other securities should be kept untouched in a huge safe that was built into room of the Humbert mansion. 65 Avenue de Ia Grande Armee, Paris. Legal consent for the compromise was obtained.
 People in passing the Humbert home in Paris were wont to nudge one another and say: There is where the hundred million franc for tune is locked up" All this mo- toriety helped the Humberts socially and financially Large sums of money were readily turned over to them on the strength of the legacy. and even the mighty Bank of France lent Madame Humbert whatever money she requested By the time Marie came of age the Humberts had bor- rowed about $12,OOO,OO
 Then came the awakening. There had never been any fortune. There had been no Robert Henry Crow ford, New York millionaire" The whole thing was gigantic fake. The Humberts had lived for nineteen years in the most lavish splendor on practically nothing.
 1 There was a train of ruined credi- tors, one of which committed suicide. The Humberts' banking concern col lapsed. and thousands of poor people lost all of their savings. The Hum berts were finally pursued, brought to trial and the whole family found guilty.
 The first exposure occurred on May 9. 1902. when the detective depart ment of Paris made an examination of the Humbert safe at the direc- ton of the court They found there IT.. 900, 900, nothing but an old baton some old papers and the official sea which had made the swindle possible
 In the meantime the Humberts had escaped and a search was made fol them all over Europe. They were finally arrested in Madrid on the twentieth of December of the same year. and were only taken after desperate attempt on their part tt escape They were brought to Paris and under police surveillance. The1 had had number of secret hearings but the first public hearing was or February II. 1903. when the case ot M Cattani was taken up.
 The trial on the charge of forgery and swindle was not begun unti August S. 1903. which was held before the Seine Assize court The prisoners were Madame Humbert, her hus- band, Frederick: her two brothers Romaine and Emile Daurignac The trial brought out much damaging evidence against the Humberts, but