The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1916-12-14
A man OF MYSTERY
Strange Story of a French Exile
of the Last Century.
MADE HIS HOME IN NEW YORK.

He Lived a Royal, but Secluded, Life
Here Until Napoleon's Downfall,
When He Vanished to Reappear, Per-
haps as King Charles K. of France.
In the year 1903 French gentleman
came into the wilds of the southern
part of Madison county. N. Y, and
erected a chateau upon the wooded
summit of the highest hill In George
town. He had purchased 2,7O0 acres Of
land, paying for it close to $4,000. He
gave the name of Louis Amathe Muller.
He brought great wealth in gold and
silver coin into the wilderness and
spent 1t lavishly in clearing land, erect
ing his home and establishing great
park for game. The chateau was little
less than fortress.
The master Of the house wore the
costume of French gentleman, lived
royalty and introduced as far as posi-
BILE the manners of feudal France. He
was attended by retinue OF French
men, among them physician. who
bore the name Of Pietrow.
During all his sojourn in the wilder
ness Muller received numerous papers
from abroad. 1t was very common for
him to comment upon the progress OF
Bonaparte, and, when news came OF
his disaster in Russia, Muller was
overjoyed and began to make prepa-
rations to return home, and when the
overthrow Of Bonaparte was assured
he rode away on horseback to take
passage for France.
Many have been the conjectures as
to the identity of this man. He pre-
served his incognito completely. 1t
was believed that only his physician
knew his true name. Those who had
carefully studied the events Of the
time and knew the history Of the royal
family Of France believed that Muller
was a Bourbon prince hiding from
BOnaparte. The physician once said
that Muller was cousin the second to
the Duke Of Angouleme," but the be-
lief generally is that he was q member
Of the Bourbon family, who, on the
abdication Of Bonaparte. was restored
to his royal privileges.
By many it was supposed that the
mysterious American visitor was no
other than the Count of Artois, who
had been banished from France by Ma
poleon and who later governed that
country as Charles K. Only a man
with such cunning as he Is credited
with possessing could have concealed
his identity in the wilds Of Madison
county. The Count Of Artois was the
right age, f1fty-one, in 1908, had a suf-
ter and in methods Of amusement to
Louis Amathe Muller.
There is lapse in history as to the
movements Of the count. In July, 1889,
he left France as leader Of the emil
grants, and his career from this time
on to his return to France in 1914 Is
somewhat involved. For the reason
that his real name was as odious In
America as in Europe 1t Is thought
that he came to this country not only
to avoid Bonaparte, but to put to rest
the tongues that were busy with his
name.
The description Of Muller's personal
appearance fits accurately the descrtp-
lions Of the Count Of Artois, or Charles
x. AS writer puts It, "The passion
for hunting and dread Of Bonaparte
evinced by Muller point unerringly to
Artois as the man who occupied the
chateau on Muller hill" When Artois
became king 1t Is said that he endan-
-ered his throne through his devotion
to the chase.
The time of Muller's or Artois' de-
parture for Europe to be present when
BOnaparte was subdued cannot be &C
ourately given. He left New Yo.k
ate in 1918. The time Of his return to
America to settle his affairs and sell
his estates is known. It was when all
danger from Bonaparte was past after
the battle Of Waterloo. After the hun
dred days Of NapoleOn's rule and the
return of Louis XVIII. to Paris it is
said by his biographers that the Count
of Artois held aloof from public affairs.
Vas he absent in America? Muller
was in this country selling his estates
during that period Upon his return to
France he waited patiently until 1924
to place the crown upon his head.
The stormy life of Charles X. ended
at Goritz, Austria, in 1886. His bones
lie there in the chapel Of the Francis
cans. His life has never been fully
written, but his personality. romantic
career, etc, fit well into the mysteri
GUS Muller.-Philadelp Press