The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1921-01-29
THE HUMBtRT CASE
Interesting Story Of the Biggest
Swindle History Has Ever
Chroniclsd

Ou8 VI TIC 0AeS0't
| atable fakes of recent years was that
| Of the Humbert case, In Paris, In
which the impostors we're able to
borrow the sum Of s12.0o0,000 upon
the security OF a safe containing a
paste diamond worth perhaps 81, a
few shares Of valueless stock In a
deceased company. a button and a
mass Of waste paper.
The Humberts were finally pur-
sued, brought to trial and the upshot
of the matter was that the whole
family were found guilty, and vari-
Gus sentences were imposed upon
them from two to five years.
The start Of this swindle was as
far back as 1878, when there arrived
in Paris the young bride Of Frederic
Humbert, a rising statesman, whose
father was Frances former minister
of justice. The bride was Theresa
d'Aurignac, daughter of a Toulouse
merchant.
They started life in a considerable
air of mystery, living in a brilliant
fashion,. although generally it was
known that Humbert was in only or
binary circumstances. But the ru-
NOR was circulated that Theresa's
father was fabulously wealthy. The
beauty of the young wife, and her
lavish display. soon carried them into
social prominence. Then, in 1888,
came an event that excited all France
to talking and set the final mark Of
success upon the Humberts.
At this time there died in Nice a
New York millionaire named Robert
Henry Crawford, who left the wife a
fortune Of s2O,o00,000 because she
had once nursed him through a bad
Illness The incident appealed strong
ly to the French people. But the
dead millionaire's nephews. Robert
and Henry Crawford Of New York.
were able to produce a will dated the
same day as the one that gave Nine.
Humbert the $4,000, 900. which left
everything to the nephews and to
Theresa's ~12-year-old sister. with
only a small annuity to Nine. Hum
bert.
Negotiations were entered into be-
tween the Crawfords and Humberts
and 1t was decided until Marie should
come Of aga all the bonds. stocks and
securities. amounting to $40 900.
should be kept untouched in a huge
safe In the Humbert mansion in Par
is. Legal consent was obtained for
this compromise and the great seal Of
the French courts was attached to
the safe.
People In passing the Humbert
home in Paris were want to nudge
one another and say: There is
where the hundred million franc for
tune is locked up" The wealth in
the house became a standard joke
among the occupants and their
friends. All the notoriety helped the
Humberts socially and financially.
When Theresa went to bankers and
asked for large sums ON the strength
Of her legacy 1t vas readily turned
over. Even the mighty Bank of Paris
lent her whatever money she wanted.
Tradesmen Wed with each other for
her "credit custom"
The Humberts now launched out
into almost regal luxuries. One Of
the most eminent lawyers in France
was engaged for a large sum to raise
successive loans on the safe full Of
securities. By the time Marie came
Of g the Humberts had borrowed
about $12, 100000.
Now comes the strange awaken
ing. There had never been any for
tune. There had been no New York
millionaire Crawford. There was not
even any Crawford nephews. but the
whole thing was a gigantic fake The
Humberts had lived for 9oaears in
the most lavish splendor ON practical
ly nothing.
There was a train of ruined cred
itors. n Of whom killed himself.
The Humberts' banking concern col
lapsed and thousands of poor people
lost all their savings. With assets of
little more than SIS, the Humberts
had been able to bring their great
scheme of fraud to q elimination with
liabilities amounting to $12 .000.o 600.
a fake such Al history has never be-
fore chronicled.-Butte Miner.