Norwich bulletin., 1921-01-07
ODD INCIDENTS IN AMERICAN
HISTORY
AMERICAS MYSTERIOUS EXILE.

In the year 1903 French gentleman
came into the wildS of the southern part
of Madison county, New York. and erect
ed a chateau upon the wooded summit Of
the highest hill in Georgetown. He had
purchased 1900 acres of land, paying for
it close to $4,000. He gave the name Of
Louis Anathe Muller. He brought great
wealth in gold and silver coin into the
wilderness and spent it lavishly in clear
ing land, erecting his home and es -ablish-
ing a great park for game. The chateau
was little less than a fortress.
| The master of the house wore the cos.
| tune of a French gentleman and intro
duced, as far as possible, the manners OF
feudal France He was attended by a
rctinue of Frenchmen, among them a
physician who bore the name of Pietrow.
Muller always rode about his estates on
horseback attended by servants who were
| armed All the local traditions represent
him as of distinguished appearance, erect,
/ agile, and possessing the air of command.
! Muller watched with the deepest interest
the progress of the war of 1872; but when
a sergeant was sent by Captain Hurd to
warn him to appear at general training,
armed and equipped as the law directed,
he declared to one of lis trusted super
intendents that he had been grossly in
suited He said that it was an outrage
for one who had been a. general of divi-
sion and a participant in the making Of
three treaties to be asked to do mental
military service.
This was one of the few occasions upon
which he allowed himself to speak of his
past history. During all his sojourn in
the wilderness he received numerous pa
pcrs from abroad. 1t was very common
for him to comment upon the progress OF
Bonaparte, and when news czune of his
disaster in Russia Muller was oYerjoyed
and began to make preparations to return
home, and when the overthrow OF Bona
iparte was assured he rode away on horse.
back to take passage for France.
Many have been the conjectures as ia
the identity of this man. He preserved
his incognito completely. 1t was believed
, that only his physician, knew his tru,
. name. Those who had carefully studied
the events of the time and knew the his
tory of the royal family of France be
,lieved that Muller was a Bourbon primes
hiding from Bonaparte. The physician
| once said that Muller was cousin TIL,
, second to the Duke of Angouleme," bu
the belief generally is that he was
member of the Bourbon family who, OF
the abduction of Bonaparte, was restores
i to his royal privileges.
i By many it was supposed that the mys
y terious American visitor wass no othe
than the Count of Artois, who had bee
a banished from France by Napoleon, an,
d who later governed that country a
Charles y. Only a man with such Gun
|. ming as he is credited witt possessin
q could have concealed his identity in tn
8 wilds of Madison county. The Count o
Artois was of the right age, 81 in 1870;
f had a sufficient motive and answers i
K character and in methods of amusemen
!, to Louis Amathe Muller.
! There is a lapse in history as to tn
!. movements of the count. In July. 17St
:. he left France as leader of the emigrant
:, and his career from this time on to hi
!, return to France in 1914 is somewhat il
T yolved. For the reason that his real nam
was as odious in America is in Europe
- is thought that he came to this countr
e not only to avoid Bonaparte but to put
q rest the tongues that were busy with h
III name.
The description of Mu1ler's personal al
pearance fits accurately the description
le of the. Count of Artois or Charles X. 4
ii wri1er puts it: THE passion for hun
I ing and dread of Bonaparte evinced /
In Muller point unerringly to Artois as Il
a man, and the only man, who could ha,
lie occupied the chateau on Muller HILL