The New York herald., 1922-08-10
MRS. FAHNESTOCK
FO|LS BLACKMAILER
Wife of Gibson Fahnestock,
Jr., Has Bogus Spanish
Grandee Punished,
PRISONER ADMITS CRIME
Threatened American Woman
With Pistol at Husbands
Villa at Nice.

With Pistol at Husbands
Villa at Nice.
| Speciol Gable to THE New York HERALD.
Copyright, 1929, by THE New YoRK HnRALD.
New York Herald Bureau,
/ Paris, Aug. 9.
The willingness OF Mrs. Gibson
Fahnestock, Jr., of New York and
Washington to face possible scandal
in order to defeat blackmailing at
tempt on the part of young Italian
had its reward, when the judges in
Paris court to-day sent tho black
mailer to prison at hard labor for
eighteen months. this to be followed
by five years exile from France.
The man in the case Is the erst-
while valet of Mr.. Fahnestock, who
is the owner of the chateau de Mon
taligne in Nice. Several months ago
he was engaged through an employ
ment agency. giving his name at the
time as Ralph Cuira. A few weeks
later Mr.. Fahnestock noticed the
Wallets hair changing color and asked
an explanation. The valet admitted
he had given false name, and said
that in reality he was Archange Cuira,
Marquis de Castao. a Spanish grandee
and a member of the Maltese no
bility.
Threatened with Revolver.
He so favorably impressed Mr..
FAhnestock that he offered hin, new
work as secretary, which threw hin,
constantly IN contact with Mrs. Fahne-
stock. He soon became assiduous In
his attentions to her and according to
Mrs Fahnestock began to menace her
with q revolver. threatening to tell her
husband their relations were improper
unless he was given 100000 francs. On
one occasion he declared he would shoot
her, and her husband, and then sot fire
| to their chateau and commit suicide.
unless given at least 100000 francs.
Mrs. Fahnestock confided the story
OF the effort at blachmail to two per-
| sons at the chateau, and efforts we're
made to induce Curia to leave but he
continued to threaten Mrs. Fahnestock.
| following her about constantly when
she walked in the park of the chteau.
Finally Mrs. Fahnestock told her hus-
band the whole story. and they decided
TO go to Paris for a while. Cuira fol-
then applied to the police for protection
and a trap was laid. Cuira was ar
rested outside the Grand Hotel. where
| he had gone in the belief that the
Fahncstocks had promised to pay him
100000 francs.
When confronted in court. Cuira ad-
mitted that the whole story he had
spread of his relations with Mrs.
| Fahnestock was a pure fabrication and
blamed his tempestuous character and
numerous debts for his efforts to obtain
money at the expense OF Mrs. Fahne-
stocks re- utation. Tearfully he pleaded
for her forgiveness and asked the court
TO consider his youth in fixing sentence.
According to the police. Ctira's claim
to the Spanish title Is .baseless. as he
possesses not even a passport He Is
believed by the police to be man
wanted in Spain for various forgeries
during the war
Denies Offering to Pay Him.
i Both Mr. and Mrs Fahnestock in con-
correspondent tonight corrected details
Of the story as given out by court off,
ciais following the sentencing OF Curia.
"It is not true that I ever offered TO
pay anything after he started trying to
biackmail me-" said Mrs. Fahnestock
THE only offer to help Curia. who is
only 90. was when he claimed 70 be a
Marquis. Evidently Of good family. I
wanted to heip him. and offered TO assist
hiW while he was continuing his educa-
tion. Even at the time OF his arrest I
never had any intention OF paying him
anything.
"we have been the victims OF das-
tardIy scoundrel. who gained our conf
dence by presenting recommendation by
such we'll known persons as Spencer
Turner of Florence and Count PioIa dc
Cassclli OF Nice. both OF whom praised
him.
''Curia constantly threatened me with
publicity such as the American sensa :
tional press would be certain to take up
Time and again I was tempted to pay
him what he asked in order TO keep my
name clear OF sensational publicity. but
| I decided TO fight to the end knowing
the court would obtain a confession from
the rogue. The whole scheme was
founded upon lies and knavery"
Mr.. and Mrs. Fahnestock said they
intend spending the remainder OF the
summer In seclusion.
-
/ Gibson Tahnestock. Jr.. is the son Of
tho late Gibson Fahnestock Of Wash
ington and New York. who died ir 1917.
Mr.. FahncstocS. Sr., was the son or
Harris Clark Fahnestock. tho well
known New York banker who died In
| 1914 Mrs. Gibson Fahnestock. Sr.. ie
abroad. and had spent some time with
her son and daughter-in-law. who main
tain home In England. as well as one
In France. Her own home IN Wash
ington IL In Masaachusetts avenue. The
family lived for years, In New York in
Madison avenuA-