AN ARISTOCRATIC CRIMINAL.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1099, 18 May 1883, Page 3

AN ARISTOCRATIC CRIMINAL.

A trial of international interest,' destined to figure prominently amongst the causes eelebres of this century, has been concluded at the Annsbruck Assizes, -Tyrol. The accused was Baron William Pawell Romm- - ingen, whose arrest caused no small sensation. He is allied ;to royalty through 'his cousin’s marriage with the ’Princess Frederica, and was charged with fraud in connection with tho “ Reichardt Legacy.” The history of this legacy ns given in the act; of indictment is a romance in itself. 1 v About the middle of the last; century General Reichardt, after serving in ihe.arm'y of ths Grand' Mogul of * Delhi” against ‘the English, founded the -Principality of Sirdhana in North-WestJridia..' The legacy which bears his name fell to his wife. Begum Somro, renowned for her cruelty, who eventually embraced the f liitliolTc taith; and adopted as her heir David I >yce Sombre, a grandson of General RaioJlar-.it.- Trie legacy . was, however,., sequestrated by the East India Company, on the plea that after the Genera’s death Begum Somro was'only entitled to the usufruct of the Principality of Sirdhana. A long and complicated law suit, arose, which was pqly .finally terminated iu 1872 by the decision, of the Privy Council' in Lo iloii. David Dyce married a daughter i f Admiral' Sc. Vincent,'and was subsequently declared to be a lunatic;: in conse-quence-offals ■ extravagant,,.way ~of . living;. . He’disinnerited his wireoaitof revenge,' and * made a will in favour of''ltie‘' , 'firisfd ; li i iliHa' ■ Company. ..After j his- desih his widow 1 married Lord' Forrester, arid attacked her deceased, husnanifs will; While this law suit was going on, soingwhera about, 1850, it was suddenly.; jririduheed!'thiit‘ GeriAcal Reichardt was not a native of India, ’-hut a born Tytolese. A notice, inquiring for the descendants of Reichardtj... appeared jn a. Tyrol newspaper, and shortly aftefwards'"a' teacher of languages. namect-GesauiiJ -residing at Bi.zeiu.put for ward,•.a.,e!Mlu to .the; leuacy > on-behalf of a woman pretending to descend from""ReiqharSl’s .sister, 'jn "spite.,' of GritlSud’H efforts - the casd 'feli 2 thrba£li, r ' but, nothing’ daunted, client-in the .peiison.of. iplile formerly cook to the vicar, pf .the; locality;:. In’ 1876, through an iritroclncUori''' ftoiri ] Count Gunther Steriitierg,’ this acquainted'with •Barirtn 'Pafrel-KeiSniinifen,. who, owing to his knowledge of foreign languages and connections., in the best society, appeared the fight than to promote the legacy Venture. An agreement was cono'uded, and it was decided ' to establish, » fund for thp .purpose, of furthering the object in view. ‘ Baron Pawel-Remritimjen, says the act of indictment, wentTAti least’ five times to London and as often to Rome, besides performing several journeys to Pans and Vienna. He managed to collect over 30,000 florins through.. Genaud and Widmayr, who obtained the raoriey froiri small capitalists, under the promise that three times the amount thus advanced should be reimbursed. Barna-Pawel-Eamm-ingen succeeded in inducing several personages of note in England and Austria to interest themse ves in his undertaking. He took advantage of a cominunica' ion, apparently received.from .Lord., Denbigh...stating that Begum Somro had bequeathed'adarge ’ sum to the Catholic mission at Agra, to represent the whole affair as one of primary importance to tho Catholic Churchy Baron Pawel-Rammingen by this, means won the sympathy and support of 'the clergy; "He had. moreover, been con verted to Catholic- - Ism in. America,, and in IPTQvwas' appointed;, Chamberlain to.;the Popp, He^ad4f|i? himself to the Superior of the 'Gapuchiri F iars at Rome, that order having furnished the mission-to Agra, and.'promised,him that • •the Tyro'ese heirs to the RcicfiartTt legacy would pay the Capuehins-theu - sbare,,kaid' to have been withheld by the, English., Go-, . vemment , providing ’hey would support,the enterprise. The Baron boasted of Slav-' ing secured the goodwill of the late' Lord"' Ellis and of Lord Ripori;'.Viceroy of iridia, , but with regard to. the former therO’is rea-. son to believe that the statement is alto gefner unfounded ; while, so far as Lord Kipon is concerned, he only vaguely promised to give the matter his, .attention should it come before the Indian law courts. The act of indictm iK concludes with a number of petty .changes against the Baron that have little to do with the mam court.’ After it had been read in court the President made a somewhat extraordinary remark, that the Baron’s relations having testified to his unblemished cnaraoter, either he must have acted without their knowledge nr they had made false statements. The accused pleaded not guilty. Evidence was then led, the trial, lasting six days. The question put to the jury was whether the accused had deceived persoris by falie representations and obtained largo sums on false pretences. The jury brought in a verdict of guilty, and the prisoner was sentenced, to seven years’ imprisonment, with one fast day per month, and the loss of his title. The severity of the sentence is explained by the fact, of a previous conviction, and by the deception having lasted during five years.. The accused listened to the sentence calmly, and evinced no surprise. - . -