AN UNLUCKY SON.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 1025, 3 August 1911, Page 4

AN UNLUCKY SON.

MYSTERIOUS FRENCH PRISONER. The Paris police were called upon the other day to arrest a man on the charge of alleged shoplifting. When they inquired into the case they were rather amazed, not so much at the accusation of simple shoplifting made against the man, but at the allegations concerning his title, birth, and noble connections. The alleged thief, they were told, is a Baron, and was married to a Countess from whom he is at present separated. It is further alleged that he is the illegitimate son of a King whom it is preferable not to mention, and who is long since dead. The mother of the alleged Baron .was ennobled after his birth, and was married to a Count. The boy is described as having grown up with a liking for adventure, and his mother supposed that she was satisfying his desire by placing him on board a ship. He thus travelled round the world for years, and returned as independent as ever. He had become a fine, handsome young fellow, and such a favourite that a wealthy nobleman was delighted to give him a daughter in marriage, with a suitable fortune. After his marriage, however, the young Baron, it is stated, found life tedious in the old mediaeval castle, which was part of the dowry of his wife, and went to the great cities tor adventure and amusement. He purchased horses and got up a splendid racing stable, and soon lost his sport and took to automobling. Before he was aware of it his wife’s fortune had dwindled down to nothing, and he was reduced to all sorts oi expedients, such as pawning jewels and furniture. His father-in-law became highly indignant, and took back his daughter, leaving the Baron only a paltry allowance per month, on which a workman would have found it difficult to live. Hotel bills had been accumulating with suprising rapidity for tne last eight months, and this, it is alledged, drove the son of a onetime king to the expedient of shoplifting. When the police entered his place they found an extraordinary variety of objects: entire suits by the dozen, any amount of linen, and more than a 1000 neckties, which, it seems, had been ordered from a number ot shops, and the bills for which the baron had been unable to settle. Since his arrest the shopkeepers have been sending the bills to the police authorities, who can only be expected to look at them, as it is not their duty to pay. There is only one hope, and that is that his wealthy father-in-law may come to his rescue.