Extraordinary Career of a Prince.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 248, 21 March 1888, Page 4

Extraordinary Career of a Prince.

The Ncv York correspondent of the " Glasgow Mail' 1 gives the following extia ordinary narrative of the criminal career of a Prince :— "The discovery that Dr. Grant., the bigamist, who died last April in the House- of Correction in Eas:t Cambridge, was none other than Dr. Lewis Contri, a natural son of Victor Emmanuel, King of Italy, has aroused a sensation. From the time of Grant's arrest at Clayton, N.J., early in March, for swindling Miss Lucy Torrey, of Cambridge, out of $20,000, until he breathed his last, his lips remained sealed as to who and what ho *"ns before lie figured in the criminal records of the State. His last wordd were — ' The world shall never know me as I was.' Now, how ever, the curtain which sepaiated the double personality rolls back, repealing an astonishing career. Dr. Contii was born in Austria, but was the natutal offspring of Victor Emmanuel, King of Italy, and Archduchess Adelhird, of Austria. He was born in 1842, two months bcfoie Victor Emmanuel and the Archduchess were united in marriage. This unfortunate chcumstance rendered him a natural child only. Victor Emmanuel was at that time King of Sardinia, and did not succeed to the throne of Italy until 1861. The aspiration of the young prince to the throne of Sardinia led to his being exiled by his father, the King. After a sojourn of some years in Paris, Dr. Contii, otherwise Dr. Grant, came to America, and in New York city he met and married the firssfc of his many i wives -a German girl named Louise Boden Miller. In 1861 he enlisted in a New York regiment, and made a good record as a soldier. It appears that while engaged in battle Dr. Contri became separated from his command. Before he knew it he found himself comfortably installed in Richmond, and while thero became acquainted with Mis? Virginia Saunders, a niece of Jefferson Davis. Their acquaintance soon ripened into love, at least on the part of the young woman. They were thrown very much together during the siege, and the young man took every occasion afforded to endear himself to the object of his affections. The young German girl was for the time forgotten by him in his desire to completely captivate the young Southern beauty. She did not forget him, however, for whon she found lie had deserted her she made application for divorce, and procured it on the ground of neglect and desertion. Hardly had peace been declared before Contri married Miss Saundei-s and fled with her to Canada. They resided in Montreal but a few months, when his bride died. He returned to the States, arriving in Boston in the spring of 1866, when Fenianism was at its j height. He espoused the "cause," and was ; among the first to enrol himself in the rank and file then preparing for a raid upon ; Canada. When the Fenhns left Boston he filled the position of colonel. After several other women had been deluded by the adventurer, and ho had served a two years' term in Sing Sing, the State prison of New York, for bigamy, he quietly left the country, returning to Europe for the purpose, as he expressed it, of disposing of some property which he had held there in his own right. During his residence with Dr. McSheehy's folks at East Boston, he was in constant communication with nearly all the countries of Europe. What his letters contained his wife never knew. One thing was certain, he bore no great love for nis brother Humbert, the legal successor to the throne of Italy. He repeatedly said that it was his right, and that if everyone had his due he should be the next King of Italy, being, as he claimed, born under promise of marriage, and since tliab marriage was shortly after consummated, he, not Humbert, was the legal heir to their father's right. King Victor Emmanual died in 1878, and was succeeded on the throne by his son Prince Humbert. Br. Contri was at that time absent in Europe, but as to the nature of his doings there no one appears to know. The next heard of him was in London,. where, under the name of Dr. Grant, he advertised as a specialist, and lectured extensively on mindcuring. Becoming once more involved in orouble with the opposite sex, he returned to the United States, where- he learned that Mrs Jane Delaney, of Boston, the only woman he acknowledged as his real wife, had secured a divorce from him soon after he abandoned her. It was while oub upon a lecture tour that he first met and married the woman who is known as Kate Ray, his alloged sister. Together they conspired to ( do up' the large watering places of the country. in the summer of 1884 Dr. Contri and his 'sister' were at Old Orchard Beach, Maine, under the name of Dr. Perry. He claimed to bean extremely wealthy Englishman with untold hoessessions in Australia. Tho wo manp passed off as his sister also possessed f ' great wealth," Among tho visitors to the beach was a Miss Emma Kanes, of St. Thomas, Canada, whom he married in 'short order- He secured $50,000 from her, and then loft her to mourn over her mistrust in man. He proposed to a number of other ladies, and in short came so near marrying a Mrs Williams* a rich, widow of Kinnebunk, Me., as to be engaged to her. The timely interference of ( friends fortunately saved her. At Revere Beach ,he laid siege to the heart of Miss Riddle, of Manchester, New Hampshire, proposed to her, and was .rejected. From

1885 to 1887 the doctor's matrimonial ventures wove almost too numerous to montion. In August, 1885, he married Miss Lucy Torrey, of Cambridge, and a month later deserted her, taking with him her whole fortune This venture proved to be worth alone $20,000 to the Italian Prince, a sum which he toon disposed of. After that affair Dr. (h'ant went into hiding in Clayton, New Jersey, where come timo proviously ho had purchased a comfortable little farm. Having had a re.-adenco at Cambridge once it is very probable that he know all about Miss Torrey. Detective Ducoy, of Cambridge, trot upon his track, and after some very skilful detective work arrested him at Clayton eaily in March. He was takon back to Cambridge and committed to the House of Correction to await his trial. On April 26 he died, and, as he supposed, so also the scciet of his past. Thai Dr. Contri and Dr. Grant wero one and the pamo per&on lias been established beyond a doubt by partie? who knew the doctor and his former character only too well. His man}' widows im,«tbo pleased to know that they have been married to an Italian Piince."