"Countess" i the Dock.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 152, 1 July 1904, Page 4

"Countess" i the Dock.

LIFE OF LUXURY ENDS IN A CHARGE OF FORGERY. Distinguished by their high-sou ndinig names if toy nothing elpe from the other prisoners were the "Countess of Chatilion," the "Marquis of Massa Mulas'pina," and the "Baron du Kueile," who were once more !(rought before the examining magistrate yesterday, telegraphed the Daily Mail's I'aris correspondent on May 5. Their story is more simple than their titles. In 1902 a rich old gentleman named VV. Monthiers died, leaving a considerable fortune, and apparently no debts. Suddenly there appeared upon the scene an aristocratic lady boarimg the awe-insnining name of "Countess Anna S'iinanowna Decoeur de Ohatillon du Leutilly," who presented a bill to all appearances duly executed by the late M. Monthiers, promising to pay the said Countess Anna, etc., £82,000 in the year 1904. The heirs of the dead man—namely, his widow, two sons, and a daughter—attempted to disprove the validity of the document in .question, pointing out very naturally that AI. Monthiers lived the quietest of Lives, and had an income of £2160, far more than enough to gratify his modest desires. As they could prove nothing, all appeared to be going well with the countess when want of money Led her to try to borrow £IOOO from a Ko!icilor on tho famous hill. T<he nian of law made inquiries, however, and discovered that "Countess Anna Kiiminowria Decoeur tie Chatilion de Leutilly" was none other, than Josephine Simonnet, daughter of « grocer's assistant. The loan fell through.

Then a second blow foil on the Countess. . A young ma 11 named Massa called on the Monthiers' family lawyer and stated that he was a brother of the "Countess of Chatlllon's" sweetheart, and that he knew the document purporting to be Signed by M. Mor.thiers to bo a forgery. He aidded that he himself had bought the stamped pa]wr on which his brother, ''Marquis Massa Malaspina, had aided the ''Countess" to forge the bill. This Jed to the arrest last Thursday 0/. the "Countess" in her fashionable flat in the Avenue du Bois do Boulogne, and tire capture of her two accomplices speedily followed. It has been discovered, says t,he Matin, that the "Countess" has lived an extraordinary life .of luxury in Paris. She occupied a succession of sumptuously-furnished flats in Paris, and gave crowded receptions which were duly described i n the puiblic press.