CURIOUS CASE OF SWINDLING.

Waipawa Mail, Volume I, Issue 30, 25 December 1878, Page 3

CURIOUS CASE OF SWINDLING.

A curious case of swindling has just been tried before the Correctional Tribunal of Paris, with the result that an adventuress who passed herself off as the Princess of Reuss, has, iu spite of the able advocacy of M. Lauchand, been sentenced to two years imprisonment. A few weeks ago a “ lady of distinguished appearance, very elegantly attired,” fell down, apparently in a fainting fit at the St. Lazare railway terminus, and among the persons who hurried to her assistance was a re tired servant, who had already been struck by the grace of her demeanour. When she came to, he asked permission to assist her to a hotel in the neighborhood, and sent for a doctor, being assured in return that be would have no cause to regret his kindness ; “for,” added the lady, “ I am the Princess of U ush, and shall not forget your kindness.” The Princess went on to explain that she bnd immense possessions in Germany, which, unfortunately, had b-*en seized by Prince Bismarck, and that the wdUjry to which she was subjected by the « on for their recovery had so affi ted her that she was often overtaken by fainting tits. “ But,” she added, with touching condescension, “ can 1 regret all this, since it has procured me the opportunity of meeting with such diaintcrestad attention ? ” The retired servant was so completely won by this last phrase that he begged the Princess to accept a loan of any money which she might require for temporary purposes, end it wa«* not very long * before th*-

£4OO which he had saved during long ▼ears of service had been borrowed from him. After these had gone, and when the Princess still failed to receive the remittances she was expecting, he awoke to the possibility of his having been defrauded ; and the inquiries which were instituted by the police showed that the Princess of Reuss and a well-known Bwindier of the name of Perm were one and the same person. Justice has been satisfied by the sentenee of two years’ imprisonment ; but the retired servant will not, it is to be apprehended, recover his £4OO.