MYTHICAL PRINCE.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LIII, Issue 9480, 7 December 1907, Page 5

MYTHICAL PRINCE.

GIRL WHO MASQUERADED AB A NOBLEMAN. v

PEDIGREE DATED 800, B.C.

An extraordinary story of a naval, pensioner's daughter, who masqueraded 'as an, Italian prince, with a pedigree dating from B.C. 800, was told dt the Worcestershire Quarter Sessions recently. . , , James Douglas, aged eighty-four, . a naval. pensioner, and bis wife and daughter,' were charged with obtaining goods from a number of tradesmen at Malvero by false pretences. it. was stated that "the' daughter posed ,as a wealthy Italian prince 1 - living ia retirement. In communication ho .fcrades-

men, .ordering goods or postponing payment, it was < stated" that the '"prince" had immensely valuable properties in all' parts of the world, that he paid a million sterling per annum to the Vatican, atnd that he kept fifteen grooms. The mother acted as valet and housekeeper to the "prince." ,

Witnesses deposed that the younger prisoner .had her hair cut short, and hod a suit of men's clothing. , ' - One tradesman, indeed, was shown a document purporting to be signed by four barristers of the Inner Temple, certifying the Prince's honor and possessions, and giving their promise of payment to tradesmetk By that letter they got some jam and pickles In obtaining vegetables and mineral waters to the value of 13s from a shopkeeper named Bubb they promised the, family thousands of pounds. There was £9000 for the head of the family, £5000 each for their two eldest sons, and £4000 each for their daughters, with the chateuax at Lucerne.

The jury recommended the old man to mercy, and he was given the nominal sentence of one day's imprisonment. The two women were sentenced to three months' hard labor.

The chairman of the Court said that he could not have believed there were such credulous people in the worMi > ,

; While ahearing -in Leefield- the other day, v (says .the. Marlborough Express) a 1 flock v of ,1001 merino wethers cut 19,576 lbs of 'Wool, which eoKpses all previous tecords for that station, in feet a record for the province in nfll-counfery. sheep.