SOURCE: FOOTPRINTS OF MARION COUNTY - FALL 1987 EDITION - VOL. 12, NO. 2 This edition is out of print, and no longer available. PAGE 66 AN EARLY-DAY CON-ARTIST The following is another George ROSS newspaper column: A RUSSIAN NOBLE DAZZLED CENTRALIA Residents of Marion County, like Americans everywhere, have always been fascinated with the antics of European nobility. Little wonder, then, that Centralians were delighted at the arrival of a Russian count in their precincts in early 1868. The Centralia Democrat of February 20 recounted the details. "Last Friday week our quiet town was thrown into a flutter of excitement by the announcement that a real live Russian nobleman - a veritable count - had honored us with a visit. He came unheralded, and happening, shortly after his arrival, to enter the store of our fellow-citizen, J. C. BOHN, he introduced himself to that gentlemen as Count Ludwick PRESENTIN, and proceeded at once to impart the most wonderful history of his nobility, his great wealth, his philanthropy, his pecuniary losses, his escapes by 'flood and field', his terrible sufferings, besides many other things too numerous to mention. The count's story was exceedingly enchanting and left no doubt in the minds of his listeners as to the truth of his accounts. He related that being of a romantic turn and feeling ambitious of a military fame which could not be obtained in his own country, he removed to Prussia, joined the army and was soon promoted to the rank of major in the Cariasseurs. This, however, failed to satisfy him and his next desire was to travel to America. Accordingly, having provided himself with a draft upon New York for $60,000, he, with his countess and three children, embarked at Hamburg for this country. It was during this passage that he was visited by the severe affliction referred to above, amounting to nothing less than the death of the entire family. With broken heart, he finally reached New York, but here he received another severe blow. Being in want of some ready cash a few days after his arrival, he opened his trunk to obtain his draft, when, lo! It could not be found. It had vanished, and its owner was left in great tribulation and vexation of spirit. Yet such distress could, as a matter of course, be but temporary with a man in whose veins flowed the blood of a Russian count. He drew at once upon his European banker and resolved to devote his time to works of benevolence. In persuance of this noble design, he visited Philadelphia and today has the proud satisfaction of seeing eleven destitute raised and educated through his charity. In Centralia he appeared to be deeply impressed with a sense of religious duty and stated that he had in many places acted as a German missionary; he would be gratified with an opportunity to hold forth in the church here. This opportunity was given, and he preached on two or three occasions, to the great satisfaction of the congregation. His popularity was now confessed. The wind was fair, the waters smooth, adn he sailed along beautifully. Finding himself short of funds one late evening, he borrowed sixty dollars from a German admirer named SANDERS, a shoemaker. But his boldest transaction involved the confidence and affections of a highly respectable widow lady of our city. Having formed this lady's acquaintance, he manifested great partiality for her and soon obtained her consent to become his wife. Last Sunday was the time fixed for the consummation of the nuptials, and the happy announcement to that effect was made in the Catholic Church. In the hours preceeding the affair, his countship informed his intended bride that he wished her to present herself at the alter in as plain a manner as possible, becoming his religious works, and even assisted her in removing several rings from her fingers. These, he pocketed. He likewise relieved her of some twenty-five dollars, together with sundry articles of more or less value. On Sunday, the lady, according to appointment, presented herself at the church, arrayed in her bridal suit and looking charming enough for any count on the top of the earth, but the expected husband was not on hand. Hour after hour passed, and still he came not. At length the bride, provoked beyond endurence, and feeling deeply the sting of disappointed hope and mortification of misplaced confidence, returned to her home, only to find how shamefully she had been deceived, betrayed, and wronged. His countship, having in this last operation finished his game in Centralia, proceeded on his travels and was not heard from until the next day when someone met him on the road between this city and Carlyle. We have not heard whether any steps have been taken to secure his arrest, but it is to be hoped the swindling scamp will speedily be brought to the bar of justice and punished as his rascally conduct deserves." The subject of the Russian Count is not mentioned in later issues of the Democrat and thus we must assume that this charade was completely successful. ####