EUROPE’S GREATEST ADVENTURESS

Hokitika Guardian, 5 April 1929, Page 5

EUROPE’S GREATEST ADVENTURESS

RICH MEN DUPED

BERLIN, I-eh. 10

The Baroness Marian von Cipriani, otherwise Baroness Ginslowa, otherwise Marquise l’relinks, otherwise Princess Vizzimo, but actually Mathilde Walter, daughter of an Austrian post office clerk, appeared in a Berlin court to answer various charges of fraud. She was described as one of tbe greatest adventuresses in Europe. ft is stated that her beauty and her frocks have charmed society in the fashionable resorts of Germany, France, Italy, Spain and Switzerland. She began her career in Vienna, here as a girl she was sent to prison several times for petty theft. Her first appearance on a greater stage was when, as the Baroness- von Cipriani, she made the acquaintance of a foreigner in Vienna, during the inflation period. He fell madly in love with her, and when lie had to go to live in Budapest on account of bis work lie determined to take her with him. Jt was necessary for her to have a passport, and then the tiresome fact came out that her real name of Mathilde Walter was known to the police. So her adoring friend, who had influence, got her a false passport in the name of Baroness Ginslowa.

drama of jealousy

The “baroness” soon left her lover for a new one in a hotter position to provide her with diamonds. The change landed her in a. drama of jealousy in which she was seriously wounded by the deserted lover, and had to lie for a long time in hospital. She left Budapest when her health was restored and came to Berlin as the owner of important foreign mines ana the divorced wife of a Brazilian millionaire. She had an immense success. Jewels were showered on her. Two of her new friends presented her with fine motorears. In a year and a-lialf she got £1(),(!0() out of a rich Berlin industriallist. who in spite of his 67 years had fallen a victim to her charms. When, however, he discovered that her tale of a rich Brazilian was untrue he stopped his princely payments.

Nevertheless, the “baroness” eontinned to run up Dills for hundreds of pounds with dressmakers and jewellers and lived in the most expensive hotels under various high-sounding names.

OUTRAGEOUS

A few of the Berlin tradesmen whose hills she had neglected to pay have now brought charges against the beautiful adventuress of obtaining goods by false pretences. She told the court this morning that she considered the charge outrageous. She had lost one rich friend but could always get money from others. Her barrister, Dr Sidney Mendel, produced witnesses to show that successors to the rich Berlin industrialist had already paid quite a number of her bills.

The decision of the court is awaited with curiosity.