A COUNTESS ON TRIAL

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 390, 16 May 1910, Page 3

A COUNTESS ON TRIAL

A DRAMA OF LOVE AND CUPIDITi. COUNTESS TARNOWSKA AND HER LOVERS. THE JUDGE OUTWITTED. A TEARFUL MURDERER. One of the most dramatic murder trials ever known was begun at Venice on March 4, when Countess Tarnowska, her lawyer, her maid, aaid a Russian student named Naumoff were indicted, after waiting in prison for two and a half years, on the charge of conspiring in the murder of Count Kaniarowski, a wealthy Russian nobleman.

The story, as it was briefly outlined in the documents forming the indictment, is an amazing romance, in which the terrible fascination exerciseu by a beautiful woman is the central theme. THE PRINCIPAL PARTIES.

Count Paul Kamarowski, a Russian

noble, aged thirty-eight years, who, after executing an insurance policy

for £20,000 in favor of Countess Tarnowska, was murdered at bis Venetian villa.

NaumiofF, a young Russian, aged twenty-one, who was madly in love- with Countess Tarnowska. Incited -by jealousy and instigated by the Countess and her lawyers, Philukoff, he is alleged to have shot Count Paul Kaniarowski.

Countess Marie Tarnowska, a very beautiful woman-, who is said to have exercised a terrible fascination. She is now approaching her thirtieth year. Twelve years ago she was married to Count Tarnowska, and had three • children—two boys and a girl. In 1003 he divorced her.

M. Prilukoff, the lawyer, now thirtyseven years of age. While acting for the -Countess in 'her divorce proceedin 23 he became fascinated by her. Liza" Perrier, Countess Tarnowska's French maid, who is alleged to have assisted in the plot to kill Count Kamarov/ski.

THE TRIAL RESUMED. Venire, March 18. When the trial of Countess TamowM. Prilukoff and Co. was resumed in the Assize Court to-day, the presiding judge made *a curious discovery.

Owing to the morbid interest displayed in the case, the judge had ruled tnat no fashionalbly-dTcssed 'women were to he admitted to the court. He believed that in this manner the Venetian aristocracy would be prevented from glon ting over the details of the Counter* Tarnowska's erratic life. While scrutinising the general public at the back of the court this morning, the judge recognised Countess Popadopoli, wife of a well-known senator, who was without a hat, and Was wearing the dress of a working woman. Her maid, similarly attired, was with her. Then the judge discovered a number of other ladies who are members of the Italian aristocracy, likewise dressed in servants' clothes, and patiently enduring the discomfort of standing for hours in order to hear the evidence. The judge smiled grimly, but did not order their withdrawal.

The Countess was again subjected to an exhaustive examination regarding her correspondence with. Prikikoff and Xaumoff prior to the murder of Count Kamarowski. Evidence was procured showing that the Countess was the authorof three draft wills prepared by Kamarowski, in which he left all his property to the Countess. The latter answered many questions evasiveiy. She frequently contradicted herself. When these contradictions were pointed out, she .explained them by saying that after two and a-half years, eighteen months of which liad been spent in prison, she could no longer remember everything.

A TEARFUL MURDERER. Venice, March 21. To-day's session of the trial oi tne Countess Tarnowsko and her alleged accomplices in the murder of Count Kumarowski was devoted to the examination of 'witnesses.

The witnesses examined included hotel waiters, friends of Count Kamarowski and Prilukoff, and the physicians who attended Count Kamarowski when he was dying in the hospital at Venice. Their evidence concerned : the relations between Countess Tarnowiska and her lovers, and the demeanor of the Countess towards her servants.

HYPNOTISED BY A CIGARETTE

Venice, March 23,

The extraordinary influence which the Countess Tarnowska possessed over her lovers was illustrated at to-day's sitting of the Assize Court, when Ucrr (StucUhiii't. chief of of Vienna police, describing the arrest of Prilukoll". When Priluko°ff 'Was brought to the police ollice iu Vienna for examination, shortly after his arrest, he suddenly turned pale and cried: —

••The Countess has been in this room. It is full of tire odor of her cigarettes. Unless you take me into another room i cannot tell you anything." ••It was a fact/' added Herr Stuekliart, "that Countess Tarnowska had been examined in the same room about an hour before. She smoked several ciearettes of a .peculiar brand, which crave out >a distinctive odor. Priliikoff did not recover his composure until he had been taken into another apartment." When asked his opinion of the Countess, Herr Stuckhart replied that he con-,-iiiered her to be callous and selfish under ordinary circumstances, but that on one occasion she wept on seeing a portrait of her son.

Dr. Rosenfeld. a Viennese barrister, who acted for one of the .prioners, was (lieu examined, lie said that he considered Prilukoll" a helpless instrument in the hands of the Countess.

INSANITY OR ORHED?

Venice, March 24.

The familv history of the Countess Tarnowska is a great tragedy, according to the witnesses examined before the Assize Court to-day.

An attempt is being made by the Countess' buyers to show that she suffers from hereditary insanity, and that consequently she did not plan the murder of Count Kamarowski from motives of .greed. Rclati\e> of the Countess were examined to-day, 'and they alleged that - jnwbers <>* the *»«% were mad. Three

of l.cr cousins are now in an asylum, ami her matei'iii'.i nant was iu.-ai:.' ,\ni!u she died. Countess TitrnowsUe.'s grandmother also s.ufierc. irom ins.iniiv.

During the hearing of the evidence the Countess was in tears. Her aged father 'was again in court, and the judge permitted him lo 'have an interview with his daughter before she was taken back to prison.

Mine. Rejane, the famous actress, was an interested spectator in court to-day. She has attended many great trials, and a number ,of journalists, remembering that she 'had been an assiduous follower of the Dreyfus court-martial at Rennes, asked for her opinion of the Countess Tarnowska. Mine. Rejane declined, however, merely saying that all human tragedies interested her.