The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-09-19

would appear that some OF the liberal minded pco-
pie Of England have recently been fieeced by a wo.
man who palmed herself off the Baroness Won
Beck and an intimate friend of Kossuth;' and that
she was assisted in her imposture by Accomplice
of respectable parentage, but desperate fortunes.
We quote from the Gazette;
The police office in this town (Birmin gham) was
on Saturday last, the scene of an occurrence which
has caused considerable sensation, and was con
nected with subject of magisterial investigation
of more than ordinary interest. few weeks ago
n female of respectable appearance, about fifty
years Of age, and accompanied by Hungarian
named Constant Derra, made her appearance in
this town as the celebrated Baroness Won Beck,
an intimate friend of Kossuth," and succeeded in
so lar ingratlatlng herself into the favor of num-
Der of highly respectable persons, that she became
an inmate in one of their houses, and received every
possible attention during severe illness with which
she had been seized. During the last week, how
ever, circumstances occurred which caused suspi
con to be entertained respecting her; and inquiries
having been instituted it found that che was
an impostor, and, consequently, she given into
custody on Friday evening last. She was conveyed
TO Moor street prisoner, and left during the night
In the charge of female attendant. At eleven
o'clock on the following morning, when the magis-
trates had assembled, Mr.. Stephens superintend-
ent OF police, went 10 conduct her from the prison
10 the court. When she arrived at the outer door
OF the prison she became weak, and chair was
Immediately procured for her. She sat down, and
in few minutes appeared sufficiently recovered to
proceed, and walked across the yard and up the
stairs leading to the magistrates room. When on
the landing she became evidently worse, and on
being taken into an ante-room almost instantly ex-
PRED. MIR. Porter, surgeon, was Immediately in
attendance, but life was extinct
person named Constant Derra who had also
been charged with the deceased, was then brought
up before VIM. Lucy, esq, Mayor. The court was
crowded to excess, and the case excited increased
interest from the awful circumstance which pre-
coded it, J. Toulmin Smith, esq, barrister of Lon
don, attended for the prosecution, and stated the
case. he said the prisoner stood charged on in
formation laid by Mr.. George Dawson, Mr.. Henry
Wilton Tyndal, MIR. Richard Peyton, and Mr..
Arthur Ryland, with conspiracy to obtain money
under false pretences Before entering into the de-
tails of the case, il would be necessary to the
circumstances under which the prisoner was
brought before the bench. About three weeks ago
the prisoner and woman, who called herself the
Baroness Won Beck, came to Birmingham. The fe-
male represented herself as a lady of distinction
and the writer of her own adventures, thought by
many to be highly Interesting. She, however, was
taken i'll, and SO great was the sympathy felt for
her, that gentleman of the town. TO his great
credit, received her into his house, and treated
her with the utmost hospitality and kindness.
This TACT having been made known to persons
familiar with the affairs of Hungary, and some
real Hungarian refugees having been appraised of
the matter, who were acquainted with all the lead
ing percentages who lived under the dominion of
Austria till the termination of the government of
kossuth in Hungary, they declared her an impos.
tor, and evidence the most incontestible ten
dered against her. The gentleman who had been
thus imposed upon and induced to give her and the
prisoner money, under gross Interpretations,
having become aware that she had been trading
impostor, that she had raised money in Manches.
ter, Liverpool and other large towns, considered it
a duty which they owed to themselves and the COM
lnunlty at large to bring the mpostors to justice,
and prevent, as far as possible, the evils which
would follow from continuance ofsuch a system of
fraud They felt that if that illustrous man, Kos
suth, was allowed to come into this country without
thpI,
be offered to him, and the which he had at
heart materially damaged. The importance of the
present case, therefore, could not be overstated.
tie (hir smith, had in his possession the most in
contestble evidence OF the imposition and if more
was required he could produce it. In fact, they
might produce every distinguished Hungarian now
in London and Paris, who would be able to depose
to the impudent pretensions of the woman who had
called herself the Baroness Won Beck. He would
produce a letter from Kossuth himself, and others
from many distinguished persons, all proving the
lmposture; and, as he had before observed, he felt
confident the importance of the case could not be
overrated. II would not be necessary for him to
go into details to show the extent to which the wo.
man, who was the chief imposor in the transaction
under investigation, had been made instrumental
in traducing the characters of some of the most
eminent men of Hungary. And here he might add
that she was not the author Of the book. IL was
known who the writer was, but, for certain reasons,
he did not wish now to state his name. In several
articles which had appeared in the newspape of
this town, in connexion with the subject, allusion
had been made to Mr.. Lawrence, the American
Minister, TO the effect that he had given assurances
of the accuracy OF the Baroness Won Beck's state
ments Now, he wished most distinctly to deny
that Mr. Lawrence had ever given any such assu-
rance. He could also say of the book purporting
TO be the travels of the baroness, that it was one
tissue of fasehoods. Mr.. Smith then read some
portions OF the adventures OF the baroness and pro-
ceeded to say that persons acquainted with Hun
gary would know that it was utterly impossible
that the events narrated could be true. She stated
that her husband had fallen at the second barricadc
In the Jagerstrass, in Vienna, the 2Sth of Octo
Der, whilst cheering the friends of popular free
dom "o resist the assaults of their boodthirsty tyi
rants" Now, according to the official reports
which he (Mr. Smith) was possessed of, there was
no such person named who had ever fallen. The
following letter from General Hang would at once
disprove the statement of the baroness
General Hang to Dr. Openhcim, Chief of Staff under
Benz, at Vienna:
so BARNARD's-INN, HoLBoRN, Aug. 81, 1851.
"DEAR DocToR: To satisfy Mrs. Plucky's request
before to morrow morning, instantly answer your
lines. do not know whether any Baron Beck be-
onged to the defenders of Vienna still less if his
wife has received visits from the Representatives
of the Diet, as neither knew such baron nor
baroness at Vienna. 1t is possible that a baron
Beck occupied subatern rank amongst the Ma
tional Guards; but cannot affirm il officially be-
callse it is quite impossible for me to have known
all the officers who served under General Benz or
myself. But believe know all those who fell, as
official reports always named the heroes. And
though on the 18th of October, 1S4S, was in the
Hungarian camp as Deputy of Vienna yet it is not
known to me that that day an officer of the
name of Baron Beck had fallen on our side, and
cerainlynot at the barricades because on that day
there were none. therefore cannot recognise the
Baroness Beck the widow of a fallen officer of
Vienna, not as long she has not verified her as.
sertion by precise details. 1t is likewise the first
time that hear that this lady puts herself into the
ranks of the Vienese emigration, as have always
heard OF her as an Hungarian lady; but it is in the
interest of every emigration to submit to strict
examination all those belonging to its national
family before they acknowledged as cxiles; and,
such, no Vienese will acknowledge Mrs Beck
on her mere assertion"
II must be remembered that in the pretended
book of the baroness it is expressly stated that che
personally met the writer of this letter both at
Vienna and afterwards.
The baroness next proceeded to give account
of an interview which she stated she had with Kos
suth, and described in glowing terms how audibly
her heart beat at the thought of sosng him; that
he had sent her message by Heinrich, the Police
Minister, intimaiing that he would receive her and
her companions the next evening at seven O'Clock.
She then proceeded to give detailed account of
the interview, every word of which was tissue of
lies. 1t SO happened that the distinguished gentle
man to " HON she referred as having communi-
N ted with her he If Nyast In