The weekly clarion., 1874-06-25
STRANGER THAN FICTION.
Why the Grand Duke Nicholas
Stole the Diamonds.
An American Woman Involved
in the Robbery.
HER HISTORY IN PHILADELPHIA
The Daughter of "a Clergyman a.
am Arch-A adventures.
(From the y. Y. Herald.

The Grand Duke Nicholas has been
arrested in St. Petersburg for stealing his
mothers diamonds. He is said to have
been driven TO this act through the eXtrav-
agance of his mistress. ."-AugsbHy AHge-
nleine Zeit1ng
The above, clipped from a German
journal, simply corroborates public
scandal, which, for several weeks past,
has in either one form or another APP
peared in all the representative newspa-
pers of the United States. 1t is now
known that the woman referred to Is an
American, the associations OF whom were
for great many years confined to Phil
adelphia, and who, Independent OF the
conspicuity given by her latest trick,
has history Of peculiar interest to all.
To those familiar with her career, the
burden of our latest Russian advices com
municates nothing in the least surprising
for they chronicle an act so consistent
with this females general character that
even the usual circumstances under which
the theft was committed rob it of much
which would otherwise form the basis of
an extraordinary sensation.
The female who, it is alleged, left Rus
sia with the precious stones has figured
in so many cities, under the guise of
such a multiplicity of names, that l am
somewhat at loss by which one of them
| can best denote her. This being the
case | will begin with her family name +;
and in giving the outlines of her remarka-
bic career will, as accurately as possible,
state the circumstances by means of which
she gained for herself the soubriquets
which are so numerous and puzzling to her
biographers.
HER EARLY HISTORY.
Her maiden name was Lizzie Ely, and
she is the daughter of a prominent cler-
gyman of the Presbyterian Church, and
one of the company of Northerners who
many years ago migrated to Missouri
He there founded Marion College, about
which has been subsequently built very
prosperous and thriving town. When
Miss Lizzie had attained the age Of fifteen
she was sent by her parents TO boarding
school in W est Virginia, where she re-
mained quiet for about one year. She
was there considered remarkably intel
ligent creature, possessing a slight and
delicately moulded figure, but at the
same time superb health, while her dis
position, tastes and general accomplish
ments gained for her favor and admira-
ton. In the routine Of duties attendant
upon her educational culture, she dis
played remarkable talent, acquiring as
if by intuition what to all others came
only after the severest application and
toll, Her literary compositions were
models of originality and skill, and in a
word her proficiency gained her the high
est grade upon the roll. 1t was here
that she first displayed those marvellous
faculties which have ever since distin-
guished her and which have recently
proven themselves to be sufficiently sub
tile to lead astray even 50 honorable
a gentleman as the Grand Duke Nicho-
las.
ELoPEMENT AND CLANDEsTINE MAR
RAGE.
II was here, also, that she took the first
step in her bold adventurous career, that
in moment divorced her from her dear
est friends, severed her from her parent:
and held her up before acquaintance:
in the most glaring, and at the same
time, most unpopular light 1t wa:
brought about in this wise:-While al
the abOve-named school she formed the
acquaintance of a young man nance
Blackford, and resorted to the most
strategic measures in order to enjoy his
society The affair came under the no
tice of the school and extraordinary mean!
were taken to keep them from meeting
1t is stated that a quarrel ensued between
Miss Lizzie and her preceptress at the
climax of which the young girl dashec
from the room, vacated the premises
and met her lover a short distance beyond
She eloped with and was married to him
But the union did not prove to he hap
py one. As usual in such cases, the hon
eymoon had barely passed when the tive
discovered that they had made mistake
Quarrels were frequent, and subsequent
ly when a separation was imminent Black
ford was found one fine morning in hi
bed cold and dead Leaving at onc'
every association which this infelicitou
marriage had created for her, she fed tht
South, came North, and under the name
of Lizzie Blackford took up
HER RESIDENCE IN PHILADELPHIA.
The great curse OF TINS woman's life
if the statement made by all who knew
her are worthy of credence, was her con
stant and habitual dissipation, and ye
neither domestic trial nor indulgence
upon her part seemed to affect her grace
full figure or mar the attractions Of he
face The summit Of her ambition Wa
to appear constantly in public places
and hence there was no social event Q
the year to which, in some way, she dif
not find access, nor an occasion favorabl
for promenading when he did not appea
in the fashionable thoroughfares. Tn
young widow Lizzie Blackford wa
known everywhere, and everywhere wa
she courted by certain beaux Of society
Young, gay, accomplished, the mask sh
wore for a long, long time was taken 10
her true face, and the dangerous ant
wicked elements Of her character wer
completely yelled and obscured by tn
pure, tender and innocent light of he
countenance. 1t was only after her ad
mirers had placed them selves in her pow
er that they discerned her true role, AM
| discovered also how base and merciles
she was. And yet she deceived every one
| The example of one man wrecked b
her failed as a warning for others bt
cause society, as usual, took the woman
part.
/ THE ADVENTURES UNMAsKED.
There was a certain talented and we
connected young gentleman Of this cit
who met and "'loved her at first sight.
At last he proposed to her and was az
cepted. Before the day appointed fc
the marriage arrived, however, an ugl
rumor reached his ears and he refused
accordingly, to fulfill his obligations
The woman, determined not to be baffleC
promptly instituted suit against him fC
breach of promise and thus set to work
involve him and all his friends in publ