Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-11-10
THE BARON Bella.

THE BARON Bella.
Strange Kuse of q Hungari N Nobleman
Whose Life Was Heavily insured.
Several years ago Hungarian noble
man, we'll known in sporting circles as a
horsenan and hunter, named Baron Bella
Olnyi, trlumphed over crowd of rivals,
and bore home as his bride the rich and
beautiful baroness, Irma P-yi. Baron
Bella was at that time wealthy landed
proprietor, and was able to indulge to
the full all his inciana.ions and whims.
His married life was happy one. Years
followed one after the other, but they
were not all alike. The beautiful baron
ess, as time wore on, presented her spouse
with six Of the dearest little barons and
baronesses that ever were seen, and bar
on Bella began to dabble in speculatlons
It was the old, old story, that has been
repeated thousand times. Toward the
end ct 1874, the baron's vast possessions,
which were worth nearly two millions.
had been sold, and the family mansion
IN Pesth Yves mortgaged to its last brick
OF ali this the fair baroness was kept il
complete Ignorance, and the family estab-
lishment was maintained in its usual
style.
When the baron realized that he was
completely ruined; and that all that was
left was his wife's property, which could
not be touched, he formed singular re-
solution. He got his life insured in five
different companies for one hundred
thousand gulden in each, the terms being
that this amount should DE paid over to
his family in case he should die within
year. None of the insurance companies
objected to pocketing the premium Of
two thousand forms from q man Just
forty-fve years of age, in the full vigor
oflife and in exuberant health.
The day, however, Baron Bella had the
last policy in his pocket, he entered up
on an entirely different course Of life. He
had been man who never missed a race
OF a hunt, who went to the club every
day, and regularly took his drive or ride
on horseback in the park; now he was no.
where to be seen in company, not even
his dearest friends. Nor did he remain
at home in the bosom OF his family. He
LETT his house every morning early, and
only returned in time for dinner. After
dinner he disappeared again, and remain
ed absent often until midnight. During
this time nobody knew where he kept
himself secluded.
The change in his external appearance
was not less remarkable. lie had previ-
ensly been getting rather stout. He now
began to lose flesh. His cheeks, which
had been ford, changed to an unhealthy
paleness, his eyes lost their brightness
surrounded with heavy circles Of blue,
his face became haggard, and his strong
manly voice became cracked and feeble.
When these symptoms or dangerous dis
ease multiplied in such striker manner
the friends that occasionally visited him
and his wife endeavered to persuade him
to take medical advice, and to explain his
mysterious absences. His answer was a
positive refusal. Finally, IN October, the
physical constitution, once so strong,
could no longer Withstand the agency SO
potent for evil which was undermining it,
and Baron Bella was compelled to take to
his bed. Physicians were called
in. They shook their heads ominously,
and declared that it was a case Of gallop-
ing consumption; that the disease had al
ready reached a stagein which all human
aid was in vain. Hardly fourteen days
later, the suferings of the poor baron
were in fact terminated by death After
his death q will was found, by which he
bequeathed to his wife his life insurance
policies, and acquainted her with the
fact OF the loss Of his entire fortune. Mol
other course was open for the baroness
except to prefer her claims for the half
million due On the policies through her
solicitor. TIE solicitor, however, i'm
mediately ran against difficulties. It was
thought incredible that man who had
been examined only ten months before
by five physicians, and pronounced in
good health, could have died OF the dis
ease mentioned. The five companies
came to the conclusion that plan of
slow suicide had been deliberately adopt
ed, and they refused Epayment Of the
amount demanded.
The companies interested went further,
and undertook to penetrate the mystery
of the daily absences of the baron, Of
which they had previously got wind
After long and extensive researches, they
finally ascertained that early in January
the baron had hired small apartment in
dirty, narrow street, in remote quarter
OF the city, and twice each day remained
in it for considerable time. The
neighbors never saw him hold any inter-
course with any one. The rent of the
apartment had been paid up to the end of