Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1879-04-17

lover L WTOte 70 MIN InOSo TWO notes,
/ insisting upon the return of all the let
ers I had written him. IN reply he SOL
lclted an interview with me in the gar
den-house. | consented to meet him
there. He arrived between seven and
| eight o'clock in the evening. Our in
terview was long, and at first quite
stormy. However, his protestations of
| love, and what he said besides, over
came my indignation. I finally prom
ised to remain true to him, ana we
! parted IN the most affectionate m amer.
but how do you account for this
knife of yours being found in the gard
en-house under such suspicious circum-
stances 7" asked the examining officer.
o. am utterly at a loss to understand
how 1t got there. IgenerallY kept it on
the wrltlng-desk In my boudoir. 1t is
horrible beyond expression to think
that this knife of mine should have
been used for so fearful purpose. l
am utterly beWildered about it."
Her language and mien were appar-
emily those of a person telling the
truth. But what about all the suspic1-
Gus circumstances which certainly
pointed to her as the counts murder
ess
Her father was next examined. He
confirmed all his daughter had said
about her alteration with him in re-
gard to Count Nostikoff; but he, too,
refused to reveal the charges he had
| preferred against the lovers character
Then Ivan Dulizurock, the coachman,
was called up.
Il knew the count very WE'LL" he
said; Gin effect, carried Mile. Alida's
notes to him and brought back his an
swers. gave him those two notes and
he gave me another in which, as he
told me, he begged her to meet him at
the garden-house."
How came he to make such a con-
fidant of your"
Because L had watched frequently
when they were in the guarden-house,
! so that no one disturbed them"
Did you see him last night?"
81 did"
Together with Mile. Aida p
Yes; she had told me to watch and
prevent any one to come neal them"
Did any one come !"
Yes, Marie Verin, Mademoiselle
Alida's maid"
did you speak to Marie Verin?"
eyes; caught her stealing up to the
garden-house. | asked her what she
was doing there. She answered that
master had sent her out to watch his
daughter. She became very angry and
threatened that NJ. Staniroy would have
me flogged if [ interfered with her.
This frightened me and / ran back into
the house."
The French maid in her testimony
made some startling discoveries. She
answered the questions Of the examin-
ing officer at first with seeming reluc-
lance, and did not become a more will
ing witness until she had been threat
ened with severe punishment Then
she said, with very glib tongue:
"Well, as / cannot help it, will tell
all know, although [ am very sorry
for Mile Aida. M. Staniroy asked me
last night to watch the garden-house, as
[ had often done before at his request.
About o'clock [ saw the Count enter
the garden-house where he was shortly
after joined by Mile. Aida. [ could
hear distinctly what they said. Mile.
Aida called him perfdious william,
and said she had thought of numbering
him. He begged her to calm herself,
but she seemed to work herself in a
perfect frenzy; and then | heard him
utter low cry, and say, Aida, how
could you do this? At that moment |
was interrupted by Ivan Dulizurok,
with whom [ had words. Not desiring
to quarrel with the fellow any more. |
returned to my room and went to bed"
"You did not see or hear Mile. Aida
return to the house,"
''No; [ was awake a good while, yet.
but did not see her"
odd you communicate what you
heard and saw to Mr.. Staniroy?"
"No; he was not ut home"
Things began to look very black for
Aida Staniroy. Her father broke out
into loud lamentations. She herself IT,
manned calm.
81 did not know" she said, with a dis
dainful glance at her French maid,
that Marie Verin was acting the spy
toward me. But / must say that all
she said about my interview with Count
Adolph is true, except that the count
did not use the words how could you
do this" All can do is to reiterate the
protestation of my perfect innocence OF
| this foul murder, no matter how sus-
| picious everything may look for me-"
All this was very sad; but what were
the officers to do but to take the young
lady to jail on 81 charge of murder? Ali
da accompanied them willingly. Her
fortitude excited the surprise and adj
miration even of her jailers.
The affair created naturally the most
profound sensation in the ancient CAPT
tai of the czars. For a week no one
spoke about anything else. Notwith-
standing the seemingly overwhelming
CirCumstancial evidence against Aida
Staniroy, opinion was greatly divided
on the subject; and among those who
doubted her guilt, none were more
outspoken than those who were &C.
quainted both with her and her MUIR
dered lover. The latter's character had
been none of the best.
Aida Staniroy, on the other hand,
was known as a superior woman, en-
dowed with a good heart and splendid
intellect. She was by no means an
impulsive creature, and there was no
apparent motive for her committing so
heinous a crime. The supposition that
Count Nostikoff had committed suicide
was refuted by the nature and position
of his wounds.
The trial came off on the ODD of March,
1871; and, notwithstanding the efforts
made by the eminent counsel of the fair
prisoner, the court found her guilty, and
sent her to perpetual Punishment to ST.
IBERIA. There was a heart rending