The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1884-11-06
A W0MAN'S DEATH.
FATE OF COUNTESS PouRTALEs.
Terrible Termination of II Georgia Girls
Adventurous Career, After Having
Startled and Shocked the
Worlds Good People.

The New York Times says; News
has reached New York that a woman
whose escapades have at different times
startled and shocked the good people of
three continents has at last met with a
dreadful fate in Japan. This woman
was known to New Workers sixteen or
seventeen years ago as Mrs. John
Beecher, alterward as the Countess
POurtales, later TO the Parisians as
lady of fashion, and finally to the impe-
rial circles of y olohama as the faVorite of
the Japanese Prime Minister. She was
daughter of respectable Georgia fam
lily and was brought to this city bloom
ing girl by her mother just after the close
of the war. Apparently the family had
saved some means from the wreck
caused by the war, for the mother and
daughter were able to live in good style
at the Aston hOuser
After awhile they moved to the Fifth
Avenue hotel, and there the daughter
met Mr.. John Beecher, at that time a
wealthy member of a well known
wholesale liquor firm, who lived ut the
hotel 1t was not long before she be-
came Mrs. Beecher, and the young
couple left the hotel to occupy a luxuri-
Gus home. Mrs. Beecher soon after her
marriage manifested a most flirtatious
and hayward disposition, which finally
30 compromised her reputation that Mr..
Beecher was forced to seek divorce.
This in course of time he procured,
and shortly afterward the commu
nifty was startled by the announce
ment that Mrs. Beecher had shot
at Lloyd Phoenix as he was ascending
tho steps of his sisters Fifth avenue
hn
Paris, where she had not soiourued long
before she became thr Countess Pour.
tales. TWAS said she met the Count on
the steamship in which she sailed from
New York. The Count had been attached
TO the French Legation at Washington
and had married Il daughter of Ben Hal
Hday, but had been for some time a
widower. The first Countess died on a
railroad train while nearing Chicago,
whittier she was jOurneying.
After their marriage in Paris Count
Pourtales returned to mis- post in Wash
lnBton and carried his bride with him,
but the fame oftne Countess's escapades
having preceded her the couple were
not well received, and the Count at his
own request was speedily recalled,
From Paris they went to japan, and
there the Countess's conduct was in es-
sential respects similar to what had
been Mrs. Beecher in New York, and
the Count finally abandoned her in dis.
gust. Eventually she became the favor
tie of the panese Prime Minister, and
IN course of time attempted TO play as
free wit him rs she had done with her
husbands
But among the other bsrbarous Gus
toms OF that country is one thar pun.
lshes lntid-lity with death, whether the
offender be wife or mistress. As the
story mes from those distant shores,
one night two masked men entered the
wretched womans house, seized and
bowstrung her, then put her body into a
sack and flung it into the river. The
intormation is undoubtedly true, and it
mas heen known for some time to a
number Of persons in this city, but has
not heretofore gained publication.