Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-11-13
sToRr or 4 COUNTESS.
a weman wbs Cut a r,sure In Erie.

Weman Who Cut Figure In Erie.
An Erie special says: The arrest OF
Henry Martin. Young Indian OF the Mo-
bsvE tribe, has revealed another scnsa-
'fonal chapter In the remarkable career Of
81 adventures who disappeared from here
under highly romantic circumstinccs two
Years ago. The Indian has been
arrested In California for an attempt
10 blacsmsr one sayouna. an alleged
Indlsn princess and the yeritable wife OF
suni,ia, Canadian chief Of considerable
ren1wn. The trial Of the bla, kmailer has
developed the fact that this Indian princess,
sdyonbs. u none other than Madame Bar
ADO, OF This city, and that the threat to ex-
pose her true name and character unless
she paid the Iadian $1,000, was hIs offence.
Under cTOSs-cXamiGaiiOn the Princess
ssyonna" admitted that she was from
Eiie. and that she hal been the wife o. a
blacksmith here; also. TINT she sujse-
Sutnty married Nr. Andrew Johnson. a
iull cousin of President johnson. while
living in Erie.
COUNTESS FROM FRANCE.
Madame Barabo, claiming 10 be a count
ess in her own right, came 10 thi. city from
france twenty years ago ~ the wife OF an
humble blacksmith. who led a miserable
NE with bis alleged ue-blooded wife. Her
c!siins 10 nobility soon made Der con-
spicuous Parsonage, and she succeeded in
obtaining q position ~ teacher OF French
st the Erie Academy. the principal OF
which al TINT time was 4 Young man who
has since become well known-Judge
Albion Tourgee. Under Mr.. Tourgee
Madame Barabc. or the Countess" a.
she insisted that the faculty should call
her, taugbt. for some time. and was
tnsllY dismissed. because Of her arrogance
In requiring an autOcratic obeisancc upon
entering or quitting her presence. The
Madame was ever hupgering for notoriety
and on one occasion horsewhipped amagis-
tate Tor presuming TO give judgment
against her, declaring that the French
nobility were superior to any American
law. Guests WHO slept vt her house were
pu, to bed in an antique bed. which she
said had contained the headless trunk of
het grandfather, after the guillotine had
dsne with him.
wooded BY M OLD MAN.
After the death Of Barabo the Countess
succeeded In winning the heart Of Andrew
johnson. OF this city, a cousin Of the Prcsi-
dent snd very wealthy old man. aged
eighty-iwo. The old gentleman was pas
siorately devoted 10 her and fully believed
in her nobility, not only doferentially ac-
cording her The title OF countess himself,
but making all his servants address her A.
such. With wealth at her command. the
Countess held quite little regal
court, her receptions being attended by
the best society. But in few years
this magnificencc came to an end rather
ABRUPTLY. a son Of her sged husband,
getting possession OF some Of her secrets,
followed them up until he laid the whole
story OF Ter life, with all IT, receptions,
before his father. Shocked at the du-
pIicIty Of his daShing bride, Mr.. johnson
left her and never returned. His fine resi-.
dencc on Walnut street was made over TO
her, and for some lime she existed solely
on her former grandeur.
THE BRIDE or An INDIAN.
In the spring OF 1882 party OF Indians
came 10 Eric from Canada to play lacrosse
on william l.. SCOTS property. Among
them was Chief JlIanita. The Countess was
present at the exhibition and sought an in
PRODUCTION 10 the chief. She dazzled him
with her bold and srazen beauty, aud, al
though he was old enough 10 be her father
she accepted his attentions and con-
sented 10 become an Indian bride. She
disappeared at the time the Indians
left. and, rs it now appears, she was
welded by Indian rites when the party re-
turned to Canada, she being gaily attred
a. an Indian princess. Having succeeded
In getting the chief TO convert bis property
into cash, she left him much poorer man
than she found him. The young Indian
arrested Is the son OF that chief, who
logged her from Canada across the CONT
nent to Sacramento in the hope OF making
her disgorge some OF his fathers money.
A daughter OF the Counties" still lives
in Erie, following the vocation OF teacher