The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-07-11

to gaze upon tne pictures dS IucS A1'O AO1S
for more than four years Time has not
lessened the interest taken IN these TWO
characters and their romantic history, and
that interest has been deepened since the
announcements is made public that the
proxy wife and widow is soon to wed ,. ,.
Malato, young Italian newspaper man OF
New York.
Time is sweeping aside the clouds of
prejudice that made of August Spies
mere designing, cowardly criminal, and of
Nina Van Zandt but silly, deluded girl
1t has also dispelled the sentimental adora-
ton of admirers, and the real story,
stripped of the stormy environments of
those days, may now be told and appre-
ciated in a clearer atmosphere.
Nina Stuart Clark Van Zandt is de-
scendant of the royal Stuarts on her moth
er's side, and through her father is mem
Der of one Of the oldest families of New
York All that many generations OF culture,
ease and luxury can bequeath to human
being have been given to her, and she does
credit to the blood that flows in her veins
and the thorough training she has person
ally received She was Vassar student,
and fair specimen of that noted, intelli-
gent and independent class of womankind.
| in the summer of 1886, she, her mother
! and two other ladies were invited to seats
one day beside Judge Gary during the trial
of the anarchists. These are her own words
concerning her experience:
! Having received what information had
through the newspapers, | was expecting
/ to see a rare collection of stupid, vicious,
| criminal looking men. l was greatly sur
! prised TO find that so far from correspond
| ing with this description, they bad intelli-
/ gent, kindly and good faces became in
! terested. | soon found that the officers Of
! the court aud the entire police and detect
! i've force were bent upon their conviction,
not because of any crime of theirs, but
| because of their connection with the labor
movement. DESTROYS of profering my
sympathy, l, with my mother, visited the
close, dark prison, and there made the &C
quaintance of August Spies"
! Upon conversing with Spies 1t soon
flashed upon Miss Van Zandt's mind that
she had met him before Two years pre-
vious she had visited The Arbeiter ZeitUng
Office to insert an advertisement for a lost
pet. Even then, strangely attracted, she
had tarried in conversation with the hand
some editor. Some memory OF the inter
view haunted her for weeks, but finally
faded away in the crowding of other events
and scenes into her life.
The acquaintance continued, aud Nfna's
visits were repeated at frequent intervals.
A correspondence enSued between the Wis
its, which seemed TO have the effect of
thoroughly converting Miss Van Iandt to
Spies views, as well as gaining her alice.
tions.
August Spies was accused at the time of
duping the girl by working upon her lm-
pulsive nature, hoping to gain favor by her
influence, thus interposing her between
himself and the gallows. There was moth
ing in the facts to call ont the comments
they did Miss Van Xandt was neither
crazy" "deluded, - "morbdly seutimen-
tai, " nor anxious for notoriety, even though
the object of her regard was the inmate of
" Jail under sentence of death. Apart
from his surroundings Spies was good
looking, intellectual, possessed of winning
manners, and frequent interviews and
letters revealed to each strong similarities
Of tastes and opinions. The one popularity
Of Miss Van Zandt was her strength and
independence of character She believed
she was right in her love, and all the world
could not brighten her from it.
Early in the winter the two became en-
gagged, the engagement 10 be fulfilled in
case of his release On the 18th of January,
1887, Nina went to the sheriff and asked
permission to call on Spies out of the regu-
lar visiting hours that their intercourse
might not be disturbed by the curious pub
lie. The families of the other prisoners
were sometimes allowed to sit outside the
doors of their relatives cells, and hoping to
gain some of these privileges she informed
Sheriff Matson of their betrOthal.
After studying over her request for some
minutes MIR. Matson said 1t WAS impossible
for him to grant it, Had she been his wife,
he said, he could have allowed her TO visit
Spies as the others wives did.
Then" she said, with her dark, gray
eyes flashing, then | will marry him at
once, that | may secure the privilege of
visiting and the right 10 work for him as a
wife" and she went out OF the Jail with a
determined air. 1t is quite certain that
this was the moment IN which the decision
was made from which no difficulty, ridi-
: Guile or remonstranCe ever afterward moved
her.
She sought Captain Black, the attorney
Cor the prisoners, and asked his aid. See
ing that she was thoroughly in earnest,
this gentleman gave her his hearty sympa.
thy and assistance. The proposition for
an immediate marriage came from Miss
Van Zandt herself, as Captain Black testi-
fed. August Spies told him "he would
not think of asking the lady to make such
q sacrifice, but If 1t was her desire, he
would consent. and show TO the world their
mutual love and trust"
Mr. Van Zaudt Sympathized with the
feelings OF his daughter, and, while regret
ting the peculiar chain Of circumstances
which had brought her To this step, would
not interfere. Mrs Van Zandt was deeply
grieved, but did not Try Of had no power
10 control her child
On the 18th OF January Captain Black
and Nina Van Zandt went TO the county
courthouse and procured marriage H.
ceuse. Ii was arranged that the ceremony
should take place in the jailor's Office on
Thursday. the 20th Sheriff Natson had
r gwen his full consent and both he and the
, lallor promised the occupancy OF the room
5 cor some tine. Judge Pendergrast con
sen-ed TO perform the ceremony Cit
t papers OF the 18th spoke Of the affair a
settled, giving various opinions. But OF
the morning ofthe 2)th The Stats Zeitun.
and Tribune opened up on the subject an,
criticised the officials for allowing such
: farce to be played. and declared : wa
r making a disreputahle place OF the count
bindings. paid for by citizens for entirel
different purposes.
u At the same time Natson received a tele
; gram from Mrs. Arthur, OF Ph.,ade!phis
!. Nina's aunt, forbidGing the marriage. III
pressure was too much for that official
and be forbade any further Droceeiiags