The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1891-07-16

u
TO gaze upon the pictures as they have done
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
announcement is made public that the
proxy wife and widow is soon TO wed S. S.
Malato, young Italian newspaper man of
New York.. .l J7iTn Fn"
Time is sweeping aside the clouds of
prejudice that made of August Spies a
mere designing, cowardly criminal, and of
Nina Van Zandt but Il 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 clearer atmosphere.
Nina Stuart Clark Van Zandt is a de-
scendant of the royal Stuarts on her moth
er's side, and through her father is n mem-
ber of one of the oldest families of New
York. All that many generations of culture
ease and luxury can bequeath to q 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 Vagsar student,
and fair specimen of that noted, intelli-
gent and independent class of womankind.
in the summer of 1856, 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 rare collection of stupid, vicious,
criminal looking men. | was greatly sur
prised to find that so far from correspond
ft,,r ,Nh a.
gent, kindly and good faces | became in
terested. soon found that the officers of
the court and the entire police and detect
i've force were bept upon their conviction,
not because of any crime of theirs but
because of their connection with the labor
movement DESTROYS of proifering my
sympathy, |, with my mother, visited the
close, dark prison, and there made the ac-
quaintance of August Spies"
Upon conyersing with Spies It soon
flashed upon Miss Van Zandt's mind that
she had met him before. Two years pre-
vious she had visited The Arbeiter ZeitunU
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, and Nina'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 Zandt to
Spies views, as well as gaining her affec-
tions.
August Spies was accused at the time of
duping the girl by working upon her inn
pulsiye 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 out the comments
they did. Miss Van Handt was neither
crazy" "deluded," "morbidly sentimen-
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 simlarities
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 frighten her from it.
Early in the winter the two became en-
gagged, the engagement to be fulfilled in
Y,
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 Mr.. MatsOn said it 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 l will marry him at
once, that / may secure the privilege of
visiting and the right to work for him as
wife," and she went out of the Jail with
determined air. 1t is quite certain that
this was the moment in which the decision
was made from which no difficulty, ridi-
cule or remonstrance ever afterward moved
her
She sought Captain Black, the attorney
for 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
a sacrifice, but If it was her desire, he
would consent, and show to the world their
mutual love and trust"
Mr.. Van Zandt sympathized with the
feelings of his daughter, and, while regret
ting this peculiar chain of circumstances
which had brought her to this step, would
not interfere. Mrs. Van Zandt was deeply
greyed, but did not try or had no power
to control her child.
On the 18th of January Captain Black
and Nina Van Zandt went to the county
courthouse and procured marriage IL
cense. 1t was arranged that the ceremony
should take place in the jailor's Office on
Thursday, the Goth. Sheriff Matson had
given his full consent and both he and the
iailor promised the occupancy OF the room
Tor some tune. Judge Pendergrast con.
sented TO perform the ceremony City
papers Of the 10Th spoke of the affair as
settled, giving various opinions. But on
the morning Of the goth The Staats Zeitunq
and Tribune opened up on the subject and
criticised the officials for allowing such a
farce to be played, and declared it was
making disreputable place Of the county
buildings, paid for by citizens for entirely
different purposes
AT the same time Matson received a tele-
gram from Mrs, Arthur, OF Philadelphia,
Nina's aunt, forbidding the marriage. The
pressure was too much for that official,
and he forbade any further proceedings. |
To keep the young lady out no gave orders
that no one but relatives shnuld bnH nd, |