Evening star., 1896-12-12
DIED IN DESPAIR.
Countess Jarocka, Claimant fos
100000, Commits Suicide.
WAS 4 GRANDDAUGHTER OF PULASKI
Robbed, Poor, Alone and Suffering
From Disease.
ONCE A CLERK HER E

NEW YORK, December 12.-Josephine s.
Jarocka, a niece Of the General Pulaski
who fought in the war of the American
revolution, and was killed at Savannah,
Ga. committed suicide by poison at her
home in Brooklyn today.
Madame Jarocka was a claimant for 81
100000, which, 1t is said, her famous grand
uncle had advanced to the United States
government to aid 1t in prosecuting the
war of independence. She had, according
to her story, been robbed of the papers
which established her claim. and was
obliged to take a government clerkship in
Washington. from which, however, she
was dismissed by Cleveland in his first
term. Since this she has had a terrible
struggle with poverty, and was finally re-
dCced to selling papers.
For some time she has been entirely de-
pendent upon charity. Madame Jarocka
wrote to The Washington Star In a hope
less strain, and intimated that she intended
to commit suicide. 1t was In accordance
with this threat that she killed herself to-
day.
In November there came in the mail Of
The Evening Star the following letter:
Dear Sir-When this note reaches you I
Will be dead. Having been robbed by two
of the richest governments Of the world
and obliged to live by the charity of the
pOOT, WHICH, at least, 1 nOpeO 10 repay.
To live longer this way would be fraudu-
lent. consequently it remained to me only
to end my life. You were very kind to me,
and l am sorry that I am unable to repay
for the kindness Of these friends whom
offended.
1 pardon those who tormented me during
twenty-four years. as 1 desire that my
Maker shall pardon me- Yours respect
fully, MRS. ]. s. JAROCKA..
This letter, dated November Is, with an
inquiry as to the condition of Mrs. Jarocka.
was forwarded to w. ]. McKelvey. chief of
police, Brooklyn, who on the oath Of No
vember, replied as follows:
Mr.. McKelvey's Reply.
Dear Sir: Yours of the 10Th instant had
been received, and in reply / have respect
fully to inform you that Mrs. J. S. Jarocka,
residing at No. A Smith street. this city,
is about fifty years Of age. claims to be
Russian countess and the grandniece of
Gen. Pulaski, who was killed at the siege Of
Savannah, Ca, in 1881.
She also claims that the government of
Russia sent two millions of dollars to this
country subsequent to the death of Pulaski
and that by right it belongs to her, and
that the United States government still has
the money. She is demented at times, and
her peculiar:ties are we'll known
Very respectfully,
"WM. J. McKELVEY,
Superintendent of Police
Found Her In Reduced Circumstances
The officers found Mrs. Jarocka living at
A South street, Brooklyn, in very reduced
circumstances, and dependent almost en-
tirely on the charity of ncighbors. She
said she told the police she had not COM
mitted suicide. and did not intend to do SO.
She had formerly kept a newsstand in front
OF the Brooklyn post Office, and her face
and figure were familiar to thousands.
The police were astounded to find the
newswonan was a real countess. Mrs. Nc
Auley, the woman with whom she lived,
said she had known the countess for twenty
years. The story Mrs. Jarocka told Mrs
McAuley, which her lawyer, Marcus OF
terberg, said ives true, was that Mrs.
Jarocka was the grandniece of Gen. Pu-
laski. who fought with Washington during
the revolutionary war.
She has worked for years to get an al
lowance from the government but was dis
appointed.
Mrs. Jarocka was appointed to a clerk
ship In the War Department during the Ar
thur administration. When Mr. Cleveland
came in she was dismissed