Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-11-24
A COUNTESS IN DISTRESS.
The Grunduiece of Pulaski in Desti-
tnte Circumstances.

The Grnnduiece of Pulaski in Desti-
tnte Circumstances.
Several days ago The Star received the
following letter, postmarked Brooklyn
N. y:
Dear Sir: When this note reaches you l
will be dead. Having been robbed by two
of the richest governments of the world
and Obliged to live by the charity of the
poor, which, at least, l hoped to repay. 10
live longer this way would be fraudulent,
consequently it remained to me only to end
my life. You were very kind to me, ana
am sorry that l am unable to repay for the
X ndness of these friends whom l offended
| pardon those who tormented me during
twenty-four years, as 1 desire that my
Maker shall pardon me. Yours reSpe.ct1 uily,
MRS. ]. $. JAKOCkE.
The letter was forwarded Immediately to
the chief of police at Brooklyn with the
idea that the officials of the city should in
vestigate the case referred to.
Prompt investigation by Police Serst.
Reeves of the Adams street station In
Brooklyn showed that Mrs. Jarocke was
st.ll living at No. IA Smith street. Mrs
Jarocke says she is a grandniece of Count
Pulaski of Poland. and that she IS entitled
to a share of the $210,001 which was APP
propriated by the United States govern
ment for his heirs. According to New
York paper, Mrs. Jarocke was found in des-
titute circumstances. The account of the
reporter VINO visited ner room Is DIS Iot-
lows:
The poor little countess sat all alone in
a small, tireless and utterly cheerless hall
bed room, at No. "A Smith street, yester
day. She is only fifty years old, but trou-
BILE and worry and privatiop make her look
sixty. She is pitifully thin and coughs ter
ribly. She has possessed remarkable
beauty in her day, and that very beauty.
she says, was the cause Of much persecu-
ticn on the part Of Congressman and
hur chiefs 6nrirfU the
she was in Washington. She has the docu-
ments to prove what she claims as her
descent. and knows every step of the prose-
cution of the Pulaski claim through all
these years. But worry and disappoint-
ment have had their effect the little
countess once brilliant intellect. She in
sists now that her claim was paid by this
government along with the Boring sea
claims and that all that remains for her to
do is to appear In proper state in ST.
Petersburg and receive her own at the
hands of the regent of the council of tine
state.
This, the little countess says, would in
volve the expenditure of $1,000. She does
not desire charity, but she offers to pay
anybody S2.000. 0O0-for the amount now
due the heirs of Pulaski has grown to So
00U.O00-who will loan her the 81 600 neces-
sary to reclaim her legacy. Meantime, says
she:
why should I not commit suicide if
wish? Nobody will lend me the money.
am an old woman now; no good to any
body, and a burden to poor friends On
whom l have no claims. There is nobody
dependent upon mel am the last of my
race. When it gets too hard to bear, pouf!
Why not make an end of it? Be sure the
police will not prevent my doing so, if /
once make up my mind
The grandniece of Pulaski is likely to be
dispossessed at any time by the poor people
from whom she has rented the hail bed
room. and she has not even money enough
to supply rolls and coffee for tomorrow's
breakfast"