Evening journal., 1905-07-06
FEA7S Of WOMEN
SPIES IN RUSSIA
How Secrets of Nihilists
Were Made Known to
the Authorities
VERA SlSSULITCH'S CLEVER RUSt

Russian history during the last
twenty or thirty years woud not have
been what it has been n there had
been no Vera sassuitch, OF whom Moth
ing is heard in these days, says Tit
Bits. When the famous Gen. Trepoff
was only at the beginning Of his
career she was his valuable assistant.
ant.
Trepor was the detested enemy OF
the Nihists, and he was very anxious
to obtain inside Information as to
their doings and their plans. sudden
| ly, one day in 1878. ne was fired at
while driving through the streets Of ST..
Petersburg by no other than Vera Sas-
sulitch. she was at once seized by the
lsoldiery and was charged with the
ATTEMPTED murder OF Trepon. being
tried in the ordinary manner but to
the amazement OF the public she was
acquitted.
on her release the Nihllists gathered
about her desiring TO admit such a
friend of the people TO their closest
acquaintance. IN this way she was
admitted to all their private circles and
was made acquainted with their
secrets. These she at once communi-
lcated 20 the Russian Government. The
truth was that the whole business, in
lcudng the attempt on his life. was
faxed by TrepOf himself. and IL was
simply a clever ruse to get from the
! Nihilists what could not be got I'm any
lother way. Thereafter Vera Sassu-
Hitch played the part Of a government
spy on innumerable occasions.
There succeeded her as the Cars
lchief spy one Emma Belomo, who be-
lcame the Countess della Tore. She
was woman Of great mental ability
and boundless ambition, and when her
husband died she offered her services
as special secret agent to the Czar and
soon became indispensable to the Rus
sian court Whenever a document had
to be secured she secured it. and she
allowed nothing. not even a life. TO
stand i'm her way. BY one remarkable
and dramatic coup early In her career
she obtained the undounded confidence
Of the Car. Information had been re-
ceived by the Russian secret police that
a plCz against the monarch was beine
hatched coniointly in Rome and Paris
It was suspected that the plot was tC
be carried out through the instrument
aHty OF high official OF the Czar'l
household, but all effort to identh,
him failed.
Thereupon this woman spy was pu
on the scent, and she at once went 4
! Rome. where she ingratiated hersel
e with the Nihilists. and at last fcun
r out the name she wanted. She return
o ed in haste to st. Petersburg and I'm
formed the Gar Of what she had dis
!: covered, but ne refused 10 believe hel
d as the man named was one of hi
q iclosest attendants and most intimat
7 Friends. "Then." exclaimed the Count
= less, Il must prove TO your Majest
THAT what ] tell yol is true. In ha
: an hour must Grace permission 70 50
: you again"
n When she left the Czar she at ono
e sought out the officer in question an
d handed over to him a package q
], lpapers, impressing upon. him that o
lno account must he allow them {
leave his person. Keep them wit
- YOU" she said. "On your noble per
I son they are safe: IN my hiding plac
o they may be found" Her fascination
were too much for the officer and h
, lagreed. She then returned to the Ca
and at once said to him: Il beg tina
your Majesty will now at once sum
mon this gentleman to your presence
and that you observe closely tn
Counts department and features whei
he sees me at your side" A fey
4 minutes later the officer entered IN
r apartment. and when he saw tn
= Countess with the Car he realized tn
b state Of affairs and turned pale wit
n terror
h 1T is as I informed your Majesty,
r said the Countess. IF you win searc
+ him YOU will ind the proof" 1t wa
found in one Of his riding boots. Tn
lCzar ordered that he should be exile
to Siberia for life but there was
general impression that he was murd
cred in his CELL