Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-07-14
FEATs OF WOMEN SPIES.
How Secrets of Nihilists Were Made
Known to Russian Secret Police.

How Secrets Of Nihilists Were Made
Known to Russian Secret Police.
Russian history during the last
twenty or thirty years would not have
been what It has been II there had been
no Vera Sassulitch, Of whom nothing Is
heard in these days When the famous
Gen. Trepoff was only at the beginning
of his career she was his invaluable
assistant.
Trepoff was the detested enemy Of
the Nihilists, and he was very anxious
to obtain inside information as to their
doings and their plans. Suddenly, one
day in 1878. he was fired at while driv-
ing through the streets Of st. Peters,
burg by no other than Vera Sassulitch.
She was at once seized by the soldiery
and was charged with the attempted
murder of Trepoff, being tried In the
ordinary manner, but to the amaze
ment Of the public she was acquitted.
On her release the Nihilists gathered
about her. desiring to admit such
friend of the people to their closest ac-
quaintance. In this way she was ad-
mitted to all their private circles and
was made acquainted with their Sc
crets. These she at once communica-
ted to the Russian government. The
truth was that the whole business, In
Guiding the attempt on his life. was
faxed by Thepoff himself. and 1t was
simply q clever ruse to get from the
Nihilists what could not be got In any
other way. Thereafter Vera Sassulitch
played the part Of government spy on
innumerable occasions.
There succeeded her as the czar's
chief spy one Emma Bellomo, who be-
came the Countess della Tore. She
was a 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 1t, and she
allowed nothing, not even a life, to
stand in her way. BY one remarkable
and dramatic coup early in her career
she obtained the unbounded confidence
of the czar Information had been re-
ceived by the Russian secret police
that a plot against the monarch was
being Matched conjointy in Rome and
Paris. 1t was suspected that the plot
was to be carried out through the In
strumentalty of a high official Of the
czar's household, but all efforts to iden-
tify him failed.
Thereupon this woman spy was put
on the scent, and she at once went 10
Rome, where she ingratiated herself
with the Nihilists. and at last found
out the name she wanted. She returned
in haste to st. Petersburg and inform
ed the czar of what she had discovered
but he refused to believe her, as the
man named was one of his closest at
tendants and most intimate friends.
Then" exclaimed the countess, i
must prove to your majesty that what
tell you is true. In half an hour
must crave permission to see you
again"
When she left the czar she at once
sought out the officer In question ana
handed over to him a package or pa
pers, impressing upon him that on no
account must he allow them to leave
his person. Keep them with you, she
said. ION your noble person they are
safe: in my hiding place they may De
found" Her fascinations were too much
for the officer and he agreed. She then
returned to the cZar and at once saiu
to him: II beg that your majesty VIII
now at once summon this gentleman 10
your presence, and that you observe
closely the counts department and Tea.
lures when he sees me at your slde.
few minutes later the officer entered
the apartment, and when he saw the
countess with the czar he realized the
state of affairs and turned pale with
terror.
1T Is as l informed your majesty,
said the countess. IF you will search
him you will find the proof IL was
found In one Of his riding boots. Ihe
czar ordered that he should be exlieo
to Siberia for life, but there was gen,
eral impression that he was murdered
J in his cell.-Tit-Bits.