Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-10-21
RUSSIAN FEMALE SPIES.
The Remarkable Work Done by Them
in the Interest of the Government.
From the London Tit-Bits.

From the London Tit-Bits
Russian history during the last twenty
or thirty years would not have been what
1t has been if there had been no Vera Sas-
sulitch, 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
Trepon was the detested enemy of the
nihilists, and he was very anxious to obtain
inside information to their dongs and
their plans. Suddenly, one day in 1878, he
was fired at while driving through the
streets of st. Petersburg by no other thar
Vera Sassuliteh She at once seized
by the soldiery. and was charged with the
attempted murder of Trepon, 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 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 com
municated to the Russian government The
truth was that the whole business, includ-
ing the attempt on his life, was faxed by
Trepoff himself. and 1T was simply clever
ruse to get from the nihilists what could
not be got in any other way. Thereafter
Vera Sassulitch played the part of govern
ment spy on innumerable occasions
There succeeded her the cars chief
spy one Emma Bellomo. who became the
Countess della Tore. She was woman of
great mental ability and boundless ambi-
ton, and when her husband died she Of
fered her services as special secret agent
TO the car, and soon became indispensable
to the Russian court. Whenever a docu-
ment had to be secured she secured it, and
she allowed nothing, not even a life, to
stand in her way. By one remarkable and
dramatic coup early in her career she OBJ
tained the unbounded confidence of the
czar. Information had been received by
the Russian secret police that a plot
against the monarch was being Matched
conformity in Rome and Paris. 1t was sus-
pected that the plot was to be carried out
through the fundamentally of high Off
cial of the cars household, but all eff
forts to identify him failed.
Thereupon this woman spy was put on
the scent, and she at once went to Rome,
where she ingra tiated herself with the nj
hilists, and at last found out the name she
wanted. She returned in haste to ST.
Petersburg and informed the ear of what
she had discovered; but he refused to be-
lieve her. as the man named was one of
his closest attendants and most intimate
friends Then" exclaimed the countess,
Il must prove to your majesty that what
| tell you is true. In half and hour l must
crave permission to see you again. When
she left the car she at once sought out the
officer in question and handed over to
him a package of papers, fmpressing upon
him that on no account must he allow them
to leave his person Keep them with
you, Sne sdiu oli scbi 4ioOiN pSiooh
they are cafe; in my hiding place they
may be found" Her destinations were too
much for the officer, and he agreed. She
then returned to the cZar and at once said
TO him: Il beg that your majesty will now
at once summon this gentlemen TO your
presence and that you observe closely the
counts department and features when ne
sees me at your side" few minutes
later the officer entered the apartment.
and when he saw the countess with the
CT he realized the state of affairs and
turned pale with terror.
TT is as I informed your majesty said
the countess IF you will search him you
will find the proof" 1t was found In one
of his riding boots The car ordered that
he should be exlled to Siberia for life, but
there was a general impression that he was
murdered in his cell.