The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1906-01-19
COUNTESS CAREER
TOLD IN WRITING
Anita de BattencOurt's Life
Story Set Out in Diaries.
NO TRACE OF WEALTH
Son by First Husband Tells of His
Mothers Early Days in
America.

PHILADELPHIA. Jan. Divisions Of
great wealth in the shape of jewels,
money or deeds. supposed 20 be con
tanned in the famous stronghold Of the
dead Countess de Battencourt. vanished
yesterday when the receptacle was OPP
ened- The box was securely locked up
in big iron-bOund trunk the keys OF
which the countess kept on her person
night and day and il was supposed 10
contain the legal evidence of her claim
TO vast estates in Cuba.
The contents instead consisted of a
few private papers. a deed TO a Gene
terry lot. and several diaries written in
Spanish. The diaries were the most in
teresting discovery because they contain
the story OF the remarkable career of
the countess in her own words. No one
but Coroner Jermon. the family's attor-
ney. and an interpreter were permitted
10 examine any OF the papers The en-
tries in the diaries were but partially
translated. although enough was learned
from the brief examination TO demon
strate that but little has been known
OF the womans singular life or her ex-
periences on two continents The count
ess. although hiring outsiders TO do her
corresponding because Of her inability to
write in English. trusted no one with her
notebooks.
Part of Her Story Confirmed.
Those who examined the woman's ef-
feets are satisfied that she was practi-
cally penniless. It is said in expIana-
ton of the absence of deeds OF other
legal documents supporting her claim
10 noble ancestry that the countess kept
all her papers in a New York bank
vault. but no one knows the particular
bank
The woman's story that she had the
deed TO her Spanish estates photo
graphed at the Gutekunst studio on Arch /
street. many years ago, was corroborat- {
ed by Mr.. Gutekunst. His records show
that such a deed. written in Spanish on
parchment, was photographed in 1874. /
but the negative was destroyed by /
fire some years later. This deed was /
brought to the studio by a hand /
somely dressed woman OF foreign 1
appearance and distinguished address. /
These details We're recorded at the time
because Of the unusual nature of the /
proceeding. The woman gave her name 1
as de Battcncourt.
Sons Responsibility in Doubt.
Coroner Jermon will finally deal with /
The mystery of the womans death at /
another inquest today. when new wit |
nesses will be heard. Until the inquest /
IS completed the son, John McMurrcw. |
will be held by the police. Several wit /
nesses were examined yesterday, but the 4
cononer was unable to determine just /
now far the sons alleged brutal treat 4
ment was responsible for The woman : /
death. The suspicion that poison was 1
administered TO the cour tess I'm candy |
was not borne out BY the testimony
one witness, Mrs, Clark, a neIghbOr, de
clared that the son had insisted un0n
hls mother taking tho first piece of /
candy out of the box, but the Others
We're positive that Mrs. McMurrow did
Eot partake of il until several other per-
sons had helped themselves.
Jane Heron, an aged housekeeper in
the employ Of the countess. and DIT
albert Hinkle, testified 10 frequent quar-
rols between Mrs. MCMuTTOW and her
son durins which the latter used his /
lists. There were contradictory state
ments made concerning the sons treat 4
lnent of Mrs. McMurroW on the night OF \
her death. n
Early Life of Countess.
Some of the details Of the mysterious i
woman's early life were disclosed by n
William Folsom, her son by her first II
husband, who was a sea captain. Fol- i
som is at present staying at the home II
Niieit inc woman aleu % NOttu Mar
shall street, but his home is in New i
York. According to his story, the coun- Il
tess came 10 this country with her pa \
rents when a young girl. She worked II
as milliner in New York after her
fathers death and later went 10 Boston.
where she married Captain Folsom. He
was drowned on a voyage 10 Calcutta
and the countess then came TO this
city and was married to her second hus-
Rummage Sale of Rugs, Carpets, Lace
Curtains. Upholsteries. etc. at Moses.