Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-12
RUSSIAN COUNTESS DISGRACED
NoBLEWoMAN CHARGED WITH
PLOT TO STAY.
Sweethearts Her Guests in Venetian
Jail-Romance of Love and
Crime.

VENICE, December 1.-THE secret ex-
animation of the Countess Tarnowski, her
maid Perier, her two sweethearts-the
Lawyer Prilukoff and the young aristo-
crat, Naumor-all accused of the murder
of Count Kaharowski, is being so deliber-
ately conducted that it will not be con-
cluded for several days.
Even when this examination is con-
cluded it will be but a step to the actual
trial, which will not be called, in all
probability, until next year.
Meanwhile the living actors in this as
tonishing tragedy of love, cupidlty. plot
ting and hate are conducting themselves
In respectively characteristic fashion.
Naumoff Is distracting his thoughts by
learning Italian. The maid Perier weep
ingly laments her fate and suffers from
neuralgia. Prilukoff busies himself with
instructions to his lawyers and official
protests, and the countess remains tran
quill sleeps soundly, eats heartily. smokes
cigarettes and reads French novels, in
which she takes great pleasure. Her
father, Count o Rurik, is expected to visit
her shortly.
First Tragedy Of Her Life.
Daughter of Count ORurik, descendant
Of an Irish family which emigrated to
Russia, the Countess Maria Nicolaevna
Tarnowski was born in Kieff in 1879. AS
a school girl of seventeen she eloped with
Count Tornowski, and the first tragedy of
her life occurred two years after her mar
riage to the count.
Quarreling with her husband in their
home at Kieff. she intrigued with one OF
the counts friends, and. desiring to tor
ture her husband kissed her lover in his
ND hafo QnpSfS
The count shot his betrayer dead on the
spot. The scandal in Kieff was immense,
but no punishment fell upon the count,
who was acquitted on being tried FOR
murder.
Divorce proceedings followed, and the
case was carried to Moscow. The countess
solcito. was Prilukoff, a married man,
and one. of the most eminent lawyers In
the city. He became violently infatuated
with his client. On her divorce, in 1902,
he abandoned his wife and his career and
fed with the countess. Together they
visited Paris. Munich and other cities.
On their travels the countess met again
with Count Kamarowski. former ad-
anese war. His passion revived. and he
proposed marriage. He was immensely
wealthy, and the countess, after long de-
lay, accepted him.
Clandestine Meetings.
Meanwhile the young man Naumoff had
met the countess and come under her
SPELL She gave him clandestine encour-
agement and he followed her from place
to place. Prilukoff. madly jealous both of
the count and of Naumoff, was with diff
Guilty kept in control by the countess
wiles.
1t came about that the four principals
OF the drama met In Vienna in August
last. The countess and Prilukoff. had ad-
intnjnp at hnfo Of
Kama -owski occupied suite of six rooms
on another foo, and Naumoff, in black
despair at being unable to see the coun-
tess, stayed at another hotel nearby.
At this period the plot for the murder
of Count kamarowsk was evolved To
insure that in the event OF his death-he
was menaced by the terrorists-his Wife
to-be should be provided for, he insured
his life for 100000 in favor of the
countess.
The Plot to Kill.
The countess decided to throw in her
lot with Prilukoff alone. and the insur-
ance Of the count suggested the pos
sibility Of securing the money, the lack
of which was bar to their union She
and Prilukof took counsel, and the re
movar of Count Kamarowski was de.
cided on. They cast about for a weapon.
and the countess found one ready to
moff.
In the last day of August Count
Kamarowski went to Venice The coun-
tess summoned Naumoff. showed him
shameful letters purporting to come from
the count. and played on his jealousy
until he swore to kill his rival. He went
to Venice September and emptied
five chambers of revolver into the
counts body as the latter lay in bed in
his villa.
Prilukoff, with two private detectives.
had followed Naumoff. The lawyers aim
was to declare that he had been sent
by the countess to guard her threatened.
fiance. But Prilukoffs presence in Ven
ice at the time of the murder was found
suspicious and he was arrested on his
return to Vienna. He accused the coun-
tess and she was also seized.
Recently the prisoners were extradited
from Vienna to Venice, where their ex-
animation is now proceeding.