The Detroit times., 1908-11-05
RUSSIAN COUNTESS
/ TO Be TRIED As
AN ASSASSIN
TRIAL OF THE COUNTESS TAR
kOWSki, LEADING LADY IN THE
GREAT VENICE MURDER DRAMA.
is READY AT LAST.

VENICE. Nov 5.--At last, after Is
months dealy, there are signs that
the Russian Countess Tarnowski, the
lawyer Prilukoff and the young aris-
tocrat. Paul Naumoff son Of the ex-
governor of Kien, are to be brought
TO trial for the assassination of Count
Kamarowski In the-s summer of 1907.
The murder. with all its accompan-
iments of love. deceit and cold blood
ed conspiracy, Is one of the most SEN
sational In the annals OF European
criminality.
Preparations for the trial have been
proceeding for more than year, but
have been delayed by the necessity OF
gathering documentary evidence ia
Austria and Russia about the antece-
dents Of the three prisoners. Two big
crates full Of documents have now ar
rived. Twenty-six lawyers. exclusive
OF the prosecuting counsel. are work
ing night and day preparing for the
trial. which IL expected TO last TWO
months.
Daughter OF Count O'Rurik descend.
ant OF an Irish family which emigrat-
ed to Russia, the Countess Maria Me
olaevna Tarnowski was born In KieE
In 1879. AS schoolgirl Of IL she
eloped with Count Tarnowski. and the
first tragedy OF her life occurred two
years after her marriage to the count.
Quarreling with her husband In their
home at Kieff, she intrigued with one
OF the counts friends, and, desiring
to torture her husband. kissed her low
er In his presence and before COM
pany OF guests. The count, shot his
betrayer lead on the spot. The scan
dial In Kieff was immense, but no pun
| ishment fell upon the count who was
acquitted on being tried for murder.
Divorce proceedings followed, and
| the case was carried to Moscow. The
countess solicitor was Prilukoff, q
married man. and one OF the most en-
| inent 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. Togethey they visited
Paris, Munich and other cities.
On their travels the countess met
again with Count Kamarowski, q for
mer admirer. who had been serving In
the Japanese war. His passion reviv-
ed. and he proposed marriage. He
was immensely wealthy, and the coun-
tess. after long delay. accepted him.
Meanwhile the young man Naumoff
had met the countess and came under
her spell. She gave him clandestine
encouragement. and he followed her
from place to place. Prilukoff, madly
jealous both OF the count and OF Nau.
mon, was with diflculty kept in con-
troll by the countess wiles.a
| II came about that the four princi.
pals of the drama met In Vienna In
August, 1907. The countess and Pri.
lukoff had adjoining rooms at lead
ing hotel. Count Kamarowski occu.
pied a suite of six rooms on another
floor. and Naumoff stayed at another
hotel near by.
At this period the plot for the muir.
der OF Count Kamarowsk was evolv-
cd. To ensure 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 fol
500. 900 in favor OF the countess.
But the countess decided to throw
In her lot with Prilukoff alone. and
the insurance Of the count suggested
the possibility of securing the money
the lack OF which was q bar to their
union. The removal" of Count Kan
arowski was decided on. They cast
about for a weapon. and the countess
found one ready to her hand In the
jealous rage OF Naumoff.
In the last day of August Count
Kamarowski went to Venice. The
countess summoned Naumoff, and
played on his jealousy until he swor<
10 kill his rival. He went to Venice
on Sept. and emptied Ave chambers
OF revolver into the counts body
as the latter lay in bed In his villa.
Prilukoff. with two private detec
tives. had followed Naumon. The law
yer's aim was to declare that he had
been sent by the countess to guard
her threatened fance. But Philu
koff's presence In Venice at the time
OF the murder was found suspicious
; and he was arrested on his return e
Vienna. He accused the countess and
she was also seized.
The prisoners were extradited from
Vienna to Venice. where their tria
will take place.