The Washington herald., 1910-11-14
GYPSY QUEEN DEAD,
ONCE SOCIETY GIRL
She Became a Wanderer for
the Love of the Wild.
MARRIED KING OF ROvERs"
Miss Jessie Habersham, of BaIti-
more, After Her Debut, Left PaIa-
tiai Home and Social Position 10
Join Gypsy Band-Her Life "a RO-
nance of Unusual Degree.

Baltimore, Nov. 1S-Jesse Habersham
Michele. daughter Of A. W. Habersham,
Of Baltimore. and a member OF one Of the
oldest and most respected Maryland fam
lies. is dead in the Seton Hospital, Gin
cinnati, where she was taken by her
gypsy husband and his clan. with whom
she ran away from home FIVE years ago
In the nursery of the hospital. under the
tender care Of the nurses, is her tiny
baby. three days old The body Of the
mother will be brought here for burial.
The disposition OF the baby has not been
determined upon.
Mrs. Michele, a vivacious debutante
only few seasons ago, had been wan
dering with the gypsies from choice since
soon after she blessomed into society.
Her disappearance from her Baltimore
circle Of acquaintances was sudden. and
il was not until last spring that her IA
ther's search for her was rewarded with
her being located in ST. Louis vith
band Of gypsies. of which King John
Michele was lne chief.
Created a Sensation.
The announcement Of the finding Of the
girl and the fact that she had voluntarily
surrendered her standing in society and
the luxury Of a beautiful home and social
position for a life with the wandering
band created a distinct sensation.
For several months there has been lit
tie heard Of the gypsy woman. To-day
came the tidings from Cincinnati of her
death there, and Of the birth of the little
gypsy baby.
Cincinnati dispatches to-day say that
about five weeks ago the young woman
was carried 10 rOoming house at 4s3
West Fourth street in that city by her
gypsy husband. King Michele. lie
asked that the woman be allowed 10 stay
there temporarily. This was agreed to,
and DR.. Meade was summoned He, with
the help OF a nurse, cared for the woman
until she became so i'll that they were
compelled TO remove her 10 Seton Hos
pital last Wednesday. She was then too
far gone 10 be saved. and she sank
steadily after the baby came into the
world, on Thursday, until she died, Sat-
urday morning.
Hospital Barred Gypsies.
King Michele called at the hospital
last Friday and was allowed to see her.
but not the child. Four other gypsies
called. but were not allowed 10 see either
the woman or the child
While lying, with her baby in her arms.
the mother revealed to Sister Superior
Florentine her identity.
The sister superior notified the dead
woman's father by telegram yesterday,
and received a reply stating that he
was too sick 10 go 10 Cincinnati. and
directing that the body be shipped here
for interment.
Miss Habersham was a great-great- !
granddaughter of Francis Scott Key.
who wrote THE Star Spangled Banner" |
Surprise to Family.
News of the death of Mrs. Michele came
as surprise to-day TO Mrs. A. w. Haber- |
sham. the young woman's step-mother. |
who resides at III McMechen street. Mrs. !
has just returned from a trip 1
of several months North. and said she /
had heard nothing from her step-daugh- |
ter since the publicity given last spring |
10 her going away with the gypsies. In |
cidentally, Mr.. and Mrs Habersham are |
Mrs. Habersham, the grandmother OF /
napolis, had heard nothing further from
her granddaughter to-day than that she /
was i'll in Cincinnati. Miss Eleanor Haber- 1
sham, aunt OF Mrs. Michele. said this /
afternoon that the family there had re- /
ceived word that the gypsy woman was i'll /
In hospital in the Ohio city, but nothing
more definite was learned until this after
noon.
Her Life n Romance.
The story Of the Baltimore girls life
with the gypsies is of a most romantic |
character, She seemed to have become
enamored of the gypsy life from the
very first. In an interview with a jour
nalist who found her IN camp al 81.
Louis last April she said:
'-The things that appear vital and of
most importance to the average girl and
woman to me are but the merest dross.
have no part in them. / cannot make
hem part of my life. / am lust diff
erent. that's all; and one should not
'eeel against the inner self, for happiness
ne' er comes that way. Sooner or lafer
he soul viii have it's outlet, and one
viii regret the wasted years spent un-
happily.
They call me the gypsy queen because
married King George l am no queen
n the accepted sense OF the word.
ust want to be my husbands wife-his
luceE.
Il met my king six years ago, when /
started out to be gypsy rover. He was
rood 10 me, and | grew TO love him; Tor
rom the first day knew that l should
always be a gypsy. a wanderer. a crea-
ure of the wanderlust."