Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-05-15
VENICE. April II. 1910.

-Four persons. two women and two
men, have been on trial before the courts
of Venice for more than
Anachr0nism six weeks. charged with
~ r-;, conspiracy to murder
Russian nooleman under
the most sensa tiOnal circumstances. The
crime might have been committed in the
thirteenth century. or even in the fiji
teenth century. but it seems almost in
credible that il could have occurred in
the civilization of the twentieth century.
The central figure OF the tragedy, the
heroine. if it is proper to apply that noble
term to u woman who seems to have
equaled Lucretia Borgia Or Catherine oil
Medici in her cruelty and crimes. is
Russian countess, whose maid testified
in court that she is accustomed to burn
holes in her arms with the lighted end
of her cigarette when she is angry. which
shows the fierceness OF her passion, and
had the monogram OF one Of her many
lovers tattooed upon the back of her
hand. TO attest her consistency to him. It
was developed during the trial that at
least five of her lovers have died with
their boots on, either by their own hands
or by a shot from the pistol OF jealous
husband. Two other lovers have been on
trial with her for participating in the
conspiracy to assassinate a third.
This extraordinary person is Countess
Marie Nicolaievna Tarnovski. daughter
of a nObleman of Park, in southern Rus
STA. and an Irish lady connected with the
O'ROurkes of Dublin. The countess is
thirty years old. She was educated in
convent reserved for the daughters of the
nobility at Kieff, from which she eloped
when she was eighteen years old with
Count Tarnovski. man Of great wealth
and large land owner near Kieff. His
estates extend over many square miles Of
territory: his castle is famous for its age
and historical associations. and he has
winter residence in the delightful climate
of the Crimea.
Not long after their marriage the will
fulness and romantic tendencies of the
wife caused trouble. and one Of her low
ers. Count Borgetsky. was shot by her
husband and died in her arms. Another
an officer of the Russian army named
Stahl committed suicide. and her brother
in-law. Baron Tarnovski. also an officer
in the Russian army killed himself be-
cause her husband discovered their re-
lations.
In 1908 the countess met lawyer Of
Moscow named Prilukoff, able, successful
and highly respected, who
Prilukoff sacrificed everything to
Infatuation. his infatuation. deserted
'Aon' his wife and three. chill
dren, and eloped with her. He has since
been living with her in Paris, Vienna and
other cities of Europe denying her moth
ing. and spending his money for her graf
ification in the most extravagant manner.
He was one of the defendants in the trial,
and in her testimony the countess throws
upon him the entire responsibility for the
crime. His former law partner, i'll testi-
flying for the defense advanced the the
DRY that the Countess Tarnovski is hyp-
notist. and that his friends infatuation
was caused by spell which she had
thrown upon him. He swore that the day
before the elopement Prilukoff impul-
sively threw his arms around the witness
neck and exclaimed. sobbing: Vladimir.
If anything should happen YOU must take
care Of my wife and children: promise me
that they will never suffer- The same
evening he tried to poison himself. and
was found in commissions upon couch.
but the doctors saved his life and the
next day he disappeared with his ell
chantresS
At hotel in Paris Priukoff and the
Countess Tarnovski. who passed for his
wife. made the acquaintance of a hand
some young nobleman named Naumoff, a
son of the governor of a Russian prov
incs. who has been prominent in official
affairs many years. The young man is
twenty -One years old, handsome, of buoy
ant spirits. weak. amiable. confiding and
generous. and was soon numbered among
the slaves of this extraordinary woman.
He joined the family party permanently,
travelling with them everywhere, and
stopping at the same hotels for nearly
two years. and furnishing the greater
part Of the funds to pay their expenses.
His alteration for the countess is said to
have been actually pathetic. and his en-
tire time was spent ministering to her
whims
At Vienna this delightful party made
the acquaintance Of another Russian no.
bleman of wealth and prominence, Count
kamarovski, who promptly fell in love
over Europe for two years as the wife
of Prilukof and still lived with him.
They became engaged and he was induced
to insure his life for her benefit for $780,
English company was rejected because
Of the demand that the policy should
hold good whether the insured died by
disease. accident or violence. but Wen
ma company, less scrupulous, consented
to the provision, and policy was issued
in favor of the Countess Marie Nicolaiev-
ma Tarnovsk. her proper name. although
her husband had obtained a divorce from
her.
x y
1t is difficult to explain how Count
Eamarovski should have consented to
such a policy, or why his
Victim suspicious were not arous-
Lured. uh,cb bis fiancee held ont
for the unusual clause making it good If
he died by violence. and it is still more
extraordinary that he should be willing