The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-07-15

de Lacy, a conspicuous figure of
st. Petersburg court society, and
of the Muscovite aristocracy being de-
scended from one of those Irish ana
scotch we'll born soldiers of fortune
who were induced by Peter the Great
to enter his service two hundred years
ago. was sentenced to penal servitude
| Tor life in the most remote corner or
Northeastern Siberia, for having in
cited his confederate, DIR. Patchenko TO
poison by means of cholera and typhus
germs certain of his relatives. in the
expectation of inheriting fortunes that
would otherwise have gone to them.
HIS wife's only brother. Major Count
Vassili Bouturln. was one of the vic
tins. and an attempt was also made on
OBrien de Lacy's father-in-law, old
General Count Bouturlin, which did not
Kill him. but rendered him an invalid.
O'Brien de Lacy endeavored to stay
the prosecution by barring all the
scandals OF his father in-law's life. but
without avail, and when he was con-
victed. and given BY the courts the
extreme penalty allowed by Russian
law. that is. penal servitude for life.
his wife. who had persisted. against
all evidence. In believing in the in
nocence of the husband to whom she
was so devotedly attached. lost her
reason. disappeared. and mas never
been seen since. although soughr far
and wide. and in spite of the fact
that large sums OF money have been
spent In endeavoring to find clue to
her whereabouts. or to her fate.
General Bouturlin had a widowed
and childless sister. Nine. de I.azari,
who was likewise the object OF an at
tempt upon her life by DIR. Patchenko.
at the instance OF Count O'Br!en de
Lacy. She recovered. but was so alarm
ed by her experience. that she did not
consider herself safe any longer Mt
st. Petersburg. convinced that every
one was after her money. and took up
her residence in Paris. where she made
every effort TO conceal her identity.
and to live IN the most quiet and un :
obstruave manner. She died quite
suddenly two weeks ago in Paris, OF
heart disease, and now her fortune
amounting to sl0.000.00O goes. accord
ing 10 her will. which she made MANY
years ago and which she forgot 10
ehange. TO her niece the missing
Countess o'Brien de Lacy. II the lat
ter Is dead. then the fortune should
go to her husband, the life convict
AT the time when O'Brien de Lacy
conceived these murders. and insti-
gated their execution. he was ever
whelmed with debts. and was i'm
patient for money. Had he DELAYED
htfle longer. he. or rather his wife.
would have been placed beyond the
reach of any further pecuniary dim
cuities' by this bequest OF Nine. de
Lazari
Many people are convinced that the
missing countess is dead. But since it
is necessary TO establish her demise
before the estate OF Nine. de Iazar,
can be settled, the search for her will
be renewed, and will extend 10 this
side OF the Atlantic. For Il is con-
sidered just possible that she may. ar
ter recovering her reason, have sought
refuge and complete oblivion from the
terrible past in America
II Count O'Brien de Lacy was not
sentenced to death. 1t is because can't
tai punishment in ordinary criminal
cases has been abolished in Russia
ever since the reign of Catherine the
Great. While 1T does not exist in civil
procedure, 1t is retained for military
| ana naval offenses. and II the Musco.
vite authorities are enabled to send
Nihilists to the scaffold. it is because
political offenders. particularly those
VINO have been concerned in Nihilist
outrages of one sort or another. are
not tried by the ordinary tribunals
but by courts-martial. as being beyond
the pale of the ordinary law OF the
land.
Unique among the honors conferred
by King George on the occasion OF his
coronation, was that bestowed by him
upon one of his favorite physicians
who had likewise been the principal
| physician of his father, and of his
grandmother. Queen Victoria. namely
Sir James Reid. For. according to an
official announcement in the London
Gazette. George V. has by warrant, I'M
der his royal sign manual, granted to
Sir James. authority to add to the
heraldic devices OF himself and or MS
| descendants, following the honorable
augmentation: "On chief gules,
lion PEASANT, guardant. or, armed and
langued. azure. (being one Of the lions
of tho royal arms.)" This is to con-
stitute lasting recognition of tho
care and attention devoted by Sir
James TO Edward VII and Queen Vic
toria.
Sir James who is married to the
Hon. Susan Barring. sister of Lord
Revelstoke, and of Cecil Barring. and
formerly maid of honor to Queen Vic