The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-01-22
EVERYBODY LOVES
This MURDERESS
Prison Attendants See That Her.
Lie Is Made One Of
Ease.
CHAPLAIN is DECEIVED
When Sentence Is Served En-
chantess Will Marry
Again.
ny cAMrLLo clASFAnnA.

Especial Cablc 10 The Times-Dispatch.l
Rome. January Eleven as a con-
victed murderess, the Countess Maria.
~Tarnowska, who is supposed to be
serving a sentence for having pro-
NOTED the assassination of Count
>amarowslii, still retains those pow
ers of fascination which gained for
her the title of The ~Enchantress."
According to tho Italian laws a
prisoner must serve sentence In a
penitentiary located at least 100 miles
from the spot where the crime was
committed. and the Countess Tarnow-
ska should now be in the female ward
OF the Trassi Pcnitcntiary. Instead OF
that she is occupying comfortable
quarters in the Giudecca prison OF
Venice.
There are many reasons why she
has thus lar managed TO avoid the
strict and harsh discipline of an
Italian penItcntiary, and one OF these.
Is found in the interest which the
prison cha plain he's taken in the en-.
trancing prisoner.
Chaplain Deceived by E~nchnntress.
During the trial the countess ex-
pressed a f~ervcnt wish TO foreEo the
worlds pleasures and 10 devote the
remainder of her life In works of peni-
tencc in a convent. The chaplain saw
the opportunity OF saving q very bril-
liant brand from tho burning. and It
was largely due to his influence that
the press treated the beautiful pent-
tent with unusual consideration during
the trial.
After her conviction tho chaplain
was instrumental in securing comtor-
table quarters for the prisoner. and
later In arranging for the consolinS
company ofa sister of Charity In the
prisoners room. 1t was said the count
ess was sick and needed bodily as
we'll as spiritual comforts. and tho
prison authorities closed both eyes to
me unusual amount of freedom left
10 tho prisoner. M
But the constant supply of Russian
cigarettes that went to tho countess's
room labeled rMedicinc" attracted the
chaplain's critical attention, although
hn was Inclined 10 believe the pris-
ohers story that the cigarettes were
nearly necessary to her health. Then
ono day he discovered an extremely
improper novel by DE- Annunzio in a
drawer OF her table, and that dis
illusioncd him.
Powerful Friends nj work.
Eut Notwithstanding the chaplain's
discovery things have changed but
NIUE. True, The sister Of Charity has
been sent back to tho convent and
" iFF : I EIeHIlN re-
duoed. bur the countess has not ns
vet been removed from her temporary
quarters. and the press is devotinE to
inc case more attention than usual.
rue chaplain frankly admits that he
has been deceived by the countess,s
religious sentiments, and he also
thinks everybody in the prison, doctors
and Keepers, have fallen In love with
her.
The countess, however. has easily
found other powerful friends to
connterbalancc tho chaplain's in1u-
enco and counterfeit the ~latter's
cnmitv.
Tie cohorts Of international adrnjr-
crs which made their presence felt
during the trial seem to have rallied
to her support.
According TO some reports many
secret Influences nre at work in favor
of the countess. While she is reported
to be almost penniicas. three prumi-
nent lawyers havo been retained by
n mysterious pc,sonagt TO plead in
her favor before the Minister of Jus
ticc that u pardon be granted to her.
Many strange stories are circulating
these days about Countess Tarnowska
AMI her mysterious and wealthy
friends. amio,lg others. IL Is said. a
i~tissian prince. who is deeply inter-
csted in Tile cpuntess's welfare. rhis
prince, who is an old man about twice
the prisoners age, attended the trial.
and has never loft Venice since. He
visits the prisoner oncc a month. but
corresponds With her daily.
So The countess is still an en-
chantreas.