The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1911-08-17


prisoner in the world.
The De Lacys, previous to the shock |
ing disclosures Of the Pantchenko poi |
sonings, which the count was convict
ed Of engineering, moved in the most |
exalted circles of Russian society and |
were freely admitted to the court Of
the car. The news that Nine. de
Lazan bequeathed her entire great for
tune to her niece has caused a great
sensation and has stirred the Russian
authorities to immediate action in the
case Of the strange disappearance Of
the Countess de Lacy. Search for her
throughout Europe has been fruitless,
and now the activities Of the Russian
secret police have been transferred to
America.
Reported Insane.
Immediately after Count de Lacy
was sentenced to penal servitude in
Siberia for life his wife was reported
to have lost her reason. She had been
forbidden to return to the home of her
father, General Borturlin, whose death
her husband sought so that she could
inherit the generals millions. De
Lacy's fellow conspirator, DR.. Pant
chenko, confessed that he had brought
about the death Of the countess
brother, Count Vass1lli Borturlin. by
inoculating him with cholera bacteria.
The old general persisted in the belief
that his daughter had assisted in the
plot, though she was not directly &C
cused at the trial. After the convic-
ton her family spurned her. The old
aunt, Nine. de Lazari. who had been
a mother to her. moved to Paris to es-
cape from the scandal. She had also
turned her niece from her, and it was
the universal belief of the old aristo-
Gratis relatives that she had made
new will in which the names Of the
De Lacys were not mentioned.
Practically penniless, disowned by
her relatives, denied by her former in
Innate friends. the beautiful and tai
ented young woman was reported to
have gone out Of her mind. Her father
ordered an inquiry into her sanity and
made provision for her removal to a
private sanitarium, but when his
agents began a search for her they
were unable to find any trace Of her.
This search was begun before the
death Of the millionaire aunt It was
dropped on the theory that the count
ess had put an end to herself. Now
that, if living, she is the mistress of
an immense fortune. the search will be
renewed and carried to every corner
of the world
Death Of tho Aunt.
It was shown at the trial of Count
de Lacy that he and his co-conspirator,
DR.. Pantchenko, had attempted the
life Of Nine. de Lazari. The count
knew of the existence Of the will. by
which the old nobleyoman's millions
were bequeathed to his wife. 1t was
every member of his wife's family, so
that there could be no will contest fol-
lowing the wholesale murders. DR..
Pantchenko confessed at the trials
last February that he had inoculated
the old aunt with cholera bacteria, but
she recovered
When she learned Of the peril she
had been in she fed from her home in
st. Petersburg and hid herself in Par.
is. Her health was badly broken. and
she died few weeks ago.
During her seclusion in Paris she
had no communication with any mem.
Der Of her family. Her brother, Gen.
eral Borturlin. sought but failed to gel
In touch with her. She was a widow
and childless, and she died surrounded
only by a few servants. Later the
discovery was made that she had not
destroyed the old will by which she
had made her niece her chief heir
Nor had she made new will.
When the Countess de Lacy was
last seen in st. Petersburg she prom
ised to devote her life to an effort tt
secure her husbands fortune, but
wherever she sought aid she was turn
ed away. These continued rebuffs
were believed to have dethroned he1
reason, but there is a theory current
. now that she recovered from thu
mental breakdown and sought refuge
and complete oblivion from her terri
IL 80,