Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-08-21
COUNTESS TELLS
Of FATAL LOVE "
MariS TarnOWski Writes in Her
Cell of How Passion Led to
Staying Husband.

ROME Aug. 21.-Annie Vivanti. the
English Italian poetesS and novelist is
about to publish the manuscript of the
memoirs of Countess Maris Tarnowski
written by the latter during her eight
years in TRAM penitentiary for COM
plictty in the murder of Count Kane
'owsH by the Russian student, Maui
now, in Venice, in 1906.
Several attempts have been made to
interest the minister of justice ana
King Victor in an application for
pardon, but the countess is now re-
signed to serve out the sentence and
employs the Wearisome hours on her
hook telling the life story of beautiful
woman, climaXing in fierce love that
sbscures all other sentiments and leads
to completely in the crime at Venice
Nine. Nivanti first met the countess
in Milan prison, where the latter had
been removed because of too much lib
erty in the Venice Jail. 1t was disclosed
that the beautiful prisoner received
flowers and dainties from admirers and
also Russian cigarettes The countess
feigned illness to be placed in the Jail
infrmary and also simulated religious
fervor to interest Cardinal Cavallari
patriarch of Venice through the inter-
mediary of the Jail chaplain.
History of a Noble Soul"
The pOetess encouraged the countess
to write her memoirs and promised her
cooperation in the English translation.
Nine NiVanti said:
Ot II
a history of noble soul lost in laby-
ninth of passion, and contain much that
did not come to light a the trial. Every
society woman will recognize herself at
some stage of the heroine's life. The
book IS not altogether love, but is also
picture of Il parsonage towering high
for his fine sentiments and sanCtity Of
his own life This man is Count
O'Rourke, father of the countess. who
gave his consent for its publication aft
er reading the manuscript The count
is the only man who always stood by
his daughter. Every three months he
leaves his castle, near View, where he
spends the life of a recIuse. to travel
five days and see his daughter two
hours. He is so years old and has trav-
eled twenty times to his daughter in
Jail.
Another character in the book is
Tania. only son of the countess by her
first husband. The boy is eleven years
old a page at the Russian court, and
ignorant of his mothers terrible fate.
He prays nightly before an empty
frame that once held "A picture of him
self in his mothers lap. This picture is
now in possession Of tire countess and
the only ornament in her cell. The
world win know il different Countess
TarnoWs,li when she is released from
the peuitentiaIy.'
Many Literati in Prison.
The facts reveal Italian penitentia
res as fine places for literary work. The
countess is not the only prisoner who
has published a book. Dr.. Murri, Of
Bologna university, serving a life sen
tence for the murder of his brOther-in-
law Count BOnmartini, to allow his
sister to marry DR. Seechi, has written
a play a novel and tragedy in verse,
after the Green example. The play
failed in Florence two years ago.
Varsolna. last Of the Sicilian brig
ands. serving 80 years for double
murder, wrote a play favorably re-
ceived at Cantania. \ long account was
written by Abbatemagio who turned
crowns evidence in the Camorra trial,
concerning the Cuoccolo murders, with
sketches of all the leading Camorrists
in or out OF Jail
Convict Emilio Boschetu, who was
caught in Italy after absconding with
several thousand dollars belonging to
the Italian consul at Denver and is
serving five years, has written five
novels and Il dozen short stories.