The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-17

gle scrap of evidence to justify her ar
rest.
Conducted to Prison
Dona Constance had barely turned tho
nearest corner on her way to Aljuba after
her arrest before the Villa Franco was
oyerrun by the longes, nosed investiga-
tors of the republic. Every drawer and
cupboard was turned inside out and Shcr-
lock Holmes himself would have mar
ivelled at the thoroughness of the search
for secret compartments. Everything that
looked like a clue was delivered into the
hands of that dread secret society. the
Carbonaries, which has ramihcations in
every part of Portugal and abroad and in
every class of society. Every scent was
run to earth in preparation for the trial
of Dona Constance.
For 10 days the brave woman was kept
In solitary confinement Then she was
brought before a high military officer and
subjected to the Portuguese equivalent
of the third degree. During all this time
she calmly protested her innocence Final
ly she was sent back to Aliuha and for
many weary and almost hopeless months
she was kept a prisoner vainly asking to.
be either tried or set free.
During the whole time she was in prison
Dona Constance did not pcrnIt her chosen
work to lag Instead or sending donn-
tons to her villa her hundreds Of Port,i-
guese sympathizers dispatched them 10
her cell in Aljlha. From there Dona Con-
stanca distributed the supplies among the
prisoners in the other prisons
Clamor Against DELAYS
Just about this time popular clamor.
both in Portugal and abroad. against tie
delays in the bringing or accused political
prisoners to trial became active and after
more than seven months in prison Do,ia
constance was told that she was about
TO be tried. one morning black Maria
drew up to the door of Aliuba, Dona Con-
stanca was hurried into it and. surrounded
by detachment of 80 soldiers armed with
loaded rifles and fixed hayonots, was
driven to her court-martal. Inecourt the
precautions were even more stringent a
detachment of troops guarded the street,
soldiers paraded the corridors and Dona
constance. looking patheticcally harmless
IN black, Without friend or assistant In
court, was ringed about by scowling reg
ulars. M
The trial was in more respects than this
a farce. Il soon developed that the gov
ernment did not have the sembance of
case against Dona Copstanca. Her ac-
cuser was the negro Promoter of JUS
tice'' who since has himself been arrested
charged with conspiracy against the re-
public. Into court were brought hundreds
or ominous looking documents and soberlv
laid before the military Judges. Finally
batch OF them were read and they
proved to be. not discriminating papers of
an arch conspirator, not plans for a coun-
ter revolution. not communications from
royalsts over the border. but letters OF
devotion and gratitude from the hundreds
of prisoners ard prissners' wives whom
this brave woman had helped. This was
the sole evidence upon which Dona Con-
stanca had been kept in foul prison for
eight months.
while the court-martial deliberated on the
"evideuce' The cell was a dirty cup
board without light OF any kind. Not even
a candle was supplied to her. During the
hours which the military court spent In
debating her case she had to stand In the
Tiny cell because no bench or chair was
provided. Finally. totally exhausted she
was led before the court and told that che