Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-08-17

that looked like clue was delivered into
the hands Of that dread secret society.
the Carbonarios, which has ramifcations
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 ten days the brave woman was
kept in solitary confinement. Then she
was brought before high military off,
Ger and subjected to the Portuguese
equivalent OF the third degree. During all
this time she calmly protested her in
nocence. Finally she was sent back to
Aljuba, 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 permit
her chosen work to lag Instead OF
sending donations to her villa her hun
dreds of Portuguese sympathizers dis
patched them to her cell in Aljuba From
there Dona Constance distributed the
supplies among the prisoners in the other
prisons.
Just about this time popular clamor.
both in Portugal and abroad. against the
delays IN the bringing of accused politf-
cal prisoners TO trial became active and
after more than seven months I'm prison
bona Constance was told that she was
about TO be tried. One morning black
Dona Constance was hurried into il and.
surrounded by a detachment OF thirty
soldiers armed with loaded rifles and
fixed bayonets. was driven 10 her court
even more stringent. detachment OF
troops guarded the street. soldiers parad-
ed the corridors and Dona Constance
looking pathetically harmless in black,
was ringed about by Sowing regulars
The trial was In more respects than
this farce. II soon developed that the
government did not have the semblance
Of a case against bona Constance. Her
accuser was the negro promoter of jus
tice." who since has himself been ar
rested. charged with conspiracy against
the republic. Into court were brought
hundreds of ominous looking documents
and soberly laid before the military
judges. Finally batch of them were
read, and they proved to he. not in
terminating papers of arch-conspir-
ator. not plans for a counter-revolution.
not communications from royalists over
the border. but-letters of devotion and
gratitude from hundreds Of prisoners and
prisoners wives whom this brave woman
had helped. This was the sole evidence
upon which bona Constance had been
kept In foul prison for eight months.
Dona Constance was lodged in a cell
while the court-martial deliberated on the
evidence" The cell was a dirty cup
board without light of any kind Not
even a candle was supplied to her Dur
ing the hours which the military court
spent In debating her 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 she was free. Not even an
apology! Not even an expression OF re-
greet that she had been unJustly impriB-
oned for eight months.
Dona Constance went back to her work.
But even her public trial has not freed =,
her from persecution She frequently re-
ceives threatening letters. and few days
ago she was threatened with ASSESSING
ton unless she gave UP her mission OF
mercy But Dona Constance is not even
the slightest bit afraid. Hundreds of tho
more conservative republicans have rail-
lied to her support, and her new homei
Travessa da Jardim a'Estrella IL, ID more
than ever the center OF q great work.
Even the President OF the Portuguese
republic. DIR. Manuel dArriaga, is proud
to be numbered among her friends.