Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1917-09-04
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STARTLING EXPOSURE OF INNER LIFE OF KAISER AND CROWN PRINCE AS
TOLD BY COUNT ERNST Won HELTZHDORFF TO WILLIAM LEQUEUX


In moment l understood. The
pretty variety artistic was endeavoring
to levy blackmail. But how could she,
In her position, have learned the secret
Of the emperor's intentions?
She was, found. living as Slgnorina
Speroni. with her maid, at the Hotel
Bristol over at BeaulIeu, just across the
blue bay Of villefranche, and as the
days went on realized the imminent
danger Of exposure, and wondered IL
the kaiser knew of II.
/ made a remark to that effect to his
highness one morning. whereupon he
replied:
"Don't disturb yourself, my dear
Heltzendorff 1 have not overlooked the
matter, for II is one that closely con-
Germs both the emperor and myself.
The woman obtained the secret by
opening the dispatch box Of one who
believed her to be his friend, and then
she attempted to use her knowledge In
order to drag me into her net. But
do not think am very likely to be
caught-ehT
At that moment Herr Schafer en-
tered the room, therefore further dis
cussion was out of the question.
From inquiries I made later on I
found that the concert singer had sud-
denly left the hotel, therefore 1 went
over to Beaulieu and had an lnstruc-
tive chat with Tho hall x.crtar n nar-
man. Of course. From him I learned
that the signorina had been staying
there ever since the date when we had
arrived at Nice and. further. that two
gentlemen had been frequently In the
habit of calling upon her. One was a
smart young Frenchman who came In
a motor car and the other was a Ger
man. From the description Of the lat
ter at once came to the conclusion
that It was none other than Herr Scha-
fer.
"The one gentleman did.not know Of /
the others visits" said the bearded
porter, with a laugh. ''The signorina
always impressed silence upon me, be- |
cause she thought one would be jeal- |
Gus of the other. The German gentle
man seemed very deeply In love with
her, and she called him Hans. He ac-
her when she left here for
San Reno"
reported this to his highness, but
be made no remark. A week later
some fishermen found upon the brown
rocks near Capo Verde, beyond San
Reno, the body of woman, fully
dressed. afterwards identified as that I
If Irene Speroni, the singer so popu-
ar In Rome.
1t was proved that on the previous
light she had been seen by two peas
lnts walking along the sea road near
San Lorenzo. accompanied by a tall.
hin man. who seemed greatly excited,
md was talking In German. It was
believed by the Italian police that the
Unknown German, In fit Of jealousy,
brew her into the sea.
From facts l gathered some months
ater realized that the whole plot
lad been most cunnlngly conceived.
'chafer, after his return from Ameri-
a, had met the woman Speroni, who
vas performing In London. and she
ad. unknown to him, opened his dis,
atch box and from some secret corre-
pondence had learned the real truth
egarding the proposed entente which
be emperor contemplated.
Schafer, alarmed at the woman's
nowledge, and yet fascinated by her
harms, had gone to the crown prince,
nd he, IN turn, had seen the woman
! Wiesbaden. Finding her so danger
US to the emperor's plans he first in
her to young French mar
uis, de vienne by name. who pestered
er with his attentions, and followed
err to Beaulieu. Having so far sue
eeded. the crown prince went to Nice
nd played upon Schafer's love for the
oman. pointing out that she was play J
ig a double game and urging him to
'atch.
He did 50 End discovered the truth.
hen there. Occurred the tragedy of
salousy. exactly as the police be-
eyed. 2
Herr Schafer had. however. escaped
, Germany. and the police Of San Re-
10 are still In ignorance Of his iden-
ty.
1917. William Leoueux.)