The New York herald., 1921-03-02
ALLPARIS AGITATED
BY TRUNK MYSTERY
Accused Novelist Hints Hus-
band Engaged in Espion-
age Work for TeutOns.
Special Cable 20 THE NEW YoRK HERALD.
Copyright, 1891, bv THE NEW YORK HERALD.

Special Cable 20 THE NEW York HERALD.
Copyright, 1891, ov THE NEw YORK HERALD
New York Herald Bur~su,
Paris. March !. 1921.
new angle has developed in the
Bessarabo trunk mystery involving
Nine. Bessarabo. leader In Partisan
literary circles and the author of sew
eral passionate novels and poems. who
is accused of having killed her husband
and despatching the body in a trunk to
Nancy. While not specifically denying
either guilt or completely in the crime.
the woman has created an atmosphere
OF doubt by veiled suggestions that the
third persons actuated by a spirit of
revenge. But when this was recited
last week before Judge BONN. the GRIM
inal investigator. 1t was merely taken
as an effort by the woman to shield
her daughter. who is accused Of helping
to conceal the crime.
Nine Bessarabo's appearance before
the court yesterday further mystiied
the prosecutors. however, the woman
insisting that her life with Bessarabo
was marked by constant struggles be-
cause he was engaged in what she be-
lieved 10 be extensive espionage work
for either the German or Austrian Gov
ernment. The woman contends she
discovered the plans OF giant airplanes
which were destined ito destroy some
island. and therefore could not have
been directed against Germany More
over, Bessarabo. she says, was educated
in Vienna and spoke German better
than French, which made her believe
he had served rs an enemy spy in
France, but instead OF denouncing him
during the war she persuaded him
finally TO destroy discriminating docu-
ments
On the day that Bessarabo met his
death she insists that she helped him
pack the airplane plans into a trunk
and that together they accompanied 1t
to the station on the Nancy. But at the
last moment they discovered that the
keys were missing and Bessarabo re-
turned home, with the trunk TO rebind 1t
In an effort to insure greater secrecy.
An hour later she says the trunk was
returned to the station platform. As
was revealed the next day 1t contained
Bessarabo's body. There was no trace
of the espionage proofs to which Nine
Bessarabo refers and which the police
have been unable to find.
Further complicating the case is the
suggestion Of Nine. Bessarabo that her
husband had experienced difficulty, not
only In business affairs where thousands
of dollars were due him for the con-
struction of warehouses at Boulogne
early last year. but also with several
mistresses. A letter of one of these
which was intercepted contained a
threat of revenge "if the horrible situa-
tion was not ameiorated Immediately"
Nine. Bessarabo's husband really was
named Wessmanu. He was a Rumanian
jew. who had dealt extensively in oil
stocks in Mexico, where the novelist met
him after the death OF her first hus-
band. jacques. under suspicious cir
cumstar ces.
The Paris social world. which Is fol-
lowing the case keenly. is divided into
two distinct factions. pro and anti
essaraboists. but all corcede that the
woman's presentation OF the case with
the mystifying details all Of which can
either be proved or disproved. has been
managed with such dramatic effect that
there Is serious doubt whether Jury
will be found that Will render a verdict
of guilty.