Despina Storch Despina Storch or Despina Davidovitch Storch ( 1894 or 1895 – March 30 , 1918 ) was a Turkish woman who was alleged to be a spy for Germany and the Ottoman Empire during World War I . Storch was later immortalized as " Turkish Delight " , " Turkish beauty " , and a " modern Cleopatra " in spy literature . Early life and travels . Born in Istanbul , Despina married Frenchman Paul Storch when she was 17 years old . Though they later divorced , their former marriage created a peculiar situation due to Paul ' s service in the French army while his ex - wife was suspected of spying for France ' s enemies . Several factors led American authorities to suspect that Madame Storch was a spy . She traveled the capitals of the world frequently changing her name : " In Paris , for instance , she was known as Madame Nezie ; in Madrid and London as Madame Hesketh ; in Rome as Madame Davidovitch ; at the New York Biltmore , in New York , as Madame Despina , and at the Shoreham , in Washington , as the Baroness de Bellville . " That last name , " Baroness de Bellville " , was used because she was accompanied almost everywhere by a mysterious Baron Henri de Beville ( or de Bellville ) in the last months before her arrest . Despina Storch was a frequent guest at parties due to her remarkable beauty , a fluency in French and her dancing skill . At many parties she had no difficulty getting in contact with military officers who served for Allied forces and ambassadors of countries engaged in the war . While in Madrid Despina Storch and the baron were noticed contacting German agents . After the couple became aware of the suspicions they quickly left Spain for Havana . In the United States . Later they made their way to the United States . They were accompanied by a German woman , Mrs . Elizabeth Charlotte Nix , and a man who purportedly was a French count named Robert de Clalrmont . As soon as the " a curious quartette " arrived in the U . S . they were " placed under suspicion by the Department of Justice " . One factor that aroused the suspicions of the Department of Justice was that she lived a life of a very rich lady , paying $ 1 , 000 per month for her stay in a New York hotel . Mrs . Nix also received an unexplained loan of $ 3 , 000 from Count Bernstorff . Authorities later seized a safe deposit box held for a Madame Storch in a New York bank . It contained important correspondence , with notable people from around the world , some of which was coded . At first the co - conspirators were not aware about the scrutiny that they were under , and the Turkish Beauty led a " butterfly existence " . She frequented " social affairs " , adding new and important admirers to the long list of her suitors . When the scrutiny became known to Storch she attempted to send her trunks to Panama , but those were intercepted . Realizing the danger that they were in , the Baron and Storch obtained French passport s and made plans to flee to Cuba . After their plans became known to the Justice Department , all four were arrested on March 18 , 1918 and sent to Ellis Island . The authorities tried to follow a suspicious money trail left by the four co - conspirators , but were not able to prove nor disprove that espionage had taken place . Eventually the Baron , Storch , and two others were deported from the U . S . as " undesirable " . Death . While on Ellis Island they all became ill ; while three of them recovered , Despina Storch died on March 30 of what was described as pneumonia at age 23 . At the time of her death the authorities believed that she died of natural causes , but some publications later indicated that she could have bitten on a poisoned capsule . Her funeral took place on April 1 , 1918 . The " New York Sun " wrote : Her funeral was attended by her faithful admirer Baron Henri de Beville , his parents , and a secret service agent . The " New York Sun " wrote , " The Baron , whose infatuation for the Turkish spy suspect entangled him in the web of her intrigues , wept silently and cast a last look upon the vault as he was led back to the car . " The service was held in a Greek Orthodox Church although no one could present any evidences of which religion Despina Storch practiced . The United States Government accepted the explanation of the Baron ' s parents , whose loyalty to France was beyond any doubt , that their son was an innocent victim and that " any suspicion which might have been aroused came from his devotion to Madame Storch . " With the death of their main suspect , the U . S . government realized that the case would never be solved , although the " New York Times " reported her alleged confession just before her death .