MARIE TARNOWSKA

[v]

PREFATORY NOTE

On the morning of September 3rd, 1907, CountPaul Kamarowsky, a wealthy Russian nobleman,was fatally shot in his apartments on the Lido inVenice by an intimate friend, Nicolas Naumoff,son of the governor of Orel. The crime was atfirst believed to be political. The wounded manrefused to make any statement against his assailant,whom he himself had assisted to escape fromthe balcony to a gondola in waiting below.

Count Kamarowsky was taken to a hospital, andfor three days his recovery seemed assured; butthe chief surgeon, in a sudden mental collapse—hehas since died in an insane asylum—orderedthe stitches to be removed from the fast-healingwounds, and Count Kamarowsky died in greatagony a few hours later. His last words were amessage of love to his betrothed at Kieff, a beautifulRussian woman, Countess Marie Tarnowska.

In her favor Count Kamarowsky had, shortlybefore his death, made a will and also insured hislife for the sum of £20,000.

A number of telegrams from this lady were[vi]found addressed to a Russian lawyer, DonatPrilukoff, who had been staying at the HotelDanieli in Venice until the day of the murder.Both this man and the Countess Tarnowska werearrested.

After a sensational trial they were found guiltyof instigating the young Nicolas Naumoff tocommit the murder. Countess Tarnowska wassentenced to eight years' imprisonment in thepenitentiary of Trani; Prilukoff was condemnedto ten years' penal servitude; while Naumoff himselfwas liberated in view of his having undergonetwo years' incarceration while awaiting his trial.

[vii]

TO THE AUTHOR

Signora:

Not only as the medical expert for the defense atthe trial of the Countess Tarnowska,