WIVES WHO SELL THEIR HtSBANDS' SECRETS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2362, 1 June 1899, Page 56

WIVES WHO SELL THEIR HtSBANDS' SECRETS.

Terrible as the assertion may seem, it is nevertheless a fact that there have been a considerable number of cases on record of wives who for some consideration, more or less lucrative, have sold their husbands' secrets, of a political, commercial, or social nature. One of the most conspicuous cases of the kind comes from Vienna, where quite recently a well-known detective was balked in his endeavours to track a gang of notorious forgers owing to the disgraceful machinations of his wife.

Coming home one night after dinner in a somewhat expansive mood, he began to tell the deceitful woman that he was on the verge of bringing off a very important coup, as he had the heads of the gang in question practically in the hollow of his hand. He then went on to tell her further and more compromising details, until she knew almost as much about the contemplated raid as did the official himself.

It so happened that at the time she was in a dilemma owing to the existence of various millinery debts which she was unable to meet, and her husband's revelations in regard to the forgery business gave her an idea. Closely disguised, she sought out the leader of the gang, revealed to him her identity, and then and there asked him what sum he would offer her if she put him on his guard by telling him all she knew. The man, skilled in the reading of human emotions, recognised at once that his visitor was what she professed to be, and in a very few moments a considerable sum of money had passed from him to her. The gang then took to their heels, and the detective was, of course, completely baffled in his attempts to bring them to justice. The whole affair in regard to the wife's duplicity would probably have remained a secret had not the woman betrayed herself by babbling in her sleep. The scene which ensued can be better imagined than described in feeble black and white.

Somewhat similar in its outline, bia on an altogether smaller scale, was the action of the wife, of a police constable in the North of England, who, hearing from her husband one evening as they sat over supper that the arrest was contemplated on the following morning of a certain miner guilty of a serious offence, immediately betook herself to the house of the latter and sold him the information in question for the sum of £2 7s, which was all the money that the miner chanced to have in his possession at the time. Ho took to his heels, but was captured soon afterward*', when the whole affair came out, much to the disgust of the despicable woman who had used her husband's confidence towards the sordid end indicated.

In the stormy realm of political life women have bepn known time after time to sell confidential information imparted to them by their unwary spouse 1 -. Years ago, the wife of a well-known Minister was approached by a certain financier, who offered her a sensational sum of money if she would impart to him some exclusive information in regard to the policy of the Government in connection with a scheme in a very important colony. IToirified at fii>t by the scandalous proposal, the lady indignantly refused the vile offer, but after consideration, the enormous amount put forwaid by the tempter began to influence her decision, and, sad to relate, she yielded soon afterwards to the proposition.

The sequel to this incident was interesting in the extreme. The Minister, having been warned by a watchful secretary of the attentions that the financier had been payin:,' to his wife, at once "put two and two together," as the phrase goes, and suspected that something was wrong. Entering into the spirit of the situation, he gcivo his wife information that was diametrically opposite to the true facts of the case, and the result was that the unscrupulous operator found his speculations utterly overthrown, and lost a gigantic sum in consequence. In addition to this, he was also the loser in

the sum paid to the treacherous woman, so that his discomfiture was complete and certainly Avell deserved.

Despicable as the foregoing cases undoubtedly are, the following, which occurred in a southern province of Italy, is ten times worse and revolting to the last degiee. A very sensational murder having been committed (of which the victim was a rich banker), and the police being unable to trace the murderer, the relatives of the deceased offered a very large reward for the capture of the assassin. The wife of the guilty man (a wood-cutter), who until the announcement of the reward had been his most devoted ally, and who was in possession of every detail of the-, tragedy, became inflamed by the large amount within her reach. Without a moment's hesitation, she walked to the police depot and calmly gave the information which led to her lord's arrest.

The man was duly tried, sentenced, and executed, and in due course the money was paid over to his heartless widow, who, however, did not 'live long to enjoy the blood-money she had earned. Had the woman denounced the man, but refused the reward, then probably there are some Spar-tan-minded persons who would applaud her stoical action, but under the circumstances her conduct in selling her mate's secret at the cost of his life is too horrible for words.

Perhaps, however, the most extraordinary case on record in connection with the subject, of this article was the episode of the Russian countess, well known in the highest circles, who for no less a period than 12 years sj-stematically sold secrets of the deepest importance connected with the Government defences to a foreign Power, an agent of which had been clever enough to obtain her confidence. For this information a phenomenal sum of money was •paid her every year, and as her spouse foolishly allowed her to enjoy his entire trust, it was possible for the evil woman to continue her vile transactions for the period named. •

At length, however, the Government began to " smell a rat," and to find out that someone in its confidence was betraying its secrets right and left. A rigid search was instituted into every department, but without success, the detectives appointed in the business being unable to find the smallest clue to the culprit. The MinisteT was at length sent for, as a last resource, and he was asked to state • on oath whether he had ever confided his plans to any living soul. He at ouce admitted that he had done so, his wife being the recipient of the knowledge, as he trusted the lady as he trusted himself. The Government, however, did not repose so much confidence in the countess as did her hus-. band, and a couple of officials having been sent round to- tax her with the crime, she was completely taken aback and confessed the whole business. The rest of, her history can be told in two words — Siberia and death; whilst the wretched husband resigned his position and left his native land j for ever.