"BLACK MASS" ORGIES.

Auckland Star, Volume 55, Issue 22, 26 January 1924, Page 19

"BLACK MASS" ORGIES.

NOTORIOUS BARON DEAD. Baron Jacques Dadclsward de Frcscn. leader some twenty years ago of orgies still remembered in Paris, is dead at his villa in Capri. His sister, Princess Minutolo dl Bugnano. wife of an Italian Senator, believes he was poisoned. ' Baron Jacques bequeathed his fortune to his closest friend, a former newsboy. The Baron educated him and they have been boon companions for years, while neighbours gossiped eagerly about night life at their villa. Recently a young governess was found dead in the garden and the Baron's expulsion was ordered but later withdrawn. Jacques Dadelsward was the idol of the j Paris salons in 1000. He had considerable literary talent, was of aristocratic birth, and possessed n fortune. Then Paris began to hear of strange ceremonies in his flat, where young men and boys were lured to participate in a "black mass" for which a complicated paraphcrnalin of golden idols, incense, bells and maces was kept. One night detectives watched through the windows. They arrested Dadelsward and he was sentenced to six months' imprison- ! ment. As soon as he was released he went i to his fiancee, one of the most beautiful i girls among the Trench nobility, and asked ! her to forgive him. A valet threw him out j at her orders. Society boycotted him ami in despair U?- I shot himself, but soon recovered. Then I he set out reeklesly to live up to his reputation. After long wamlerincs In the I Orient, he finally returned and bought it luxurious villa at Capri.