THE MYSTERY OF A COUNTESS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 8249, 23 February 1905, Page 2

THE MYSTERY OF A COUNTESS.

OWNER OF £240.000 SAID TO BE A PRISONER. Inquiries recently made by several of the Paris journals go to show that for the last four years a wealthy lady of Spottish origin, described as the Comtesse de Gallway, and possessed of great wealth, has been living in the Hotel de Louvre under the vigilant guardianship of two persons called M. and Mdme de Pully. According to the Comte Patrice de Gallway, who lives at 46, Rue Damremont, Paris, the son of the lady, she is a virtual prisoner, and he fears that unlawful pressure is being brought to bear upon her by her guardians. The Comte declares that for four years he has neither seen nor had any communication with his mother, and he asked the Public Prosecutor to open an inquiry into the affair. "My mother's personal fortune is very large," says the Comte in his letter to this functionary, " and in addition the heritage which came to her from my grandfather amounts to more than £240,000." It is stated by the "Journal" that the Comtesse was stricken with paralysis two years ago, and is now unable to leave her room. Two nurses' are in attendance on her day and night, and' adopt various means of entertaining her, including cinematograph exhibitions on a screen fixed in the room.' There is nothing to show that the Gallway family are connected with tEe noble Scottish house of Galloway. Comte Patrice de Gallway states that the extensive domains of his family are situated in the department of the Eure. _____________