Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1873-04-05
RUSSIA'S SWIFT JUSTICE.
An Ingenious Method of Making a Man
Confess His Guilt.

A merchant left st. Petersburg TO travel
across Europe. In the course of his
Journey he arrived at Warsaw. Being
furnished with a letter OF Introduction.
he repaired to the house of one of the
chief citizens there. and was most courte
ously received. lie stayed at Warsaw
for a week. and his host spared no pains
to make his visit agreeable, and showed
him every thing worth seeing in the town.
Indeed, the visitor was overwhelmed bv
an anount Of kindness rarely shown but
to friend Of long standing.
Al last the pleasant visit drew 70 a
close, and after breakfast the guest ex
pressed n wish TO sec some poor parts o.
the town. Of which he had heard. "But,
said he. 81 have with me box of great
value that do not like to risk In such
places. II It were my own should not
| be so particular but Il was intrusted to
me by n friend, who requested me TO
deliver it tn person in another town. It
contains diamonds and other valuahles.
/ Would you do me the great fvor of TAX
ing charge of il for the day ~
The host. with his usual urbanity. will
ingly agreed tn this proposal, and the
merchant departed with light heart on
his tour of inspection forget the name
] NuL let US say Ill lUf bNNNu Diti9f u
.. Five Points" Of Warsaw.
Next morning after breakfast he cor
dially thanked his kind entertainers for
their Jealous hospitality, and added that
as he was about to depart he would now
resume his charge of the box, which had
never before quilted his person since he
had received 1t from the owner. The
host and hostess stared at him In well
acted amazement. "What box :" replied
the host. 81 remember no box do YOU
nv dear - turning to his wife. no.
she said, 81 have no recollection OF any
box whatever" " What was II like 2
asked the host "perhaps you left IL II
yonr ROOM" But on the merchant per
sistlng that It was with the host himsel
il had been left, on his turning to hi
hostess and trying 10 make her recollec
the circumstance, both CATER appealing
to each other several times, and fortiiy
! ing each other In their deniaD becam
cold and distant, and began limiting tina
something must have happened to tn
, merchant to induce him to persist In 81
! strange delusion. As the host touche
his forehead with a significant glanc,
n the poor mao remembered that he was !
; a strange city the ground seemed TO |
slipping from under his feet danger I
f himself loomed In the distance, and Ii
!, hastencd from the house in ALARM
Straight to the police he went and state
a his case. The official listened imps
). turhably to the whole story, and the
r said:
I "You gave up this valuable box to a
I. acquaintance of IL weeks standing, will
v out any witness or any written acknov
leigem' Mt p
''IIe had been so very kind man
his position"
"Bah you are man Of business. Bl
!. have you no proof that the box belongs
e you ?"
ID "None whatever, except the key. It
IF locked, and have the key-here II Is
d and he produced a small key from
< inner pocket.
D. Tine official remained lost In tnoug
ID for some time, and then said swell,
b. will do the only thing | can for yon. I
n Archduke Constantine (the Governor
v. Polard) is n stern. harsh man, but he
nc known for his righteous justice, and if
believes your story he will do his best I
rs YOU. | will take you to him at once"
es No time was lost, and the mercha
he soon found himself in the Archduk,
ne presence, aud was desired to relate
d, story. When it was concluded, {
of Archduke, after few minutes relectiC
,l- rang bell An officer appeared. "Se
s., for NJ, naming the treacherous no
he Il was quickly done, and the Archdul
nit without preamble or question, said
at the guilty man " Sit down at that tab
lit and write as shall dictate to you" I
Az man took his seat and took up the p'
is, The Archduke began debating.
", "My Dear Wife;
lat Gan Is found out
ne "No," said the man, springing fr
of his feet, 81 won't write that"
i'm ether you are guilty. was the prou
sss answer.
W, Puzzled and foiled, he resumed his s
rat and wrote as he was desired.
If, "My Dear Wife;
,ed "All is fonnd out. Send me the
ear by the bearer
ce. Then he signed il with his own ma
Ihe by the Archduke's order, and q mess
rds ger was dispatched with it. The mess
the ger found the lady ut her toilet; W
to she read the missive she turned ashy p
Ialf trembling violently. Then, leaniug
ian ward, she drew the box from recess
,re. her toilet table, and handed it to
her bearer, who, swiftly returning, place
to in the hands Of the Archduke. He
wis mediately handed ii to the merch
and desiring him to unlock it. That b.
ary doue, he asked whether the diane
were all there. Yes, tue box had
the beeu opened they were exactly as
leni merchant had left them.
Again the Archduke rang the bell,
to the attendant who entered, he
i, designating the guilty man, Take
ing him to Siberia he is not tt to 90 Z
oNn house again >