The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1878-03-14
A CASE OF BLACKMAILING.

he Princess SOuvaroff, with her
suite, who have been the subject of much
scandalous gossip in New York lately,
sailed for Russia in the Scythia. Her
wrongs were first, however, brought to
the notice of the Russian Minister,
through whom, it is said, the State De-
partment will be led to institute an in
vestigation, with view to the arrest and
punishment of the offender.
The story, in brief, is this: The
Princess is the daughter-in-law of the
Russian general, Prince Souvaroff, In
spector- General of the Russian infantry,
and chief aid-de-camp to the Car. His
son, husband of the Princess, is also a
member of the Imperial staff. The
Princess, who is reputed to be lady of
great wealth, is an invalid travelling by
orders of her physicians, and was at
tended by several members of her family.
She had scarcely arrived at her hotel in
New York before she began to receive
letters from some unknown person beg
ging for money,-of which she took no
notice. On the 23d of February she re-
ceived through the post-office letter
written in the Russian language, to the
following effect:
"MME. LA PRINCEssE:-I addressed my
self to you some few days since, asking of
you, as a compatriot, to lend me your aid.
You have not seen fit to answer even one
word. Now the time has come in which
can be of service to you. An interesting
and piqdant biography of your history is in
my hands, and will be published tomorrow
in journal of the city. If such publication
should be disagreeable to you, it remains
with you, Nine. la Princesse, to prevent it.
If you will send me to-day twenty-five dol
lars, to the address hereunto annexed, the
manuscript containing this grand portion of
my personal recollections will be sup.
pressed; if not, it will be forwarded to the
press tonight, and tomorrow you will re-
ceive the number of the journal containing
der your sojourn here agreeable.
"Accept, Nine. la Princesse, the express.
ion of my respectful regards.
"PIERRE DE MoKIzYsKI.
address Mr.. 81. Supervielle, Messenger
Franco-American, No. AZ Great Jones Street
for Mr.. P. De NJ.
"Please send your letters through a mes
senger."
This, also, was passed by unnoticed
and, true to the threat, the biography u
was the next morning printed in the
New York Sun. 1t was strange com
pound of scandal and malice, evidently
written by one who knew something ol
the Princess and her connections, ano
filed with charges and insinuations o.
the basest character. Efforts were, O.
course, made to ascertain the authorship
of this brutal attack, but the edito
pleaded his privilege, and declined t.
reveal the writer's name. The Princes
addressed the editor the following note
"FEBRUARY rs, 1878.
"SIR:-I am just after reading an infs
nous article in your paper, entitled, 'Th
Adventures of a Princess which not onl
attacks my private life but also the honors
BILE name possess. 1t is my duty to defen
my father-in.law's name. He is respects
BILE gentleman, honored by every one in hi
own country. l also defend the name {
my husband, from whom am not separ,
ted, and with whose authority 1 cam
abroad, on account of my health. am a
tonished that you took the responsibilit
to publish such an outrageous article on
lady foreigner, whose thought was that sh
would be Hospitality treated in America,
: all foreigners are treated in her countr
Az to your mention of my emigration, be
you to understand that L love my countl
too well to emigrate from it, and also ha,
too honorable a name to do SO. In recap
tulating every odious line of this article
am reminded of letter / lately receive
from an individual signing himself Pier
: de Mokizyski, and who threatened to wri
T some outrageous article against me in
: New York paper, should not let him ha,
: the sum of twenty-five dollars. 1 regr
: that this individual, whose business is of
q most cowardly character, should have ch
! sen your paper as battlefield to attack
lady foreigner in. Hoping, sir, that yt
. will publish this letter in your paper,
J, remain yours, respectfully,
PRINCESS SoUvoRAFF." /"
She was also compelled to submit
Q an inhowing of curious and inquisiti,
u persons, to one of whom she made a fu
. statement of her case. She then q
10 dered her trunks packed and passa