Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1879-04-17
UNJUSTLY CONDEMNED.
4 Startling Case Of Deceptive Circum-
stantial EYidence---Terrible COnSe-
quences Of Il Lovers Quarrel.

4 Startling Case Of Deceptive Circum-
stantial EYidence---Terrible COnSe-
quences of Lovers Quarrel.
On the 18th of January, 1871, the
people of Moscow, in Russia, were star
tied by the news that Adolph, Count
Nostikoff, a young nobleman, and the
prospective heir of vast estates in the
central part of the empire had been
found murdered, shortly after aybreak,
near a small garden house belonging to
the country seat of Voleslar Staniroy, a
wealthy merchant of Moscow.
The unfortunate young gentleman
had evidently been stabbed to death in
the garden-hOuse itself, for not only had
his warm life-blood stained its walls and
flo0r-and the tell-tale crimson spots
led all across the snow to the outer gate
of the garden, where he had sunk to
the ground and expired-but there was
also found in the garden-hOuse a small
pointed knife, the blade of which was
blood-stained. 1t was evidently the in
strument with which the startling deed
had been committed. The police au-
thorities were speedily on the spot, and
SO were the relatives of the murdered
man. In the pockets of Count NOsti-
koffs coat were found two crumpled
notes signed Aida" and threatening
him with dlrest consequences in case he
should not surrender certain letters. It
was at once ascertained that these two
notes had been written by Aida, the
youngest daughter of the proprietor of
the country seat, VOleslar Staniroy.
~ 4Nx.
ly agitated upon beholding the stiff, fro
zen corpse of the count.
Are these notes in your handwrit-
ing? ?" asked the highest of the police
officers present.
They are" she replied in a feeble
voice.
When did you see the deceased
last?"
About eight o'clock last night" she
answered, blushing to the roots of her
hair.
"Where was that?"
Gin the garden-house," she whispered
almost inaudibly.
do you know this knife?" demanded
the officer, exhibiting to her the blood
stained blade.
Aida Staniroy cast wild glance upon
it. Then che uttered a shrek and faint
ed away.
Her father, who caught her in his
arms, murmured in q tone of despair:
1T is my daughters knife?"
When the young girl had been re-
stored to consciousness, she succeeded
by an extraordinary effort in regaining
her presence of mind.
"This is certainly my knife" she said,
rapidly, "nor do deny that | wrote
these notes to Count Nostikoff and met
him at the garden-houSe last night; but
swear most sole mnly that he and |
parted company without any ill-feeling
toward one another, and that / had
nothing whatever to do with his assassi-
nation"
As she uttered these words the beau
tiful and spirited girl laid her hands
upon the corpse, and then, lifting her
eyes to heaven, exclaimed, in a thrill
ing tone:
"Adolph, my slain lover, couldst thou
speak now, thou wouldst at once testify
to my innocence of thy murder"
This was very impressive. but it did
not convince either the officer or the
relatives of the deceased.
The former took Aida, whose firm
ness seemed wonderful under the cir
cumstances; to the parlor of her faith
ers's house, and summoned thither the
other inmates Of the latter. Among
them were the coachman, Ivan Duliz-
zurok, and Aida's French maid, Marie
Verln.
This maid was a prepossessing young
n ~ ~ u
with the most msinuating manners.
She seemed to watch the proceedings
with the most painful anxiety, and re-
peatedly spoke words of encouragement
to Mile. Aida.
The latter was asked to state what
her relations to the deceased had
been.
She answered frankly, but modestly:
Count Adolph had for two years
past been my sacred lover. This was
we'll known to my father, who disap-
proved of because he said the count
was a bad man. I asserted the con-
trary, and frequently had alterations
with my father on the subject. On the
day before yesterday my father told me
that [ had almost nightly interviews
with Count Adolph at the garden-house,
that he would put stop to this inter
course, and that he would prove to me
that the count was utterly unworthy of
my love. He made me promise to
abandon my lover if he should adduce
sufficiently convincing proofs to the
above effect. [ agreed to this"
did your father furnish such proof?"
inquired the officer.
Aida hesltated moment. Then
she said slowly:
took them as such at first"
What did they refer toI'
" refuse to answer this question"
she said firmly.
You must answer it," rejoined the
officer.
Il shall keep silence, even though
my silence should lead me to the scat
told"
The officer waived the question, and
then told her to proceed in her former
narrative.
"What my father told me-" she con-