Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-08-18
THE EVENING STAR.
The Murder of Mime. Sk0beleff.
ATR0CIoUS INGRATTTUpK AND TRBACHERY oT A
YOUNG RUSSIAN OFFICER.

YOUNG RUSSIAN OFFICER
london Telegraph
The following details OF Nine. SkobeleT's as
SaSStnafion by Capt. UZatiS have reached Vienna
from Phillppopolis: Mime. Skooelen curing
her two months stay IN Bulgaria. had devoted
ment of benevolent institutions In different
parts OF the principality, and had made numar-
Gus excursions with that object. refusing the
escort OF Gendarmerfe offered to her by the To-
cal authorities, on the ground that she was too
well known throughout the country 10 run aur
risk OF moleStation. During these expeditions
she was only accompanied by young female
attendant by faithful ana Intelligent Russian
man, servant named IvaDon. and by Capt.
JZatiS, formerly her sons personal aiie-de-
camp. who had earned great distinctions by
MS splendid gallantry during the late war. and
whom she was. accustomed to address as her
son. To this young officer she had upon
seVeral occasions presented considerable sums
OF money Tor the purpose OF enabling one OF his
pnrolners, a civil engineer. 10 erect MIL In
DemenCere, village near Philippopolis, but mad
iecSn,iy refused an application on his part for
a further gift, holding out. however. hopes
that she might grant the asked.for Subsidy nj
some future period.
Nine. Skobeler had set her heart upon es-
taDllshing model farm In East RoumeiIa and
started by carriage from Phinppopolls for
Tchirpan on Sunday. July Is, with the object OF
purchasing piece Of land suitable 10 the full
fllment OF her project, taking with her 25OoO
rouDleS. Which Capt. CZatiS assisted her to
pack up In yalfSe. This money was destined
t. | av for Ter purchase. To avoid the intoier-
able heat OF the summer sun, she commenced
her journey at r. H., accompanied by her
usual attendants. WITH the exception OF Czatis.
who excused himself. alleging indlsp oSit!on
and the necessity OF remaining with his brother.
who was also on the eve OF departure from
Pbilippopolis. For about half an hours drive,
AFTER quitting the town. Nine. SkobeleffS car
rage was closely followed by a vehicle contain
ing Mile. Smolekoff, the directress OF the Philip.
popolls hospital, and a Russian officer named
Petrof; but the two carriages separated at
hemer close to a stone bridge over the Martha,
on the road to Adrfanople. Nine. Skobelenrs
carriage had proceeded a few hundred yards
further, when lvalof, who was Seated on the
box by the cOachman, eSpied Capt. Uzatis lit
tie distance off by the roadside, and. turning
round toward his mistress, who, in the mean
lime had fallen into doze, awoke her with the
announcement that the captain was ap-
preaching the carriage on foot The old lady
ordered the coachman to stop, and, leaning out
or the WINDOW. was expressing her thanks TO
CZatfs for the trouble he had taken to wish her
goodspeed on her Journey when he suddenly
Grew his hand jar and cut Ivanoff down. At
lhe same moment four armed men made their
appearance, and fell upon the attendants With
their yataghanS. While they were slaughter
Ing the Bulgarian driver and Nine. Skobelens
mald-upon the former OF whom they inflicted
IA wounds, and upon the latter four terrific
slasheS each OF which was sufficient to cause
death-Czatis deliberately butchered his aged
benefactreSs, despite her piteouS appeals for
mercy and deSpairing offers of all her money
and valuables If only he would spare her life.
lie thrust his broad-b laded cimeter CON-
pletely through her body. killing her on the
spot, and then proceeded to plumber the corpse.
while his accompliceS broke open the trunks
and rified them OF their valuable contents
MeanW bile. Iyanon lay still, feigning death.
lie lad received eight severe wounds. but,
When the murdererS made Off with their booty,
ne contl1Ved to crawl away, and. after fncredt-
Bile eXert1ons, during which he lost so much
blood that he repeatedly tainted, reached the
russian consulate in PhilippopoliS about mid.
night, where he related the horrors OF which
ne had been witness. detachment of cav
alryWas at once dispatched to Demendere,
whittier tZatts had betaken himself. having
previously returned to Phil1ppopolis for the
purpose OF changing his clothes.and concealIng
his weapons. He and one OF his fellow-asSasS-
ms were Ia the mill belonging to his brother
when he perceived the militia squadron ap-
preaching, Forthwith they took horse and
galloped Of toward the Turkish frontier, but
found the high road occupied by a section OF in
1antfy. the officer commanding which sum-
moned them TO surrender. DiSmounttng, they
lied up hillside, and took refuge In a narrow
glen, where they defended themselves for some
minutes with their reyolverS against the SOL
dierS pursuing them. Presently, however. see
ing himself surrounded On every side Uzatts
put the muZzle OF his pistol in his mouth and
blew out his brains. His companion was cap
tured alive as were later on the other three
ruffians who had shared In his atroclouS enter
prise. The vallse cont aiming the stolen money
has not as yet been discovered. Nine. Skobe-
leff'S body, embalmed by order OF the Russian
consul general Will be conveyed to ST. Peters
burg, via ConStantinople and Odessa.