The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-01-06
A Russian Princes Crime,

-" CITY has been in turmoil of ex-
clOeilent for the last few DAYS over the
ASSASSINATION of DR.. Schmidt, who met
mo ueath at the hands of Prince Grou-
sinshy' Russian noble of once great
wealth. and influence. The murder was
committed in cold blood, and in the
plesent state of Russian affairs it is
PROBABLE that the Prince will be made
70 suffer the extreme penalty of the law
lor ms cowardly act, contrary to the
usual custom of punishment given to
noplilty for such acts. In former DAYS
q lew hundred roubles could make up
ior sne killing of serf, and few thou
salio Ior the destruction of a free man.
Ut. Schmidt was a graduate of the
Medical College of Berlin, and came to
esodohsh himself in Russia in 1869. AS
ms herman diploma would not allow
MN 70 practice medicine in Russia, he
entered the College of Moscow and
mastered the Russian language; but on
tne following year he was compelled to
return to Germany to take part in the
war against France. At the conclusion
Of peace between these two countries he
came back to Russia, purchased a coal
NINE, which he eventually got rid of,
and In 1880 he entered the service of
Plnce Grousinsky as baihff and admins
tratorof his estate
The Prince lived so extravaoantly that
in Short while the Doctor had nothing
to suprintend over. The Princess, how
eFer, Wishing to preserve to herself the
properly that was rightfully hers, OBJ
talne5a legal document to that effect
AnrsAppyed DR.. Schmidt to look after
her interest. This arrangement in no
way suited the Prince, and he did his ut
most to make the Doctor abandon the
management of the estate, but without
success, He irst offered him money if
he would withdraw from his wife's bust
ness matters, md finding bribery and
corruption impossible, Prince Grousinsky
became enraged. On several occasions
he threatened to have the Doctors life
blood, and went so far as to say that if
gold could not remove him another metal
would, meaning lead. To all these at
tempts at intimidation the Doctor only
smiled, feeling perfectly safe that the
Prince would not risk his already fast
disappearing reputation by the murder
of man whose death would in no way
benefit him nor retrieve his fallen for
tunes. The Doctor had obtained great
influence over the mindof the Princess,
as she had always found him
strictly honest in all his business
matter, and the Prince thought
he might in his turn obtain the
ascendanty over his wife il this obstacle
were removed. In that case he would
have sole control over the affairs, and
the numerous gambling tables of this
gay capital would become richer by the
few thousand roubles that composed the
remnants of their once brilliant fortune.
On the day of the murder Prince Grou-
sinsky was seen coming toward DR..
Schmidt's residence. 1t was ten o'clock
in the morning. Catching sight of the
Prince, theDoctor sent one OF his clerks,
with whom he was speaking at the time,
to tell him that he could notpossibly see
any one, as he had pressing business
which necessitated his whole attention.
Whilst the clerk was speaking to the
Prince the Doctor locked himself in a
room and shortly afterward the Prince
arrived AMI asked admission.
The administrator refused to open the
door, and moved toward the window to
witness the Princes departure. The
ffnce no sooner caught sight of him
than he climbed up on an empty barrel
that stood by, broke pane of glass and,
leveiing his revolver, fired at the Doctor,
striking him in the right shoulder. The
wounded man opened the door and
rushed into the vestibule shouting for
help. But the Prince was on the alert
and met the Doctor in the hall, and,
drawing his revolver again, he fired a
second shot, then third. The two bull
lets lodged, one in the right side of the
chest, the second in the neck. AT the
second shot Schmidt fell. All this took
place within sight of seven persons, but
the terrified servants Immediately took
to fight. With the aid of two peasants,
who had stood by watching this revolt
ing scene without attempting to save the
Doctor, the Prince transported the dying
man to his bed. He Immediately sent
for an undertaken to furnish coffin for
the Doctor, who was still breathing, and
then began to bind up cut upon his
finger, which he had received when
breaking the window. Half an hour
afterward the undertaken put in an ap-
pearance. Seeing that the wounded man
still gave signs of life this Prince had
the barbarity to take the basin of water
in which he had been washing his wound,
and dashed the contents into the face OF
the dying man.
Mr.. Schmidt had scarcely breathed his
last when Prince Grousinsky went
through the dead mans pockets, from
which he took the secretary key, and,
dragging the sheet off the bed upon
which he lay, opened the bureau drawer,
md, extracting all the contents, placed
Them in the sheet, and, tying the whole
INTO bundle, quietly walked away, as
+ nothing special had occurred. He had
only taken few steps, however, when
ne returned as if something had been
forgotten, and, addressing the under
,aker, gave him orders for the burial OF
'he' body, which actually took place
Without further comment on the next
lay. But the occurrence had been noised
abroad, and in every probability the
Government will be compelled to make
IN example of this Prince, who seems to
De quite ignorant of having done aught
against the laws of nobility. The Rus
'ians are now beginning to awaken from
heir lono letharpy of submission and