The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1885-05-04
AnIyAL no YEnptvANDMAR0.

Matched even in Russia, obtained an
lmost Europea notoriety, took place
ONE little time ago at the Moscow as
izes.
The bank of Skopine, founded "a 1863, |
vas a communal, not strictly govern l
aent institution. Rykov was appointed I
aanager, although he had been guilty,
While holding previous appoint
nent, of extensive malv ersatiol.
,ut the offense was overlooked, per-
laps for reason suggested 10y the Ras-
ian proyerb, "0nly he who has not
mned against God has not robbed the
gar" The Manifestations OF the ex-
manager and his confederates were
eckoned at l2,0G0000 roUbles-prooably
he biggest robbery ever perpetrat
wen in tho empire of the czsr.
The chief of police was in Rykov's
Jay. Alekssndrotf, the local justice OF
ne peace, called in derisou Rykov' s
ackey, received FROM the bank a loan
II 100000 roubles and a stipend of 500
oubles year, His successor, Lizaret1,
vas put or Il similar footing. The con-
Iivance OF the smaller official fry, such
IS the postmaster and the interior po-
ice, WAS secured in like fashion, as also
he members OF the force who acted as
he managers spies. Having thus
ought the entire local administration,
Sykoy became as much the aUtocrat OF
,kopine as the car Is of all the Rus
las.
In 1868 there was deficit of 81 600 rou-
)les. Rykov drew up a false balance
iheet and of SO satisfactory character
hat it drew deposits from all parts OF
he country. From this date the affairs
f the bank went from bad 10 worse; but
he more desperate became its condition
he moro brilliant grew its balance
iheets. Though he WAS doing no logitI-
nate banking business, whatever, Ry.
GOV, by the offer oi7l2 por cent interest
IN deposits (while other banks wore
paying 81 procured funds IL abundance.
10 show how his exceptional profits
we're earned, RykoY entered In the
ank's books divers ingeniousiy con.
rived financial operations. There were
fictitious discounts, fictitious loans, iit;-
litious pure nases and fictitious sales
An old man in the pay of the bank, so
lliterate that he cOald hardly write his
,wn name, signed every December q
contract for the purchase Of several mill
ions worth of imaginary securities,
ma this transaction, and the imaginary
profit thereon, always figured On the
bogus balance sheet presented 10 the
minister and published in the Gazette.
Rykov not ohly paid his depOsitors a
bign rate Of interest, no gay6 away
arge sums 10 charitable Institutions,
supported schools, subsidized churches,
hereby securing the good will of the
,lergy aud acquiring high reputation
or pioty ana philanthropy, good works
md right views. All these gifts, as
veil as Rykoy's own personal expendi-
ure, which was on lavish scale, were
AIKEN from the banks Golfers and en-.
,ered as payments TO dummy custom
srs. The remainder and greater part of
he receipts aud deposits were simply
stolen, either for the managers own
purposes, or to buy the silence of his
onfederates. Paper was made on an
extensive scale and With little attempt
1t disguise. Antletf, man of stra y, for
$1,000 or 100000 roubles, discounted the
bill and got the money. Then the OPP
ration would bereversed, and Safoneff
GOT tho money. Purely fictitious bills
With imaginary names were discounted
md the pOrters and messengers of the
Dank figured in the books as debtors Tor
ems OF thousands of Toubles taken by
heir master. "Everything was done Ell
amille," said one of the Witnesses.
But 10 profit by all this proluslon it
vas necessary TO belong to the clique,
o be other n protector, a kinsman or
IN accomplish. List of suppllants we're
aid regularly before Rykov, who nc
'ording to his caprice, wrote opposite
ZACH name ,'grantod" or "refused,n
When bill fell due the acceptor was
'ourteously requested 10 accept another,
icluding the discount, which, It is
hardly necessary 10 say, nobody ever
bought of paying In coin. But after
While even these formalities ceased to
20 observed. When the favored
CIV wanted money they asked Tor it
,ometlmes took II without asking.
They took money from the cash-box
Without counting It," said one witness.
They came with a pocket handkerchief,
lied IL with bank notes, and went
iome," testified another.
Such was the method of doing bust.
less in tine famous Bank of Skopine.
And the swlndle went on, not Tor n few
weeks or months merely, but for some
hing like 10 long years, an astounding
act even Tor Russia and elsewhere un-
Imaginable. In small provinci al town,
where everybody knows everybody
Use, Rykoy's dOings and the banks DO
,ltlon could not be- secret, and when The
rash came, the entire province
krasar) produced but 10 unfortunates
Who had entrusted their savings TO M,
tykov and his fellow robbers, and
mong tho 5000 customers OF the bank
lot ono dwelt in Skopino. How, above
Ill, did the Irregularities escape atten-
ionY For the law places communal
'anks under the immediate supervis-
IN OF mayors and municipalities. Ii ia
heir duty each month 10 examine tho
looks, count the cash and overhaul the
ecurities. The answer Ia simple. They
we're PRIV TO the frauds and participa.
Ors In the plumber. All robbed the
lank. Mayor lkonnlkov robbed, NJ yor
lotschinnlkov robbed, the town clerk
obbed, every number of tbs munich
atty robbed, Tho monthly audit
vas a farce. The books
ash was never counted, and the balance
ned.
Rykov could do whatever no liked. and
'onducted himself with all the insolence
4 an Ignorant parvonue. There dwelt In
he town doctor OF the name of Bitni, a
nan OF good ropute and highly es-
eomed, but being 80 unfortunate as 10
lend RykOv he was ono day ordered
" the police 10 betake himself TO the
own OF Kassimvo and there abide. No
eason for this arbitrary proceeding was
ssignod, aud IL was only when the tlay
{ reckoning came that DIR. Bitni
earned that his expulsion was due 10
iykov, who had remarked TO the chief
{ police that the doctor was an "eyil.
mentioned man" On this hint the chief
{ police had acted. A young fellow
AIMED Sokolof was 80 ill-advlsed as TO
thistle while passing the manager in
40 public garden OF Skopine. Rykov
hose TO look on this ~ An insult, and
he youth was exiled by administrative
rider. "rhs police OF Skopln," said the
illness Lanskoy, whose evidence was
luoted In the indictment, twas ready at
ny moment TO execute Rykov's least
esire."
Nor was this all. Rykov counted 80
ontdently on the support OF tho local
representatives. OF the governnent that
70 lorded " over everybody, openly
atod the fire brigade because they did
OF conduct themselves to his satisfao-
ion NJ n Dire, and, vexed by some show
tindependonce on the part OF the chief
{ pelioe, told him that he had better
AXE care what he was ABOUT. "You arc
tnhodu Uaru no rflonlar ~ a.la