Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-12-13
ABOLD TITLED ADVENTURES.
CAREER OF BARON GREFFEN.

Custody.
A Vienna letter to the World says:
The viennese authorities are at present
exercised over the recent escape and
improbable recapture of one Of the
most ingenious adventurers and sue
cessful swindlers Of the age. This is
the Russian Baron Greifen. Baron
Greffen must not be COMPOUNDED with
the other Russian adventurer, Prince
Sayine, who was tried here a few
months ago. The latter, it will be re-
membered, swindled the wisest bankers
in most of the capitals of Europe, and
borrowed large sums from Prime Minis
tiers and Ambassadors, even taking in
his ubiquitous net one or two distin-
guished members Of the Pope's house.
hold. Yet he was only vulgar swim
dler compared with the Baron, for
whom the yiennese authorities are now
issuing extradition papers.
The Baron's trial took place here
some three weeks ago. 1t was long,
sensational, and abounded in the Incl
dents and revelations peculiar to such
cases. 1t proved the Baron to be
richly endowed with that fertility OF
resource, surprising GOODNESS, and ar
tistic impudence so characteristic OF
the great heroes Of causes cets6res.
The Baron has led checkered life. A
few years ago he was member OF the
Russian Administration. After about
a YEARS service he committed ga
serious indelicacy and was subjected
to provisional detention" Divested OF
its euphemism, this meant that the Baron
robbed right and left and was put in
jail. In Russia provisional deten-
ton " is regarded as sort of passage
way to Siberia. The Baron knew this,
and lost no time in connecting plans.
The judge who had charge of the affair
summoned him one day to his cabinet,
and Intercepted him in the usual fash
ion. The prisoner denied all the
charges, and with such an ingenuity OF
argument and manner as to quite con-
found the Judge. The latter, in his
desire to overwhelm the prisoner with
proofs, took up his bundle Of notes
and papers, and while totally absorbed
in rummaging them, with his back
turned, the Baron took advantage of
the situation. With audacious GOODNESS
be picked up pair of spectacles that
CHANGED to be lying on the table, and
big chain-the insignia of the judicial
functions in Russia-placed a huge
bundle Of papers under his arm, and
walked with noiseless step to the door.
The police standing at the doorway let
him pass, believing him one Of the Sec
retaries of the court. This escape.
which would be impossible in any other
country, is explained by the fact that
in Russia, in matters Of this particular
kind, the accused is Intercepted by the
Judge alone, without the presence of
witnesses or court officer.
When the news of the escape reach
ed the ears Of the Car, his Majesty
laughed heartily, and, in consideration
of the righteousness Of the affair and
the honorable standing and services of
the Baron's family, he quashed all fur
Their proceedings in the matter. 4 year
afterwards General Trepoll-the future
victim of Vera SassOulitch-recollect-
ing the presence Of mind and calm au-
dacity of the Baron on this occasion,
| concluded that he was Just the man to
enlist in the Third section or
secret police. The Baron not only
accepted the offer, but became General
Trepoff's private secretary. His pecu-
liar talents were found invaluable in
ferreting out Nihilistic nests. lie was
charged soon afterwards to 60 to Paris
and worm himself into the confidence
of the Nihilist murderer Netchaietf 4;
and he succeeded so we'll that
Netchaief was soon on his way to Mos
COW. where he was Immediately seized
and hanged with due despatch. The
Baron was decorated and received pro-
motion. lie entered the department OF
the Ministry Of the Interior, exercising
important functions in the interna-
tional police, and visited all the capitals
of Europe at the expense of the Russian
Government.
Paris, however, was the city after
the Baron's own heart. lie led a free
and festive life there, gave costly din
ners, and mingled with the most exclu-
siye classes of doubtful society. But
he lell into the habit of gambling, and
so neglected his business. The Russian
Government dropped him from its list.
Thrown on his own resources, he took
advantage of his past position In Paris
to borrow from all who were foolish
enough to lend, and to play the conf
dence game on a colossal scale. Having
exhausted this field he returned to St.
Petersburg, where he piled his ayoca.
ton with renewed success. But at
length, finding his position growing
risky, and with a wholesome
dread of Siberia before him, he
suddenly transferred the scene of his
operations to Vienna. The exact
amount of his borrowings and swindles
in this city is unknown, as most OF his
victims are unwilling to admit they
were bitten. Necessity at last drove
him to forgery. lie telegraphed to the
Bank of St. Petersburg for 20, 900 rou-
bles, signing the telegram with the
name of one of the wealthiest men in
Vienna, who did q large business with
the bank. The money was received
forthwith. But by curious chance
the merchant in question visited st.
Petersburg on the very day that the
forged telegram had been received, and
he was surprised, on entering the bank.
ing establishment, to learn that 10000
roubles had been dispatched to him
that morning to Vienna. The police
were notified, an investigation made
and Just as the affair was about to be
abandoned an incident occurred that
threw sudden light on the
mystery. A dispatch was received by
the Bank of St. Petersburg from the
great house of the Barring Brothers in
London saying that credit of Severa
thousand pounds was asked by the gen
tleman whose name was forged to the
| l;.,.toh oIrsadv maintained This sum