The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-05-01
RUSSIAN RIVAL TO FERDINAND
WARD.
swiDdltDG a kUsslNH sank of Millions
Through Pretended Contracts and Trans
actions.


actions.
London Timesl
The trial 0f Rykov, ones manager of the
defunct bank of Skopine, who, by the
eDOrmity OF his dspredations. unmatched
even in Russia, obtained an almost Euro
psan notoriety, took place some little time
ago at the Moscow sssizes.
The bank of SkopiBe, founded In 1863 was
C mmunal, not a strictly government in
stitution. Rykov was appointed manager,
although he mad been gailty, while holding
previous appointment, Of extensive msl-
velsstion. But the offense was overlooked,
perhaps for reason suggested by the Rus
sian proverb, only he who has not sinned
sgainst God has not robbed the Gar" The
malversations OF the ex.managsr aud his
confederates we're reckoned at 1900 600
roEbles- probably the biggest robbery ever
perpetrsted. even in the Empire of the Gar.
The Chief of Police was in Rykov's pay.
Aleksandrof, the local Justice OF the Peace.
called in derision Rykov's lackey received
from the bank loan of 100 600 roubles an j a
stipend of 500 rouoles year. His successor,
Likareh was put on q similar footing. The
connivsnce of the smaller official fry, such as
the Postmaster and the inferior police, was
secured in like fashion, as also the members
of the force who acted as the managers spies.
Having thus bought the entire local admin
istrstion Rykov became as much the auto.
Graf OF Skopine as the Gar is of all the Rus
sas.
In 1865 there was sde ficit of "a. 600 roubles
Rykov drew I'D false balance sheet, aud of
30 satisfactory character that ii drew de-
posts from all parts of the country. From
this date the affairs of the bank went
from bad to worse; but the more
desperate became its condition the
more brilliant grew its balance sheets
Though he was doing no legitimate banking
business whatever, Rykov, by the offer of7J5
per cent. interest on deposits while other
banks were paying D, procured funds in
abundance. To chow how his exceptional
profits were earned, Rykov entered in the
banks books divers ingeniolsly contrived
financial operations. There were fictitious
discounts, fictitious losns, fictitious pur.
chGses. and fictitious sales. An old man in
the pay OF the bank, so illiterats that he
could hsJdly write his own name signed
every December a c0ntrsct for the purchase
Of several millions worth OF imaginary Sc
curitifs, and this transaction, ana the esult.
ing imaginary profits thereon, always figured
on the bogus balance sheet presented TO the
Minister and published in the Gazette.
Rykov not only paid his depositors high
rate OF interest, he gave away large sums 10
charitable Institutions, supported schools and
subsidized churches, thereby securing the
coed will of the clergy and acquiring high
reputation for piety and philanthropy, good
works, and right views All these gifts, as
these gifts as well IS Rykov's own personal
expenditure, which IVES on a lavish scale,
were taken from the banks Golfers aud en-
tered aS payments 70 dummy customers. The
remainder and greater part OF the receipts
and deposits were simply stolen, either for
the managers OWE purposes or to buy the
tileDce OF MS confederaies. Papers we're
n ade on an extensive scale and with little
attempt at Disguise. Antief, man of straw,
drew on Safonefi, equally man Of straw, for
fifty or q hundred thousand ronbles. dis
counted the bill, and got the money. Then
the operation would bereve,ssd, and Safonsff
get the money. Purely fictitious bills with
imaginary names were discounted. aud por.
tiers and messengers of the bank figured in
the books SIS debtors for tens of thousands OF
roubles taken by their master. Everything
was done en- famille," ssid one OF the vii.
nesses.
But to profit by all this profusion it was
necessary 70 belong TO the clique, to be either
a protector, kinsman or an accomplics.
Lists Of supplisnts were laid regularly before
Rykov, who, according to his caprice, wrote
opposite each name granted" or refused"
When q bill fell due the acceptor Was cour-
teously requested to accept another. includ.
ing the discount, which, il is hardly neces-
sary 10 say. nobody ever thought of paying
in coin. But after while even these for
malities ceased to be observed. When the
favored few wanted money they asked for il