Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-03-28
A RUSSIAN IMPOSTOR.
A story OF the Russian Adventurer,
Demitrius.
ny SAMUEL W. GOLDBERG.

ny SAMUEL W. GOLDBERG,
Written for the Gazette.
Ivan the Terrible died in 1884, leaving
his eldest son, Feodor, to succeed him
on the thrones and younger son, Demi-
trius, mere infant, as presumptive heir.
Feodor, who was weak and unable to
rule personally, governed through his
brother-in- law, Boris, a man of great
ability, but severe, tyrannical and unpop-
ular BY the order of Boris, Demitrius
was educated at Ooglltch, under the care
of his mother. lie had.grown up to be
mad, ferocius imp of ten years OF age,
when one day, in the year 1891, he was
| found in the courtyard of the palace with
his throat cut. Whether he had been
been murdered, or whether he had acct
/ dentally fnllen into on epileptc tit on a
knife with which he was playing ut the
time, could not be ascertained. The
people about the palace, however,
and the populace of Ooglitch, believed
that he had been murdered, aud a dreadful
riot ensued, during which various persons
were killed on suspicion. TIE regent
Boris, having instituted an inquiry into
the case, eXculpated the supposed muir
derer, inflicted the severest punishment
an tho rioters, and caused il TO be de-
clared that the prince had died by an ac-
cident. The belief, however, that he had
been murdered still remained and 1t was
whispered about that the murderer was
no other than the regent Boris himself,
who had removed the prince TO prepare
for his own accession to the throne. On
the de lth OF i, odor, which happened in
1898, and which was also attributed to
secret violence, Boris did ascend the
/ throne. For five years he reigned as
| czar; governing with great energy, but
! with such haughtiness and cruelty as tc
/ become universally hated. The Russians
were eXasperated, and were in state Of
/. mind to hail any one who should promise
e TO deliver them from the tyranny of Boris
@ Such a man appeared.
e Suddenly surprising rumor wa!
o brought from the frontiers of Lithuania
!. and spread with Incredible rapidlt,
:. through all the provinces OF the empire
Il The Prince Den e.lius, who was believed
G to have been assassinated ut Ooglltch
e was still living in Poland. Havin;
e been favorably received by Polatine
II he had made himself known to tn
V principal mobiles OF the republic, and wa
II preparing to reclaim his hereditar
# throne. 1t was related that he had wan
n dered some time in Russia, concealed be
n meath the frock Of a monk. The arch
l. imandrite Of the convent at Novogore,
l. had given him lodging without recog
W nizing him. The prince had proceeded
" from thence to kief, leaving in his cell
a, note In which he declared that he wa
Is Demetrius, the son Of Ivan the Terrible
r. and that he would one day recompens
III the hospitality of the archimandrite on
Id the other hand IL was stated that person
tn worthy of belief had seen the prime
G. among the Iaporogue Cossacks, takinl
a part Ia their military expeditions and dis
IN tinguishlng himself by his courage an
\ address iu all warlike exercises. TIL
m name OF the ataman under whose order
ey he had enrolled himself was also given
Il Other authorities declared that they ha
w seen the same parsonage at the sam
m time, studying Latin at a small town /
or Volhynia. Though reports were contrs
IL dictory as to details, they AL agreed o
Sc this one point, that Demetrius was sti
~ living and that he intended to call th
ly usurper to account for his crimes Abol
of the middle Of the year 1908 at Brahin, /
e. Lithuanta, young man who had bee
a. for some time attached to the service
ne Prince Adam Wiszniowieckiin the capaci
ng OF equerry or valet de chambre, declare
"a ~ hANi thhe Nv WAS NuS iAlhCt i(elntLflu
He related that physician named Slmo
re having become acquainted With the SIM
IS ter ,sgus Of Boris, % rather havil
he received large offers from him to destr,
sly The life OF the persumptlve heir, h,
in feigned consent IN order that he mig
az, better Illustrate the plans Of the tyfan
to On the night fixed for the assassinatI,
nc this faithful servant had placed in Il
bed OF the prince the child of a serf,
ny about the same age, who had been put
lg, death. Feeling convinced that Mod
ed was so completely under the influence
ith Boris that IL would be impossible TO o
nc tain justice from him, the physician N
his ied from Ooelitch with young Demetriu
l and had afterwards confded him to ii
SITS care OF gentleman deyotedly attacbi
M to his family, who, In order to guard hi
Is more ehectually from the hatred OF Borl
81 had made him enter convent. The nh
ice scian was dead, as well as the gentlem,
is TO whom he had conllded the prince.
rs the absence OF these two witnesses ii
nd unknown produced Russian seal, hen
~. ing the name OF arms OF the prince, and
golden cross adorned with precio,
tly stones OF considerable value. This,