New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-09-29
NOBLE ROGUESAND BEGGARS
A RUSSIAN SATION-CoNTEMPT FOR THE
CLERGY-LEPROSY.

One of the most sensational trials which has
ever taken place in Russia was brought to a. close
here last night. For ten days past little else has
been talked of in either salon or CLUB Inc pris-
oners with the solitary exception of their beautl-
full female accomplice, are all men, who until Few
weeks ago were prominent both at the Imperial
Court and in society. They belonged TO the best
clubs here and bear names which figure on the most
brilliant pages of Russian history Eleven III
number, the gang consists OF two counts, TOUR
nobemen of lesser degree, Judge OF the civil
tribunal couple of officials of the pohce'depart-
ment and man oIlce famous on the turf in the
various capitals of Europe, but who, having souan-
dered his vast fortune to the very last kopek'
has been dependent during the past three years
for his maintenance on the extraordinary beauty
of his wife.
The crime for which they have just been SEN
fenced to long erUas of penal servtude inthe coal
mines of the island of Sangalhien, Is that
of fraud, but of most ingenious ash clever
nature For months past they have been IN the
habit of pedging small articles of ewery at the
Government pawnbrokng establishment. By
means of the appl cation Of chemicals they would
then remove from the face of the pawneckets all
trace of the writing which bore reference to the
object pledged ard TO the sum loaned thereon,
and would substitute in its stead the description
Of imaginary artl0leS ana equally io"h"
of far superior value In this manner the pawn
ticket of a gold watch on which 200 rbles had
been advanced WINS altered into the pledge OF
diamond bracelet ON which sum of 1900 rubles
WAS asserted to hIbve been lent. AS the Govern
ment Mont de Pietp never advances more than 80
per cent of the cost value of the article pawned,
it is always possible to pledge the pawnticket
itself for about Ina If of it's face value to private
agencies organized by SPECTATORS for the pur-
pose The confede rates, therefore, found no DIM
Guilty in disposng of their altered pawntcke'e
at an enormous profit over their original COST The
pledging of the ewery itself at the Mont de P1ete
was done almost exclusively by the married
. couple above mentioned. The erasure OF tho
writing and the insertion Of the new figures ana
designation performed by Count Nlcolas
Podgoritchani, VINO was the leader OF the gang
and bv Noble Won Bashenow, both of whom seem to
have been adeIts at forgery; and the final disposal
Of the altered tickets was confded TO the remain
ing members of the band, all of them elegant and
well-dressed young club-men, who would dash up
IN the door of the pawnticket agent in perfectly
annointed private carriage or sleigh, and would
exnajn their urgent need Of money on their pawn
tickets on the ground that they were in the midst
of most exciting game Of baccarat at their CLUB.
and required the funds at once TO continue their
play.
Loans made by the Imperial Mont de Pete at
St Petersburg run for period OF twelve mohtnS'
By an incpnceivabe piece of neglect the cohspra-
tors failed ia redeem one of their earliest tickets
| from the ticket agent before the term mentioned
| ON the face thereof became due The ticket agent,
| therefore, on the appointed date took the tlckct
| TO the Mont de Pete and demanded the dladein
mentioned thereon as having been pledged IN re-
turn for the payment of the sum stated to have
sI,a t,,fnp fhnPp
course the officials of the Mont de Piete, on re-
| ferrinr TO their books, at once became aware that
] a frand had been perpetrated. careful eXam-
nation of the ticket and the application OF some
chemical revealed the traces of the former wrltng
| which had been erased, and IL was seen that the
ticket in question had originally been for quite ii
small sum, about 100 rubles, which had D'eh
! advanced on a scarfpin OF relatively Ir'e
vahue. The chemical application which
| revealed this likewise brought 10 nghv
| the name of the person in whose favor the uche'
| had been granted, and within few hours tne eA-
,nortsman and his beautiful wife were under lock
and KEY. The letters and correspondence iouhu
lat their elegantly appointed residence put 'he
autborities on the track Of their confederats anu
before nghtfal the whole of the gang were Saleiy
u lodged in jail
Notwithstanding the fact that during the course
had successfully practsed the New-York badger
cames on one of the leading Archimandrtes OF
the Orthodox Church here. The jurors pronounced
a verdict in favor of her acquitta being manife'ty
influenced by her deep-blue eyes almost concealed
NV their long black lashes, her magnificent blonde
hair her perfect features and absolutely 1aultless
fgure-a Phryne indeed, though draped.
Some surprise NAV be felt that men OF such
high social rank and standing should be driven to
adopt these criminal means Of livelihood. Ihe
fact is however, that many OF the arlstocracy are
entirely ruined Their estates are either sold, oil
else are mortga ged up to the very hit to the
various banks and mOney-lenders. Even thOee
who have been fortunate enough to escape from
the clutches of the cent per cent gentry, ana WIG
have managed to retain possession OF their 90
mains, are in exceedingly reduced circumstance
owing TO the continuous decrease IN the value Oh
land since the emancipation OF the seris Ac-
cording 10 official report just issued the number
of mendicants and avowed paupers in receipt OF
public relief and charity In the four principal
cities Of Russia in Europe include no less Than
S235 noblemen, among whom there are many
Princes, Counts and Barons. The clergy IN THESE
cities furnishes further contingent of SIX TO seven
thousand of paupers in receipt Of State ana com
munal relief. | may add. however, that Sebas-
topol enjoys the proud and unique distinction il
Russia of not having single nuper or mendican
within It's walls. Moscow, on the other hand, has
no less than $4,000 on its books.
The presence of so many of the orthodox clergy
among the ranks of the beggars and paupers in re
ceipt Of public relief is attributable TO the increas
ing contempt felt by both Prince and peasant
here for their spiritual advisers. The "Gnsh
danin,n one OF the leading daily papers here
edited by Prince MetcherslN, prominent member
of the Conservative and Ultra Russian party, hn'
been recently publishing series OF articles under
tht heading of Letters from the Village Thu
most remarkable OF the lot is the one which deal
with the village pope or parish priest. IL says
/" Although there of the parish clergy
who are decent people and who enjoy the con
| sdcration and respect of their congregation, ye
it must be admitted that they are ~