The sun., 1890-01-23
SHOT DEAD BY HER LOVER.
JOHN POPOFF SAYS HE KILLED MARY
PETRIKOFSKY ACCIDENTALLY.

That He Was Jealoua-No Evidence
That she Encouraged His Attentions.
Mary Petrlkofsky, an attractive Russian
girl OF 10. was shot dead yesterday afternoon
at the homo Of her brother. journalist, 1853
Stanton street, by John Popoff. deserter from
the Russian army Popoff. who there is reason
for believing was in love with the girl, declares
that tho shooting was accidental Witnesses
OF the tragedy and members OF the family Of
the dead girl believe that 1t was q cleverly dis
RuIsed murder prompted by 1T OF jealousy. 81
Mary was the daughter Of Marcus Petrikofsky
and she lived with her parents at 141 East
Broadway. Mr.. Petrikoisky is n Russian gen
tlem8n who came to New York from Louisville
about five months ago and has since been en-
ployed as an agent OF the Metropolitan Life In
surance Company He brought his family to
this country about eight years ago, and most
OF the time since has been spent in Louisville.
He was an instructor in languages In q Rus
sian academy before he emlgrated, but he has
been unable to make his accomplishments
available in q business way In America.
1T was really on Mary's account that We
moved to New York." he said sadly last even
Ing Everybody loved her who knew her. and
no one could help seeking to make her happy.
She was especially the pet Of my son john who
Is an architect in Louisville, and when Mary.
who had been here on visit to her brother
Jamea, expressed wish to remain. John
urged me to move hero. so as to crafty her de-
sire She was just completing her education.
but she was anxious to learn some useful en-
ployment and go to work. My boy John
wouldn't listen to 1t. He sent her $40 every
month, and regularly deposited more to her
credit in the bank.
"Mary's only source OF discomfort was that
she was not at work. She first met Popoff
nh fho ua rraa ali oh nd
through friend he induced my son James to
accommodate him in his fiat. 1 met him there
and treated him as l would my fellow country
man in distress. Mary often visited her brother
and his wife. and there she met Popoff. He
was pleasant, wel-educated. gentlemanly
young man. He told me all about his
antecedents. He is the son OF rich parents in
Moscow. On their death he came into posses
sion of a fortune. He speedily squandered
nearly oil Of it in gambling and dissipa-
tion. In order to escape military service he
pretended to be a school teacher. but he hired
a substitute to do the teaching. This came to
the knowledge OF the authorities and he was
pressed into the service. He served single
day and then deserted. He came almost inn
mediatoly to this country. and he told me he
had made up his mind to lead a sober. indus
trious life. He had a few hundreds left OF the
fortune that was left him. and as soon as he was
strong again he said he would go to work. He
visited at my home once or twice week. soon
noticed that he was attentive to Mary and
love with her. knowing what did about his
past life, II made me uneasy. dtd not thins
trust her discretion to take care of herself But
to what thought were his intentions n and
may re Ss thai he Op prepofsd to 6s, and shs ros
venge enea That at is s. what @ III fear. M was at p home
this afternoon when she went out she said
in.iaw. An hour later we we're suddenly sum
moned to find our child dead"
%ss
for some little time She talked with her sister;
RetrIkoisfy. came In The latter proposed to
Seated 69y 6ad sin2 bsen aad playing ef ev
as was in good spts
cigarettes and bananas for him as he was
when he rePnrned popo dstributed d F the ban anu
anas among the company and then went to his
his hand he 0 was % smiling % and t'fai at irst he he
payfully pointed the weapon at the two chill
dyn GS hsF he 9hsF
her. She screamed and ran from the room. |
calling the children to follow her. MARY, called |
cards, jumped up and interfered. He seized |
tho pistol by the barrel in an attempt to take |
1t from PopofTs hand. The latter called out |
Don press my hand because it's a self
cocker and my fingers on the trigger"
letting so his hold. You ought to know better
than hAApE to fool with loaded pistol that way"
started toward the door leading, to his room,
near which Mary was seated. When he came
opposite her he suddenly raised the weapon,
n
cried out when she irstisaw his movement. but
after the shot she uttered no sound. The bull
lot had pierced her BRAIN and she fell dying
PopofI dropped the pistol to the floor raised
his hands in the air, and cried in his native
My Godl I've killed her."
He appeared terror-stricken and remorseful
to follow him. which he did. Popofr wanted et to
go in one direction for a Russian doctor. while
not permit this, for he believed Popofr was aim
IN Ing to make his % esSa1ei ne compelled on @ p9po1
% bs ne or
OF a Russian physician.
JaehnoyotE finally told him he would cause
him. Dr.. PierEen Of i45 Stanton % Street ee WAS was
finally found and all went back to the room
sky was already dead. She did not for
moment regain consciousness after the shot
was fired.
Meantime somebody had summoned the po-
lice. and Patrolman, schillenberger arrested
Popon. he was locked I'D at the EldridRe
street statio on, whore he seemed greatly over
come by his feelings. He speaks very little
English and to an Interpreter who was called
he said he was "a years old and that he had O
wife In Europe; He had always represented
himself to the Petrikofsky family as being q
The pistol which the police have as the ono
with which the shooting was done Is British
bulldog OF 32-calibre. Members OF the Petri-
kofsky family say that PopoH always carried
peculiar nine-shot weapon OF Russian manu-
facture; He always carried such pistol, be.
cause he had been told II was the custom of
Americana to go armed. He had not carried It
In Russia, he said, because the finding OF a re-
to send him to Siberia.
Then Popoif arrived In New York five months
ago he took quarters in an American house,
language more readily. He was there taken
sick and nearly died. because he could not
house. He was removed. by the advice OF his
physician, TO the home OF one OF his country
home he WAS nnhhla 70 lAava tha |