The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-05-09
SHE WAS A CARD SHARP.
Career OF Beautiful Adventures
OF Russian Nativity and
Noble Birth.
Military Men Paid Homage to Her
Charms and Tribute to
Her Purse.
Exiled To Siberia She Plays the Penitcnt-
Her Cruel Murder OF II Con-
hdinE G0vsrness.

ST. PETERSBURG, May S.--Ihcro has just
been arrested at Marvinsk and taken to
1rkutsk for trial an adventures of remark
able cleverness and daring who has q 70
mantle career. About fifteen years ago
young woman of noble birth, Miss Goo
lax Artemovskaya, went from Volhynia to
st. Peterburg and soon became n figure In
the social circles of the capital. Her youth,
beauty. refinement and sympathetic ma
ture attracted to her drawing room host
of admirers. Officers of high rank and
young mobiles paid homage to her. Miss
GooIak-Artemovskaya lived in high style.
Stories we're current in the city about vast
possessions in the Crimea and Caucasus
which she had inherited, to account for the
Injuries in which she indulged herself. but
her days of glory were of short duration.
One morning several military officers of
high rank discovered that they had been
taken advantage of by the beautiful Miss
GOolak-Artemovskaya at the innocent game
of dooratchky. most simple game of cards,
which is very common in Russia, and that
since they had been acquainted with her
they had lost many thousands of roubles.
They reported their case to police authori-
property and that she derived her means of
high living by fraud. Not only fleeing her
admirers at the card table, but even forging
was traced to her. She was condemned to
deprivation of all personal rights and ex-
lied to Siberia iii the government of Irkutsk.
A romantic incident WAS connected with
her fate. young noble, one of her ad-
mirers. to whom she had paid little atten-
tention in her palmy days, attested his true
law fowl hnr III riaI hnp Nd
followed her voluntarily to the place of her
exile. He devoted his life and money
toward making her comfortable. She, how
ever, wearied of the dullness of the life and
determined to escape. She played the pious
woman, and SO successfully carried on her
known for her 'godliness." and was finally
allowed to settle in Irkntsk. Here, at last,
she and her husband appeared quite happy.
They set up a respectable little household
and lived comfortably together for a time.
Their little parlors soon became the center
of attraction for the ieuness doree and mil
itary dignitaries of the CITY,
But reports reached the governor that the
penitent Goolak- k-Artemovskaya, who indeed
visited the churches during the day. amused
her guests III the evening with games of
dooratchky. Notice was sent her that under
no consideration should cards be played in
her house or she would be sent back to the
Nllldge WHeIc SIS 1ilt bGGu lBCHlet DtlOIG
Card plav had to be given up. The husband
of the tricky woman found out after while
that she had conducted her household on a
larger and more luxurious scale than he
could afford. He discovered, moreover. that
she had dresses and iewelry which he had
not bought for her. At last he learned that
she had become too intimate with a rich
merchant who owned the house in which
they lived. He demonstrated with her, but
could get no satisfaction. Having con-
vinced himself that the woman was incofri-
gible he abandoned her, but she continued
living In her fashion. Her charms were
great and she never lacked friends.
1t seems. however, that her last trump
was played last winter. Among her friends
was governess, who had been brought
from Moscow by one of the rich merchants
of 1tkutsk for his children. The lady was
highly educated and refined and in stature
and appearance resembled Goolak~Arte~
movskaya. Since her arrival III Irkutsk the
willy Artemovskava has become her inti-
mate friend. Last autumn both Artemov~
skaya and her friend the governess disap-
peared from 1rkutsk. Searches were made
but the fugitives could not be discovered
At last n peasant reported that he had
found the body of respectfully dressed
woman near the river few vetsts distant
from Irkutsk. 1t was the body of the poor
governess. AS she had disappeared from
the city together with the convict Goolak
Artemovskaya, suspicion arosa that the
latter had played her foul i'll order to get
possession of her passport. Searches for
the fugitive convict were made with in
creased energy. She was discovered III the
town of Maylnsk.,, in the government of
Tomsk. She had assumed tEe name of the
poor governess and used her passport. She
was arrested and taken to lrkutsk for trial.