The Globe-republican., 1891-04-29
FRA DIAvOLO OUTDONE.
Daring Exploits of q Noted Rus
sian Bandit.
The Career of an Educated and Accom-.
plished Freebooter Who Preferred
q Lawless Life to an Hon
est One.

COuII was cugdScO TcCchtiy WIN oHC "a
the most extraordinary trials on record
and one that has been fully reported in
the French and Russian journals. The
accused was Russian nobleman named
Kroukowski, whose exploits as a
brigand put Fra Diavolo and all his
brothers in the shade. And the inter-
esting thing about all his criminal and
romantic career is that there is no room
for fiction in the story. because it has
been established by evidence cOrrobo-
rated and sworn to in court.
For years past, says the Chicago
Times, this man krOukOwski was in
the habit of carrying on a nocturnal
warfare upon the rich mobiles OF
Volhynia- Being the son of rich par
ents who lived in the Podolsk Govern
ment, he received an excellent educa-
ton and spoken French like a Partisan.
He spent a great deal of his time in
Paris at the commencement of his
career, and was the guest there of
several aristocratic families. In 1881
he was living a very fast life in the
French capital, and when his fortune
began to slip away from him he organ
lied band of brigands. the principal
officers of which were his coachmen.
his Wallets. and some moujiks on his
own estate. Then he set out for the
Kejof Government. and commenced to
take the castles of the mobiles by storm
or strategy, according to circumstances.
In short time. after a few skirmishes
with the Cars troops, he found himself
and his band surrounded, and nothing
seemed left for him but death or sur
render. The troops, however, only sue
ceeded in capturing a comparatively
small number of the brigands, and their
establishment was great when it was
discovered that the chief had escaped.
Then they remembered that a feeble
and white-haired man, bent with age.
asking charity of the officers, was per-
mitted to pass through their lines. That
bogus old beggar was Kroukowski.
Two years slipped by and nothing
more was heard of him until suddenly
he appeared at the head of another
band of robbers. which he organized
and equipped for service in Galicia,
where his exploits were recon-
menced. OF course he never re-
manned very long in one place, and
his movements were singularly rapid.
He came upon a community like a biz
card and his boldness knew no bounds.
At Loustsk and Doubno it was shown
in the evidence that he often used to
walk about the streets and flirt with
the ladies; but every time that the po-
lice got wind of his presence the search
for him proved fruitless- One night,
however. the authorities became aware
of the fact that the celebrated bandit
was in little inn at the outskirts of
the village of Kevertsi The troops
were Immediately called out. The
place was surrounded and all the doors
carefully guarded. Suddenly Russian
officer in full uniform appeared. With
an air of authority he asked to see the
officer in command of the troops. The
latter approached him respectfully and
told him the object of his visit. The
handsome officer seemed surprised at
first and then smiled at what he ap-
peared to regard as hoax. Then he
requested the young Lieutenant in
command to be SO good as to give a let
ter with which he presented him in the
politest manner possible. to his friend.
the chief of police.
The Lieutenant took the letter, prom
ised to deliver it and saluted. The fine
looking Russian officer stalked away
after having returned the military
salute with which the troops honored
him. When the Lieutenant got back to
the village and reported, he handed the
chief of police the letter which he had
received from his brother officer. The
latter opened it. and read in French the
following:
''Kroukowski, chief of the brigands.
presents his compliments to the chief
of police"
The unfortunate Lieutenant lost his
rank for allowing himself to be duped.
Kroukowski also followed the ex-
ample of his Italian confreres in max
ing prisoners and demanding a high
ransom for them One of his prisoners
was the daughter Of a prominent Rus
sian Count. The Count paid the ransom
and got back his daughter, but proposed
to the outlaw to marry his daughter,
and promised that if he did SO and re-
turned to an honest life he would do his
utmost to secure his pardon, and would
succeed beyond a doubt But Krou-
kowski replied that he regretted ex-
.ceedingly that previous engagement
put it out of his power to comply with
the Counts request He was very much
in love with another lady,
The authorities then went to work to
discover that interesting young lady.
They found her. and watch was placed
upon her house, where. at last, after q
desperate fight. kroukowski was cap
tured
Although his fights and duels were
innumerable, there was no evidence to
prove that he ever committed a cold
blooded murder. That was all that
could be said of him, except that he was
a charitable robber. and his gifts to the
poor were princely. As he earned his
money easily. he parted with it lightly.
and he was great favorite with the
mouiiks, to whom he really owed his