The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-12-31
OFFERED A THRONE.
A Russian Scamp Who Deserves
to BE Ranked With Cagli0strO.

There is at this moment lying in a Mos
COW prison, awaiting his trial upon an
almost incredible number OF charges, yar-
Gus in degree and kind, man whose re-
markable career more than entities him to
be called the Russian Cagliostro. His name
is SaYin. AS young man he was cOrnet
III regiment of guards at st. Petersburg,
where be contrived, within few years. t.
run through fortune of nearly million
pounds sterling lett him by his father.
Having been dismissed the service for dis
honorable conduct in money matter, he
contrived to reinstate himself for q time
during the confusion of the Turkish war:
but soon afterward bet0ok himself to the
arts of the cheyalier d'industrIe. His coups
were generally enormous, and were often
perpetrated upon persons of the highest
distinction. When Russia became too
thicklJ sown to hold new schemes he opened
fresh grounds in Berlin, London ana Paris
1t was from the last-named capital that
he went, as agent for financial firm, t.
Bulgaria, passing as a Prince of the House
OF Bourbon, under the name Of Comte de
Toulouse Lotreque. This was in the year
1887, memorable one IN the history of that
State. At Rustchuk, NJ. Savin declares
that he was the recipient of a most fiatter-
ing proposal from the Regent On. Stam5ul-
OH, who offered him in set terms the throne
OF Bulgaria, then vacant by the abdication
of Prince Alexander of B ltteuberg.
Nj. Savin'S own account of the interview
between NJ. Stambuoff and himself is cir
cumstantial and statesmanlike. The Re
gent explained to him that, as a Frenchman
and descendant of the royal house of
Bourbon, he was eminenlly tho man re-
quired by Bulgaria to combat the designs
OF Russia. After days careful coIsidera-
ton of his position, NJ. Saviu thought he
might risk it, and, having replied affirma-
lively to the offer made him by the Regent
in the name of the Council of State. was en-
tertained by them ut farewell dinner on
his deciding, with NJ StambulOff's approval
to spend the interval before the general
elections at COnstantinople.
The Regent undertook to guarantee the
result oil the elections, and the matter was
for the meanwhile to be kept profoundly
secret. Armed with highly commendatory
letters from NJ. Stambuloff, NJ. Savin de-
parted Tor Constantiuople, where he ingra-
tiated himself with the French Embassy
and was presented to the Sultan.
Shortly after this some dsparaging notes
IN au English paper, limiting a beDd-sinisteT
III the pedigree and a vague suspicion of the
antecedents of the Comte de Toulouse
Lolreque caused the latter to challenge the
editor to a duel, and led to an alteration in
cotfee-h0use. The nOtoriety of this affair."
combined with an unlucky Identification of
NJ. Savin by Frenchman who had former
~ been his barber in Moscow, was the cause
OF his sudden downfall The Russian police
attached to the embassy demanded an in
yeStlgation of his identity, and, refusing to
ackno Wedge the protection of his French
passport, examined his baggage, and discov-
cred Russian passport bearing the name
OF Savin.
NJ. Savin was unable to obtain his release
as he had expected, by explaining the great
advantage he had designed to bring to his
native country by becoming Prince OF Bull
garia in the safe disguise of French noble
man of blood royal. The pretendant to the
throne of Bulgaria was. in consequence,
shipped off straightway, in the custody of
dragoman of the embassy, to Russia. The
trial is expected to last several months
Newark Journal.