The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1891-01-21
DlAVoLo AND TuRPIN OUTCOME.
Exploits of n Russian Bandit Who Has
Been Sentfo siberia.


ported in the French and Russian jour
mails. The accused was Russian noble
man named Kroukowski, whose exploits
as a brigand put Fra Diavolo and all his
brothers in the shade. And the interest
ing thing about all his criminal and ro-
mantle career is that there is no room Tor
fiction in the story. because it has been
established by evidence corroborated and
sworn to in court.
For years past this man, Kroukowski,
was in the habit OF carrying on noctur-
nal warfare upon the rich mobiles of Vol
hynia. Being the son of rich parents who
lived in the Podolsk government he re-
ceived an excellent education, and spoke
French like a Partisan. lie spent great
deal of his time in Paris at the commence
ment 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 be-
gan to slip away from him he organized
band of brigands, the principal officers of
which were his coachmen, his Wallets, and
some monjiks on his own estates. Then
he set Off for the Kejof government, and
commenced to take the castles of the no.
cumstances. In a short time, after few
skirmishes with the cars troops he found
himself and his band surrounded, and
nothing seemed left for him but death
or surrender. The troops, however,
only succeeded in capturing a compara-
lively small number of the brigands, and
their establishment was great when it was
discovered that the chief had escaped.
Then they remembered that feeble and
white-headed man, bent with age, asking
charity of the officers, was permitted to
pass through their line. That bogus old
beggar was Kroukowski.
Two years slipped by and nothing more
was heard of him until suddenly he ap-
peared at the head of another band OF
robbers, which he organized and equipped
for service in Galicia, where his exploits
were recommended. OF course, he never
remained very long in one place. and his
movements were singularly rapid. He
came upon community like blizzard
and his boldness knew no bounds. At
Loustsk and Doubno it was shown in the
evidence that he often used TO walk about
the street and flrt with the ladies'; but
every time the police got wind OF his
presence the search for him proved fruit
less. One night, however, the authorities
became aware of the fact that
the celebrated bandit was in little
inn at the outskirts of the viii
lage 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 ap-
preached HIM respectfully and told him
the object of his visit. The handsome
officer seemed surprised at first and then
smiled at what he appeared TO regard as
hoax. Then he requested the young
lieutenant in command TO be so good as to
give letter with which he presented him
in the pc itest manner possible, to his
friend, the chief of police.
The lieutenant took the letter, promised
to deliver it, and saluted. The fine-look-
| ing Russian officer stalked away after hav
ing returned the military salute with
which the troops honored him. When
the lieutenant got back to the village with
his men and reported, he handed the
chief of police the letter which he had re-
ceived from his brother officer. The lat
ter opened it and read in French the fol-
lowing:
"KroukowslIi, chief of brigands, pre-
sents his compliments to the chief OF
police"
The unfortunate lieutenant lost his rank
| for allowing himself to be duped.
Kroukowski also followed the example
of his Italian confreres in making prisoners
and demanding high ransom for them.
| One of his prisoners was the daughter of a
prominent Russian count. The count paid
| the ransom and got back his daughter,
| but was soon afterward Mortified to
| learn that she was about to become
a mother. He then proposed to the
outlaw to marry his daughter, and
promised that if he did so and returned to
all honest life he would do his utmost to
secure his pardon, and would succeed be-
yond a doubt. But Kroukowski replied
that he regretted exceedingly that a pre-
vious 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 a watch was placed
upon her house, where, at last, after a
| desperate fight, Kroukowski was captured
Although his fights and duels were in
Vulnerable. there was no evidence to
prove that he ever committed a cold
| blooded murder. That was about all that
could be said about him, except that he
F., was a charitable robber, and his gifts TO
the poor We're princely. As he earned his
money easily, he parted with it lightly,
and he was a great favorlte with the
moujiks, 10 whom he really owed his ia
cilities for fooling the soldiers and police
for so long q time. But the court sent
enced him to penal servitude for life, and
his appeal to the car has been unan-
swered He will be sent to the island Of
Sakhaline, in Siberia, where he will be
| chained to some other convict in the gold
mines, from which no prisoner has ever
yet escaped.
But the moujiks still have faith in
| him. They already regard him as a
Chevalier de Monte Cristo with plenty of
! hidden treasure, who is sure to come back
and share with them like gentleman.
But 1t wasn't Rushed.
Washington Postl
"Great Scott" exclaimed one employe
i'm the telegraph Office to another, haven't
you sent that message YETI"
NO." replied the operator, "there is