The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1891-01-30
A RUSSIAN BRIGAND.
Moukowskils Enroute to Siberia's
Gold Mines.

|
Gold Mines.
kidnapping, Torturing and Holding
for Immense Ransoms Was the
Exile's Especial Forte.
New York, Jan. PA dispatch from
ST. Petersburg by way of London says
that one OF the greatest brigands of
modern times is now on his way with a
convoy of exiles to the island of Sank
haline in Siberia, where he will remain
chained up for the rest OF his life in the
gold mines. The convoy left today.
Kroukowski, which is the name under
which the brigand was tried and con-
victed. was Russian by birth and came
of wealthy family. He spoke French
and English fluently, having frequently
visited both Paris and London, where
he was received into the most aristo-
cratic society.
Five years ago, MS the result of high
living and excessive play at the gaming
tables of Paris he found that little more
than remnant of his once magnificent
fortune remained. Accordingly return
ing to his estate in the province of Vol
hynie. he proceeded to organize band
OF brigands, the first members of
1T being his coachman, footmen and
few moujiks, or peasants. belonging
to the estate. AT the head OF these he
invaded the government of Kejcif and
commenced system Of pillage upon
the chateaus of the nobility, securing
booty by the tens of thousands of dol
lars Finally the entire band, except
the leader, was surrounded by the Rus
sian troops near the town of Potschaief
and captured. After trial that was
little more than farce, one and all
were sentenced to banishment to 81
IBERIA.
Three months later Kroukowsk! reap
peared at the head of new band formed
in Galicia, Austria, when his exploits
became more daring than over. He fire.
quently visited Loutsk snd Donbrio and
did not hesitate to promenade the
streets. On one occasion the gendarmes
were informed that he intended to pass
the night in q small inn close TO the
village OF !Aevertzi. The troops were
Immediately called out and with an in
tiroly surrounded. At this juncture a
Russian officer in full parade uniform
approached the chief gendarme and,
after inquiring very politely after the
health of the project of police, asked
that his card might be handed to that
functionary. The officer then quietly
withdrew, saluting the soldiers. who
presented arms to him as he passed.
Their commander took tho card tcsthe
chief OF police, who found written on it
in the French language the following:
''Kroukowski, the brigand chief, pre-
sents his compliments to the project OF
police" The unfortunate officer of
gendarme lost his position for having
allowed his prey to slip through his fin
gers thus easily.
| Kroukowski made il o rule not to kill
any of his victims, but was not ayerse
to torturing them if he thought they
| were concealing any of their valuabies.
Kidnapping was his especial forte. Last
October he carried off an aged princess
for whom he demanded ransom Of
$4,000. Her relatives instead of at
once paying the sum demanded, set the
police and soldiers in motion, but with
out result. The unfortunate lady, who
was addicted to corpulcncy had been in
the habit of going TO Carlsbad every
| year to reduce her weight She was
captured about the time for making her
annual pilgrimage, but Kroukowski un-
dertook to act as her physician, and
under his heroic treatment she became
q perfect skeleton in less than three
weeks. Her friends were apprised of
the fact and decided to ransom what
was left of her ao the figure demanded.
A week ago he captured young girl
| OF 18, whose father was one of the chief
state officers. 1t was three months before
the heavy ransom songht was forthcom-
| ing and on the return of the young lady
it was developed that she was enceinte.
Her father then proposed that the bri-
gand chief should marry his daughter,
4 and assured him that he would guaran-
tee him indemnity if he would return
/ to the path of rectitude. The brigand
emphatically refused, however. on the
ground that he was in love with the
daughter of poor peasant This
! amour proved his ruin. On November
16 the police received information of a
rendezvous between tho brigand and his
charmer No less than 200 soldiers. gen
1 darmes and Cossacks surrounded the
| place and after desperate struggle
i1A1ouho"aAA Nho Sdptuleu, Uounu mana
and foot and taken prisoner. After his
conviction he addressed petition to the
czar, asking for pardon and Offering to
disclose secrets which would make him
valuable as ono of the chiefs Of the
secret police. No reply, however, was
{ returned, and the probabilities are that
for the rest OF his life he will pay pen
ance for his crimes in tho Siberian gold
mines
The peasants in their hearts regret
the capture OF the brigand who treated
them better than most OF their masters.
ISuperstition cast q halo around him in
the minds of the ignorant common peo-
pie, who firmly believe that he has an
immense treasure hidden in some mys.
terious spot, and are equally certain
that he will return in the near future,
bolder and more daring than ever.