The Washington times., 1894-07-01
RUSSIAN SPIES In AMERICA
The Gar Has Agents at Work in
the States.
THEY WATCH REvOLUTIONISTS
An Account of the Force That Operates in
New York and Their Efforts to Entrap
and Discredit the Enemies Of Their Mas
ter-Guarding the Grand Duke.

more or less compulsory Orpanlzeu pOiice sys-
tenn in New York and other large cities in
America, but this is the fact. The Russian
government has its political police not only in
America but in every country in Europe and
in some in Asia. The object of this extensive
police system is to keep close watch on the
subjects and ex-subjects of the Gar who may
bs suspected of hostile intents toward his
government or person, and. as that number
includes many Russians in these countries,
the task is pretty large one.
Oh course one would think that common
criminals would be looked after closely. TOO,
and their extradition demanded whenever
possible but such is not the case. According
to A. Olarovsky. the Russian consul general
in New York, the Gar government is only
too glad 70 get rid of such people and does
not bother with them unless they arc noted
criminals According to Mr.. Olarovsky. the
extradition treaty between the United States
and Russia does not cover political oifenses,
30 il is difficult to see what the object was for
its passage.
In investigating such a subject as the Rus
sian secret police in New York many difficult
ties are met with OF course. the police them
selves and the agents OF the Russian govern
ment will not let anything be known to out
siders, and the Russiani residents who are
opposed to them are not likely TO know much
of their movements
The writer, however, has been able TO find
out that the regular force in New York num-
bers about twenty men, and on special occa-
sions many more are employed. These men
are in charge of two or three agents, who are
employed directly by Consul General Oar
ovsky, and who report to him. They meet
and report to these agents at Russian cafe
on Twenty-ffth street, between Second and
Third avenues, kept by one Bilof, who is also
said to be connected with the secret service.
So carefully, however is the business man
aged by the chiefs that very few of the spies
are known to each other, and they are con-
stantly assigned to watch each other and re-
port to the chiefs as TO their faithfulness.
The duty of these spies is to mix with the
Russian colony and keep their employers in
formed of all the gossip and news. New ar
rivals are carefully watched for and reported
on. Special diligence is shown in watching
men like Leo Hartmann who have been prom
inent in the Russian revolutionary movement.
and men like Editor Goldenberg, of Free Rus
sia who are trying to influence public opin-
ion in America
Even Americans who are known to be in
sympathy with the Russian Liberals are
looked after by the spies OF the Gar and
everything calculated TO incline public sym
pathy toward the revolutionists is strenuously
opposed.
When the play Darkest Russia" was about
some months ago the managers were ap-
preached several times and money was Of
fered to suppress il. This is only one instance
of how thorough the system is.
It is said. too, that full list of the men,
bers Of the American Society of Friends of
Russian Freedom is il the hands of the con-
sui although this is society composed al
most entirely of literary persons who have a
merely sentimental sympathy with the cause
of the Russian people. and who devote their
energies to an agitation for the abrogation of
the Russian extradition treaty.
A favorite method of those spies is to dis
credit prominent Russians in this and other
countries by trying to induce them TO engage
In crimes against the laws of that country.
Counterfeiting is the crime generally chosen.
and when the victim is ensnared If the plot is
successful. the SPY then turns states evidence
by informing the authorities. At the same
time care is taken that the fact that the
counterfeiter is q prominent Russian revolu-
Zionist shall be made public. and thus dis
credit is thrown upon the revolutionary
movement.
Such plot was exposed about year ago
by Prof. Isaac Gourowich, now of Chicago. in
MS paper Progress. published in the Russian
language. He had then been only Il few
months in this country, having escaped from
imprisonment for political offense in Russia,
and was made much of by the Russian colony
in New York.
He was a. preached by two men. one of
them named Kluit. a Russian Jew. who tried
20 engage him in counterfeiting plot. They
represented to him that detection was impos-
sible. and that they would take the risk of
passing the money. Mr.. Gourowich informed
pcsals, but the spies got wind of it and dis
appeared. Kluft was protege of Consul
Olarovsky and is now in Russia.
Leo Hartmann has also been approached
several times in a similar manner, and many
other attempts have been made to throw dis
credit on him.
The most peculiar attempt which he tells of
is as follows:
4 Russian engineer, who resides in Jersey
City. sought his acquaintance, and. having
obtained an Introduction. cultivated his
friendship. Soon he made proposals that
Hartmann should become Roman Cath Dlic
priest. Failing in this, offers were made to
MIN 10 pay his expenses while he studied en-
Gneering. provided that he would become a
member of the church, but he refused
The motive of this is hard to see at first,
but as Hartmann explains it it is simple.
The Russian Radicals are nearly all free
thinkers and Hartmann is known to them as
one and he believes that this was an attempt
TO discredit him by holding him up to the
world as a man who became a hypocrite for
money.
Various other attempts have been made to
engage him in shady enterprises, but all have
failed.
Consul General Olarovsky. who controls all
this extensive system, is a typical Russian.
He is short, rather stout man. with a shaggy
brown beard and an exceedingly frank. en-
gaging manner. When talking, however, he
watches one closely rs if trying to read his
innermost thoughts. The writer called on
him d few days ago. ostensibly to ask some
questions regarding the operation of the ex-
T,,r @i,s.
to what means were taken to enforce the
treaty by ascertaining the whereabouts of
Russian criminals, he replied, ''None at all" |
''eoes the treaty operate against political |
oiYenders?''
Not unless they are murderers."
"Does it not provide that forgers shall be |
and does not every political Of |
fender who escapes from Russia do so on |
forged passport
''Yes, that Is so: but then they can only be |
tried on charge OF forgery"
but they can be acquitted on that charge |
and then rearrested and tried on the political |
,harge?"
'.Oh, suppose So"
Now the fact is, that before the arrival of |
he grand duke much anxiety was felt and |
many conferences were held in the consul's |
office as to how he should be guarded. Four
propositions were discussed. The first was
hat the consul should employ his own detec-
ives; the second. that the matter should be
given to an agency such as the Pinkertons:
he third, that it should be left to our own
police. and the fourth. that some experienced
nan from Inspector Byrnes' staff should be
Tired by the Russian government and given
.ntire charge of the service. The man men,
ioned in this connection was Detective Ser
,eapt Charles Jacobs.
The first proposition was finally adopted,
md wherever the grand duke went he was
nrrounded by swarm of spies, who scru-
'nizad every one who approached him. Daily
crorts were made TO Mr.. Olarovsky, who in
urn reported to the officers OF the Russian
var vessels and consulted them very often. 1t
5 said that on his visit to Russia, from ssh:oh
e has just returned, Mr.. Olarovsky was
;ghly corhplimented by the government for
.:e success Of his plans.
There was really no danger to the grand
nike. however. The policy OF terrorism has
cen abandoned for some years by the Rus
ian revolutionists, and they are now con-
linz ,afx, Tx