The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-05-05
SKELETON BURGLAR ALARMS.
strange Means . Russian Miser Took to
Protect His Property.

Protect His Property.
A writer In Russian periodical supple
} some interesting details regarding th
mode of life of an eccentric member of tn
medical profession whose appearance wa
well known in the streets of st. Petersbur,
some half a century since. Having in tn,
course of a somewhat heightened career
succeeded in amassing considerable for
tune, the physician I'm question, whose
name is not given, decided on retiring
from practice i'm order to pass the remain
der of his days with dignity in the enjoy.
ment of leisure IL happened, however,
that his brain, so long accustomed to ac-
tive exercise, proved unable to withstand
the enervating effects of idlencss. While
the stimulus afforded 10y his daily minis
trations 10 his sick and suffering towns
people continued in operation his faculties
remained unclouded but no sooner was
this withdrawn than at once symptoms of
mental deterioration began to show them
selves.
Being destitute of family ties, he lived
entirely alone, save for an antiquated
crone, who was nominally his cook, al
though apparently she had but little where
upon TO exercise her culinary talents. In
rangement with which the old gentleman
was afflicted was dread of robbery. For
merly conspicuous for his gayety he now
became morose and suspicious TO the last
degree, fearing to leave his treasure for a
moment and unable either TO sleep or to
eat. According TO the ancient dame, he
would assuredly have put an end to his
misery by hanging if he could only have
prevailed on himself to go TO the expense
of rope.
The means this aged monomaniac adopt- |
ed to protect his beloved gold from thieves |
was truly remarkable. Having been med |
ical attendant TO the principal Jail, he con-
trivcd TO procure the skeletons of a num-
Der OF malefactors who had been executed,
and these he disposed around his premises
In way that unquestionably was calcu-
lated to strike terror into the heart of the
boidest of burglars. In the first place, with
his own hand he blackened the walls of
The various rooms and passages, and hav-
ng thus prepared the background he next
arranged the lugubrious relics in a variety
u attitudes all more or less startling. In
ne vestibule, for instance, he placed by |
way OF cloak rack, the skeleton of a
woman who had cut the threats of her |
hildren. In the middle of the adjoining
Dom stood the gigantic and minatory os.
eous remains of grenadier who had suf-
cred the extreme penalty for murder
In lieu OF sideboard the dining room
onained grim looking erection fash
med out of human bones, plates and
lshes resting on the pelves, and knives, s
'rks and spoons between the ribs, while
le dome Of n skull served as sugar basin
ID chlld's ossicles as sugar tongs The
'pliances thus forbiddingly stored were, =
)wever, more for show than use, since y
cir owner never by any chance enter =
ined guest and toward the end alb =
aimed almost altogether from eating. -
Is death Is ascribed to fear and hunger :"
mbined. A few moments before he ex- ~
rcd he is said to have raised himself I'm W
bed with great difficulty in order to ',
ow out candle. But whether he was u
tuated by desire for economy or dreaded l."
afford illumination for the long expect
robber 1t is impossible to dctermino.-
ndon Lancet.