Evening star., 1901-03-11
Man Who Travelled on American
Passport the Victim.
SERIOUS CHARGE AGAINST HIM
He Cannot Claim the Protection
Of American Citizenship.
VERY PECULIAR CASE
Correspondence Of the Associated Press.

correspondence OF the Associated freSS.
ST. PETERSBURG, February 81, 1901
A man who formerly enjoyed the protec-
tfon Of an American passport was arrested
here two weeks ago and is awaiting trial
without ball. He is charged with violating
the section Of the penal code which pre-
scribes severe penalties for any Russian
whoever. contrary to his oath of fidelity
to the emperor, accepts employment from
OF foreign state
This man, Simon James Gordon was born
in Poland of Jewish parentage. He went
to America before he was of age and re-
turned in the early seventies. Although
the formalities of American citizenship
were not complied with. according to the
ruling Of the State Department. made at a
later period. he managed to procure an
American passport. He was a successful
business man and made money. During
two Or three years he was the agent of a
large American manufacturing firm and
was associated in some capacity with a
great banking concern. his special func-
tions being, as was understood, to procure
American customers for the Mariopol and
Nicopol branch establishments.
A Noted Figure In Russia.
A number Of circumstances combined to
make Gordon a noteworthy figure here. It
cannot be maintained, however. that he en-
joyed much popularity In the American
colony of st. Petersburg. The legation
ceased to give him passports, but, 1t is as
serted. he managed to procure renewal of
his old papers on different occasions in
Berlin and Paris. At the embassy the state
ment is made that the renewal was accom-
plished at Paris by means of an affidavit
which did not correspond with facts.
The State Department issued circular
forbidding embassies and legations to issue
papers to him I'm the future. Gordon moved
ing abandoned the notion of continuing his
residence In Russia. He was, however,
persuaded to return shortly before last
Christmas by New York concern, which
was led to believe he could be OF use in
Its effort to secure Russian business.
Gordon used to pose as former Ameri-
can army officer. He was married at the
American legation to a Jewess from War
saw or vicinity, but she afterward left him
procured a divorce and married a promi-
nent citizen of Minsk Her husband re-
turned from an absence one day and found
her dead in bed, with a revolver by her
side. He seized the weapon and killed him
self and her daughter rushed from the
house and tried to drown herself in a river.
Gordon Marries a Princess.
In the spring of 1894 Gordon married
princess. Her family, one of the oldest
and most respected in the government Of
Moscow. bitterly opposed the match.
Gordon. it is said neglected the princess
and she left him, but when she sought a
divorce she learned he had Joined the
Greek Church to frustrate her design. She
then sought the advice of Consul General
Holloway on the advice of a priest, who
thought American law would govern the
matter.
Knowing that Gordon was not regarded
at the State Department as an American
citizen, Col. Holloway could not advise her.
The princess still has the children, 1t is
understood the government was assisted In
its researches into Gordon's past by the
princess. A lawyer visited the authorities
who have the case and demanded Gordon's
release on bail. The demand was refused
and the lawyer was not recognized, as
Russian law does not admit Of the activity
of counsel for the defense until the pre-
iiminary inquiry is ended and the dossier
Is ready for the trial court What Gordon's
fate will be is not certainly known. The
procureur informed the correspondent of
the Associated Press that If proven guilty
he would be suitably punished and then
escorted to the frontier. This probably dis
poses of the report that Punishment to 81
IBERIA or Archangel awaited him