The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-04-05

Fde Kept Me on the Rack for Three
Hours.
ploy people about the hotel but they
had been warned against me. There
was a city directory, but though 1 en-
tered many business places and asked
to look al it I was politely but firmly
refused in each Instance
A detective was set to watch me.
and he took pains that every one
should know that I was under espion-
age, and by and by I could not even
hire a public carriage.
The reply received from the Ameri-
can Legation was non cOmmittal.
Until I was actually under arrest,
charged with some specific offense
against the law our minister could
take no cognizance of my case. I was
rather advised to heed the customs
of the country. instead of setting my
self up against them, but this made
me the more determined not to sub
init to surveillance.
Thinking thatI might better carry on
the business from St. Petersburg /
departed for that city after a few
days, and at once called upon a law
yer. He was sharp enough to realize
that 1 would not have taken the long
journey unless the property was Of
consfdera bic value. and without any
beating around the bush he told me
that he would find the heirs and put
the matter through for the sum of
$1,000 This was rank robbery, and
suit soon discovered that no lawyer
would have anything to do with the
case. at all.
Not only that. but was soon sum
mOned to the office OF the chief Of
police. He was very polite, but at the
same time it was easy to read his
hypocrisy. He first secured posses
sion of my passport, which he claim
ed needed some slight amendment
and then began to question me. He
kept me on the rack for three long
hours. and then had the impudence to
offer me his hand as departed.
I went straight from his office to
that of a private detective agency to
set inquiries on foot. The superin-
tendent entered into the matter with
considerable earnestness, and agreed
to dispatch a man to NaFva that even
ing to secure the wished-for informa-
ton.
I returned to the hotel feeling rath-
er jubiIant at outwittine the police
but this state Of feeling did not last
long Within an hour the superin-
tendent of the agency called to inform
me that he must drop the case turning
me off with the excuse that he was
too busy to attend to it.
y He had scarcely departed before the
proprietor of the hotel came to my
room and politely asked me to vacate
it. He would not admit that it was
the work of the police, but I had no
trouble in coming to the conclusion.
I finally got rooms in beading
house, after being refused at every
other hotel and for a week the police
let me alone. / had made the long jour
ney to find the heir Of Bogof and close
q deal for the land. I had not been pro-
vided with money to bride any one, and
I must either defy the police and work
up the case single handed or return and
report a failure
Being firmly convinced that Mrs Bo-
gon was in Narva, I secretly left the
capital for that town one night Securing
rooms in a boarding house after my ar
rival, and Disgusting my personal APP
pearance to & considerable extent. pro-
secuted my inquiries under one excuse
ana another until at length discovered
the woman. She was living in her own
house and in poor circumstances, and
was rejoiced at the prospects of selling
the land.
now had to give my case away by
calling on the notary to make out the
papers, and in less than half a day the
police We're at my heels again. They
not only warned every notary at Narva
but the widow was obliged to flee the
City and go into hiding
Things might have stopped there
had been cool and placid man. When
found the police bounding me again
lost my temper and gave the chief nv
candid opinion of things in general and
OF MS own conduct in particular. As a
natural sequence I was promptly arrest
ed, though just what the technical
charge was 1 never learned.
was taken to jail and confined in a
cen WIN a man waiting trial for rob
bery. He seemed to be a thorough vii
lain, but as he could not speak a word
OF English, nor I word of Russian. we
hit it of by letting each other severely
alone As soon. as incarcerafed asked
to communicate with the American Min
iSter, but was refused
On the third day the chief of police
sent for me and asked me if I woule
leave Russia If given my liberty.
replied in the negative and was re-
turned to prison. My threats that fhe
matter would be thoroughly sifted hi
ourrepFesentativess only made him smile
and he quietly informed me that h.
would keep me in prison for the rest 81
my life if did not agree to his terms
On the seventh day he sent for m,
again. I had now changed uly$ mind
realizing that I could even besent on Il
Siberia If the police so desired, and tina,