The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-04-07
RUSSIAN sEcRET Service
Every one Under Survcilance-Notel
Gases OF SuindIing.
written for the Newspaper Enterprise

Gases OF Swindiing.
tNriten for the Newspaper Enterprise
Association
St Petersburg, March 29.-Outside
the Q OF eve-y house in St. Peters
burg stands, day and night, frost ana
thaTv, a burly figure swathed in sheep
skins. He is the dvornik-the keeper
Of the conscience OF the house.
Each day he goes TO the police Office
OF his district, makes report OF the
cOmings and goings OF the deniZens,
details their acquaintance and aprre-
ciaIes their character. Less obtruslva
than q French concierge, more sill
lister and more powerful, he is the
prime object of the peoples hatred.
Whatever of Importance is the daily
report OF the dvornih is entered in the
doss'er which les against every cit
liens name in the archiver Of the au-
thour1ties. The Russians have a gen
iUs for making icports and classifying
them. The stranger in their mijsI
marveis at the multiplicity of officials
in every branch of the public service
in h Offices OF the ministers, in the
police courts, in the bureaus or the
| post and telegraph. All are due TO
this national mania for reports.
| Every smallest item of significance
| with respect TO the conduct of tae
children of the z is placed on rrc-
| ord. While | was at the front | was
considerably astcnished one day at D~
ing shown my dossier-the report rf
| my references, my conduct, my opin-
| ;o-c onI N ~ n,r,o3;~@;a .ntc
| AS t was for me so it was for every
one visiting within the empire. None
| can escape exhibition in this national.
roguas' gallery.
Despite ali this vast and intricate
machinery, I have little faith in re
| efficiency Of the Russian secret serviee.
Yearly it swallows up vast revenues OF
which no detailed account is ever rem
dered. At intervals the authorities
awake to the necessity Of doing M
| thing to justify heir expenditure. 1t
is hen wild plots are unearthed, dom
iciliary visits are made and big patches
Of prisoners are dispatched to Siberia.
The channel for private revenge is, u
course, at all times ~peril0usly open.
With all it's policing, St Petersburg
is no safer from the attacks Of expert
criminals than other capitals OF Eu-
rope. Some time ago a jeweler on the
Nevsky Prospect received a visit in the
afternoon from an old and decrepit OF
flcar in generals uniform, who was as
sisted from his carriage to the counte'
by 4 fOotman in smart livery. To tie
tra6esman he expressed his desire to
make a birthday present Of diamonds
to ais wife. The jeweler showed his
most valuable collars and tiaras.
At last T5ie veteran made choice OF
a costly SET, sought in his pocket ana
discovered that. he had left his purse
behind. With apologies he asked for
writing materials and ~endeavored to
pen a note to his house, The excite
Dlent however, acting upon his palsied
hands, made his writing SO illegible
that the ieweler took pity upon him
and begged permission to write to the
officers dlctatiOE- The general thank
ed him and dictated:
Dear Anna: l have lee of some
money. Please take 5000 roubles from
my safe, and return by bearer.
"Affectonately, IVAN.
The fOOtman was dispatched with
the note and in due course returned
with 5000 roubles. The tiara was
bought and paid for. The officer drove
away is his carriage.
That night, when the jeWeler return
ed to his home, his wife asked why he
had withdrawn SO large a sum. TIA
tradesman said he had withdrawn noEe
at I'll His wife then produced his
own letter, with his wi business
healing, and the jeweier for the first
time realized that the common naln:
Anna and the common name Ivan
were those respectively of his wife aid
himself. He had himself paid for the
tiara.
The mystery surrounding the comDo-
sition of the secret service is the mce[
effective DOL in the hands OF the intel
ligelt criminal. On the Grand Mors-
kaia is one of the most magnificent
jewelry stores IN Europe-the shop OF
Fauborg. To it, some months ago.
dorve up a splendidly appointed equip
age in which were seated two ladies.
The ladies descended and were Tec"lv-
ed as customers Of distinction. The
other lady introduced herself as Il"
wife Of a well known statesman &C
Gently returned from abroad. She z
Dlailed that she had been authorize!
by her husband to choose q collar o.
diamonds, and the jeweler spread oe-
fore her the jems Of his collection
After much hesitation the ladr
chose one of the most expensive, nut
to her dismay the price exceeded tina
suggested by her husband. The shop
man dreaded to lose SO important 4
customer, and extolled the value OF
his wares. AT length the lady begged
permission to drive to the office OF her
husbands ministry-the distance was
not great show him the collar anu
obtain his permission to purchase il.
Her companion would remain behind
as hostage. The jeweler consented.
Time passed; quarter OF an hour. hair
an hour, three quarters. The lady in
the jewelers. shop grew impatient, ap-
prem ansive, almost hysterical. Sudden
~ heir rushed into the shop two de-
t~ectives who assured the astonishet
Rauoorge that lie had been swindled
TIL 49, tho