The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1905-09-08
WEALTHY LUNATICS
kidnapped a Girl and Imprisoned
Her In a Bird
Cage.

been the scene of an extraordinary
trial which has set all Russia talk
ing.
Ivan Vitkohsks and Israel Grum,
two venerable. wealthy and highly
respected citizens. were charged
with kidnapping numerous young
women of good family and treating
them in an unusual manner. As a
result of the trial. both Vitkovsks
and Grun will spend the evening of
their days rs paying guests in an
asylum for the insane. During the
year of 1902 and 1903 no fewer than
III girls, belonging to the most exclu-
sive families in Vladikavkaz were
abducted under remarkable circum-
stances. In every instance the Wis
tim returned to her home, after a
short absence, with an amazing story
af her adventures. Not girl was
ans the worse Cor her experience,
all had such extraordinary tales to
tell that it was evident that the town
contained more than one eccentric,
if not insane. inhabitant of great
wealth.
The last victim Of the demented
and aged pair Of kidnapers was
Marya Savin. who, about a year ago
was supposed to have been captured
by brigands for the sake of a ran
som. Marya was an heiress and the
belle of Vladikavkaz and police and
public united in a systematic search
for the missing heiress. Blood
hounds were employed. but in the
midst of the excitement Marya re-
turned To her home as suddenly as
she had disappeared. Her story
was even more exciting than that
of previously kidnapped women. and
and it was owing to the following
tale which she told that Vitkovski
and Grun were eventually brought
to Justice:
II woke up in the night" she
said, land was terrified by seeing
two gray-bearded men. both masked
bending over me. was two fright
ened to scream. and the men, with
out uttering a word, placed gag in
my mouth and blindfolded me.
Then they lifted me up from my
bed and carried me as | was into
the streets, where | was thrust into
waiting carriage. We drove at
furious peace for what seemed but
a short distance, but | think must
have tainted. When was revived
and the bandage was taken from my
eyes discovered that ] was in an
luxuriously appointed room. furnish
ed as library. In the corner of the
apartment stood a large gilded cage
constructed. it appeared, for some
gigantic prehistoric bird. My cap
tors, still without uttering a word
handed me a close-ftting feather
dress, mind apparently of many
thousand of yellow birds skins.
They motioned to me to put this on,
and then gently pushed me into the
cage, fastening the door behind me
One of the old men (who now proves
to have been VitkovskD brought me
costly food; the other man (Grun) !
never saw again. Vitkovski used to
come and gaze at me though the
bars Of the cage; sometimes he
threw Jumps of sugar the bars.
Early every morning he would
enter the library with jug
of boiling water. This he would
pour into big birds bath attached
to the side of the Gag. Wash,
birdsl" he would exclaim. These
were the only words | ever heard him
utter. felt sure that the man
must be lunatic, and was extreme
ly nervous of what he would do to
me. But when | almost despaired
of regaining my freedom the old
man came to the cage late one night
and signed to me to come down from
my feather costume. Again, with one
speaking a word, he blindfolded me,
and, guiding me to acarriage; drove
me within a few yards of my
home"
Almost all the fancy shops in
'Vladikaykaz now display in their