Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1911-08-18
The Million Rouble
Robbery

One evening toward the end OF sum-
mar four government officials left
MOSCOW for st. Petersburg in charge
A an enormous amount Of money,
artly in specie, but for the most part
N Russian rouble notes. The money
ras consigned to the treasury in st.
petersburg. All the officials had been
N the government service for long
time and were selected for this spe-
sial duty on account Of their trust
Eorthiness and the confidence reposed
IN them by the heads OF the depart
ments to which they belonged. The
Oldest man and the one in command
u the little party was upwards Of
seventy years of age. He had been
m the government service for 40 years
and was greatly trusted and respected.
His name was Popoff. The next in
seniority was Ivan Basilovitch. who
kad been 33 years In the service.
Then came Strogonoff. with rs years'
service. and lastly a young man named
Briazga, with ten years and half to
bis credit In the government service.
An addition to these four government
ofncers, four gendarmes, fully armed.
accompanied the treasure as guard
II safety. The party travelled by the
ordinary train. but had a special sa-
loon carriage, the packages of money
being placed at one end. The only
doors to the carriage were at the OPP
posite eni. one on each side. the of
side door being locked by means of a
secret lock which could not be opened
except with the proper key.
The bullion was carried in oak
boxes fastened with iron bands. The
notes we're in small square boxes,
sewn up In strong canvas. In addi-
ton they we're securely corded with
fine but extraordinarily tough cord
which was manufactured especially
for the government and could not be
used except for government purposes.
Every package bore the state seal.
Anyone unlawfully breaking the seal
was guilty. according to the law of
Russia, of treason, and liable to death
or Punishment to Siberia In due
course the train reached st. Peters
burg where the packages Of money
we're examined. counted In the rail-
way carriage and found correct. They
we're then loaded into a covered gov
eminent wagon. counted and examined
again, and also found correct; ard all
being ready, the wagon drove Oh, ac-
companied by the four oficials and
the gendarmes. At the treasury the
packages we're once again counted,
examined and found correct, and the
deputy Of the minister Of finance
himself gave the necessary receipt to
Me head officer. The important duty
being thus completed the gendarmes
we're dismissed to their quarters and
the officers went to their respective
homes. In the course Of the next day
Michael Danevitch received a sudden
command to attend without a mo-
ments delay at the bureau of the
chief Of police. The latter Official told
The detective about the money having
been removed from Moscow to ST.
Petersburg the previous night. and
added:
This morning. in the presence Of
he minister Of finance and the Official
staff, the various packages we're
opened. Two of the note boxes. al
though intact as regards seals and
cords. and which ought to have con-
sained 100000 rouble notes each. were
found to be stuffed with blank paper.
The minister requests that you be as
signed to the case. so you will pro-
ceec to take up the matter at once"
Danevitch betook himself to the
treasury and was conducted into the
presence Of the minister of finance,
from whom he learned all the details
q the transit Of the money. After
making certain investigations in st.
petersburg. he proceeded to Moscow,
where he satisfied himself from the
evidence laid before him that the
money left the Moscow treasury all
night; and It was impossible that the
Boxes could have been exchanged be-
tween the treasury and the railway
station. The treasure was conveyed |
N closed wagon. which was locked |
tnd barred. ana In its passage through
me city guarded by IL mounted sol
oiers. At the station the wagon was |
backed up to the railway carriage and |
unpacked in the presence of quite a
1see army Of officials. Unless there
osd been a huge conspiracy the boxes
could not have been plundered there.
Inc next phase of inquiry was that
sscertaining as much as possible
ABOUT the four government officials
eho travelled in charge OF the treas
.'e Daneyitch's inquiries elected the
net that they bore irreproachable
snafacters and were held in high es-
'eem In the department Popoff was
= married man with a family. He
vas IN receipt Of a good salary and
sppeared to be free from financial
worries Of any kind. The same re-
marks applied to Basilovitch and
1uosonof. They were both married
sao family men and to all appear
-1ces IN comfortable circumstances.
o''assa was unmarried. but he was
ssroed as very steady, well-to-do
lung fellow, and was known to be
,1e main support of his father moth