The Raymer enterprise., 1911-07-13
Copyright By Y. q. ch.paAa)

ance. He did go to the opera, but
left early. that Is. before ten o'clock.
From that time until he was picked
up unconscious there was . blank
that could not be filled.
Strangely enough, at this time there
was no suspicion Of fou! play. That
he should die In \ similar manner to
his uncle's demise was considered
rather remarkable. but there the sur.
prise ended. But within . week Of
the burial q thoughtful medical stu.
dent. who was pursuing bis studies
In the great college At Moscow. ad.
dressed few lines to the Moscow Ca.
zette. In which he ventured to sug.
gest that the doctors who examined
Baranon's body had failed In their
duty In not causing chemical ansly.
Sis to be made OF the contents OF the
deceased mans stomach; and he ad.
vanced the opinion that both Barano1
and his uncle had been willfully done
to death.
This communication caused a good
deal Of talk. and In the end the au.
thorities were aroused. An ofIicial
order was issued that Baranofrs body
should be e1humed. and the usual
means taken 10 test whether or not
the deceased man had died accidental.
ly or as a victim Of foul play. This
was done. with the result that report
was made that the deceased had met
his death from strong dose Of black
hellebore. Col. lgnatofs body was
then taken up and the chemical exam.
ination revealed that he too had been
slain by the administration OF the
same drug. AT this period black helle.
bore was by no means wellknown
poison. and the average doctor was
perhaps ignorant OF the morbid symp-
tons II set up in the human system
when fatal dose was given. II is
classed among what Is known as the
true narcoticoacrids. and bears the
botanical name OF helleborus niger.
It's effects on the human subject are
violent vomiting, delirium. convul.
sions and intense internal pains. II
administered In alcohol or food OF any
kind. no suspicion is aroused on the
part OF the person who takes 1t, us
the taste is quite disguised
An attempt was at once made to
trace the movements OF the two men
for some hours before their death.
In the colonel's case this was not an
easy matter, as he had been dead for
a year: but Ii was discovered that
Capt. Baranof had called on a friend
OF his. civilian named Alexander
Vlassovsky, who lived in a villa lust
on the edge OF the town, and they
went together TO a cafe.restaurant,
where they dined. After dinner they
played Billiards for short time, when
they separated, as Vlassovsky had an
appointment with lady He did not
know where Baranoff was going. He
did not ask him. and the captain vol.
unteered no Information. II was
proved. however, that he went to the
opera. and left about ten. Some
hours later he was found unconscious
outside the Kremln walls.
II was at this stage OF the proceed.
ings that Gen, Govemykin. the mill.
tary governor OF the city, becoming
impatient with the slow progress
made by the police who had the az.
fair In hand, sent for Michael Dane.
witch. who was then in 81. Peters.
burg, TO come to Moscow and endeav.
or to solve the mystery. After making
some preliminary Investigations. Dane
Witch sought an interview with Alex.
ander Vlassoysky. The latter was
fashionable young man and lived in
what was known as the Slobodi quar-.
ter, where most Of the wealthy mer.
chants had their villas. The business
he carried on was that OF stock.
broker. and Judging from the style
he kept up he was In n Nourishing
way, He was a bachelor, and made
no secret about |, that he was fond
OF gaiety. According to the account
he gave he had been acquainted with
Baranoh for long time and had lent
him some money TO enable him to keep
up his eStrayagances; for although
BaranOff's people were OF high rank,
they were not rich OF course his
financial transactions with Vlassoysky
were kept secret. for had they become
known to military authorities he
would have got into serious trouble.
II will thus be seen that the relations
between the two young men were
those OF borrower and lender. They
were not friends In the ordinary sense.
Indeed. Vlassoysky remarked TO Dane.
witch with some bitterness:
you know. like most young officers.
Baranofi was as proud as Lucifer, and
seemed 10 think that | was not his
equal, though he was never ayerse to
dine and drink at my expense"
why did he come to you on the
night Of his death7"
ITO borrow money; lent him 200
roubles."
Did he owe you much at the time
OF his death!"
Yes. nearly ten thousand roubles."
THAT Is large sum! suppose
you will lose ~"
why no ihnrn La M danHar Of