Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1911-08-11

mcutiOuSu " lTleuQ IldL ne was
going to the opera and afterwards in
tended to sup with a lady acquaint-
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 a blank
that could not be filed.
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 a week of
the burial a thoughtful medical stu
dent. who was pursuing his studies
In the great college at Moscow, adj
dressed few lines to the Moscow Ga
zette. in which he ventured to sug-
gest that the doctors who examined
Baranoff's body had failed in their
duty in not causing a chemical analy-
sis to be made Of the contents Of, the
deceased mans stomach; and he ad-
vanced the opinion that both Baranoff
and his uncle had been willfully done
to death.
This communication caused a good
thorities we're aroused. An official
order was issued that Baranoff's body
should be exhumed, and the usual
means taken to 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 Ignatofs body was
then taken up and the chemical exam
nation revealed that he too had been
slain by the administration of the
same drug, At this period black helle-
bore was by no means a well-known
poison. and the average doctor was
perhaps ignorant of the morbid symp-
tons it set up in the human system
when fatal dose was given. 1t is
classed among what is known as the
true narcotico-acrids. and bears the
botanical name of helleborus niger.
It's effects on the human subject are
violent vomiting, delirium, conyul-
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 it, as
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
year; but i was discovered that
Capt Baranoff had called on a friend
| of his, civilian named Alexander
| Vlassovsky. who lived In villa just
| on the edge of the town, and they
went together to a cafe-restaurapt
where they dined. After dinner they
played billiards. for a short time. when
| they separated, as Vlassovslxy 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. 1t was
proved, however. that he went to the
opera. and left about ten. Some
hours later he was found unconscious
outside the Kremlin 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 af
fair in hand, sent for Michael Dane
witch. who was then In st. Peters
burg. to come to Moscow and endeay
or to solve the mystery. After making
some preliminary Investigations. Dane
witch sought an interview with Alex
ander vlassovsky The latter was |
fashionable young man and lived II
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 styl'
he kept up he was in a flourishini
way. He was bachelor. and mad
no secret about 1t that he was fon'
of gaiety. According to the accoun
he gave he had been acquainted wit
Baranoff for a long time and had len
him some money to enable him to keel
Up Ills cAlIdNdBduCCos AoA oAe--Cao'
Baranoffs people were of high rank
they were not rich. OF course hi
financial transactions with Vlassovsk
were kept secret, for had they becom
known to military authorities h
would have got into serious trouble
It viii thus be seen that the relation
between the two young men wer
those OF borrower and lender. The
were NOT friends in the ordinary sense
Indeed, viassovsky remarked to Dane
witch with some bitterness:
You know, like most young officers
Baranoff was as proud as Lucifer, AM
seemed to think that ! was not hi
equal, though he was never averse I
dine and drink at my expense"
why did he come to you on tn
night OF his death?"
ITO borrow money; ! lent him 20
roubles."
! did he owe you much at the tim
of his death?'
Eyes. nearly ten thousand roubles.
THAT is a large sum, ! suppos
you will lose it?"
why, no, there is no danger 9
that. His life was insured for te
thousand. hold the policy and le
ter from him to the effect that shoul
he die before paying me my due wa
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