Cresco plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1913-1945, 1913-11-14
(Copyright by W. q. Chapman)


going to the opera and afterwards In
tended to sup with 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 blank
that could not be filled. z=.-'se
Strangely enough, at this time there
was no suspicion of fou. pay. 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, ad-
dressed few lines to the Moscow Ga
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 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. ... ..- ....,. 49,
This communication caused good
deal of talk, and in the end the au-
thorities, were 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 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. 1gnatof's 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 well-knoWn
poison, and the average doctor was
perhaps ignorant of the morbid symp'
tons it set up in the human system
when a 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, convul'
sions aud intense internal pains. If
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
a year; but it was discovered that
Capt. Baranoff had called on a friend
of his, a civilian named Alexander
Vlassovsky, who lived in villa Just
on the edge of the town, and they
went together to cafe-restaurant,
where they dined. After dinner they
played billiards. for short time, when
they separated, as Vlassovsky had an
appointment with a 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.
1t 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 endeav-
or to solve the mystery. After making
some preliminary investigations, Dane
witch sought an interview with Alex
ander Vlassovsky. The latter was a
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 a fourishing
way. He was a bachelor, and made
no secret about 1t that he was fond
of gaiety. According to the account
he gave he had been acquainted with
Baranoff for long time and had lent
him some money to enable him to keep
up his extravagances; for although
DoA oAOA pSOPAS VSAO VI AAoA AoAnS
they were not rich. OF course his
financial transactions with Vlassovsky
were kept secret, for had they become
known to military authorities he
would have got into serious trouble.
It 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, Vlassovsky remarked to Dane
witch with some bitterness:
"You know, like most young officers.
Baranon was as proud as Lucifer, and
seemed to think that I was not his
equal, though he was never averse to
dine and drink at my expense"
"Why did he come to you on the
night Of his death?' .'ssa
ITO borrow money; l lent him 200
roubles." rEs.@ -,
did he owe you much at the time
of his death?"
Eyes, nearly ten thousand roubles."
THAT is large sum! l suppose
you will lose it,"
"Why. no. there ia no danger Of