Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1913-04-18
WAS STEFAN MALI
RUSSIAN CAR OR AN
IMPOSTOR?
*<++<++++%%%

q " 1888 VI d IIIySlcIy
connected with all the Russian cars
bearing the name Peter. The real rea-
son for this was the peculiar condi-
ton OF politics and their manipulation
during the reigns Of these sovereigns.
Ihe most incompetent of these rulers
was Peter III. He was established up
on the throne more as a figurehead to
be used Tor the purpose of carrying out
the ambitious scheme of his aunt, Eliz-
abeth Petrovna. BY the command of
this aunt a marriage was arranged be-
tween him and Princess Catherine.
Peter was something less than a man
and physically little more thar a child.
This marriage led to his overthrow,
for Catherine was a sufficiently cap
able woman to be able to snatch the
reins OF government from the hands of
this semi-imbecile. Finally, through
the Vaccinations of the queen. Peter
met a mysterious death at the castle
of Ropsha, at least so history tells US.
1t was at this castle that Peter was
held a political prisoner, and 1t is here
that he was murdered by Alexius Or
Low. with whom Catherine was in love,
by Theodore Baryatinski, and several
other persons still unidentified. But
was he actually murdered and have
historians either suppressed the facts
or have told them without full knowl-
edge? Five years after his death is
supposed to have occurred, in 1867.
there appeared one Stefan Mali (Ste-
phen the Little). who passed himself
on In Montenegro as the Gar Peter
III. of Russia.
When Stefan announced that he was
the Russian cZar, while his story was
doubted by many. yet like all such inn
posters with whom history has had to
deal, he did not escape identification.
and one witness, who knew the czar
OF Russia. claimed that he recognized
his features.
The time. the place and the circum-
stances We're favorable to the impos-
tor, II such he was, n he succeeded
IN sustaining from the start his all
legged personality. Levi. in his Vene-
xia a ii Montenegro" notes him as be-
ing eloquent to the extent that he ex-
ercised. with mere words, a power not
only on the multitude. but also on the
higher classes. He said that Stefan
must certainly have been in st. Peters
burg before he scaled Montenegro: and
have known the true Peter III, for he
Initiated his voice and his gestures in
q most striking way.
Stefan told the M~ontenegrins a most
wonderful story of his adventures since
his reported death. n he appealed to
them strongly when he would an
nounce his disgAsts with his native
country and that he never would re-
turn to Russia. The Montenegrins
"SAS 9AdN ~ accept Ills service WNfsN
ne promised to assist them in the
maintenance of their Independence.
and he was virtually made their gov
remedy.
AS ruler of Montenegro he estab-
shede courts -of justice nj did all
ne could towards tn" prosperity of
that country. The ~neiShboring nations
grew restless under the forward move
ment OF Montenegro IN all sides. and
they declared war. Tie Turkish army
attacked the M~onteneg:tns on all sides
n Stefan did not dar. to face them
me Russians came :r the assistance
OF thetr ~neighbors. bus also sent WITH
the soldiers a note frnnn the Empress
Catherine in which she %denoun,e1
6tefan as an impostOr. 1t is sail that
he admitted the charge and they tire
MIN into prison. But in the impend-
Ing war a strong man was wanted at
the head of affairs. and Sava. who was
the ruling spirit. was weak. but the
sltuation was by Prince George
OOlgourOukt, the representative of the
Empress Catherine. who, with states
acumen. saw that such IA dcs-
perate need required an exceptional
ernor.
Dolgourouki recognized the false
car as regent. and Stefan. thus re-
stored to office under such powerful
auspices, continued to govern Monte
negro until 1874. when he was MUIR
dered by the Greek player Casa,mugna.
oy order. 1t ts said. of the pasha of
Scutari.
II Stefan was 3 false car. he is one
Ct the very few impostors who in tn.
history OF nations prospered finally in
his fraud. He is credited with being
an tmpostor. but there was SO much
mystery about the death of Peterstha
II seems remarkable that there were
not more persons to come forward and
proclaim that they were the czar. and
That they had been sent out OF the
country for political eason and were
after all not murdered.
FROM WHENCE ORIG :
Is MATED THE NAME :