Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 246, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 October 1911 — Page 3

Records of MICHAEL DANEVITCH

True Tales gs Russian Secret Service I Edited by WOStGiB, T. PARDY -> -' I -...J& ■ .■- ...„J

The Murder of Colonel Anton On a bitter night in December, some years ago, a young man and woman stood at the corner of the street called Devyataya Rota in St Petersburg. They were both well dressed, and it was.obvious that they belonged to the better class of society. They had been in earnest conversation for some time, and at last the young woman said: •/'’/.<' '■ /•" “Paul, I must go now. I.am afraid as It is that I&rfye been missed and wg] be Questioned.” JHe bent forward and kissed her. "Let me accompany you as far as the door,” he said. x "It will at least give me a few minutes more of your dear company.” "No, no, Paul,” she cried nervously. “Someone might see us, and it would lead to my being sent away from -St Petersburg.” “Perhaps you are right,” be assented, with a sigh. “Well, adieu for the present, love. Yciu will contrive to send me a few lines, will you not, and arrange to see me at the earliest opportunity?” 4 . “Yes,” she said softly., “And now, good-bye, for the present, Paul.” Their lips met again. Then she left him, and making her way to a large gray house in the next square, rang the bell and was admitted by an old man-serv-ant. The young man stood looking after her until she had turned the corner and passed out of sight. Then he proceeded in the opposite direction, but had scarcely gone ten yards before he was accosted by a man who exclaimed fiercely: "I was a witness of your meeting. Now you can take this as a final warning. If you do not cease your attentions to my cousin, I will kill you, as sure as there Is a Heaven above us.” The man addressed laughed contemptously. "Keep your melodrama for those weak enough to be affected by it, Contantin Mandt,” he retorted coolly. “If Ido not resent your threats, as perhaps I ought, it is for Natasha’s sake. Your attempts to coerce your cousin are in vain.” “We shall see,” responded Mandt furiously. “I. was not disliked by Natasha before you, Paul' Ursoff, appeared upon the scene. Her father has forbidden her to encourage you in any way, and favors my suit. Meanwhile, take my warning to heart, if you are wise. My vengeance will not be long delayed.” * Ursoff was a young medical man whose devotion to science had earned him a high place In the estimation of the leaders of his profession. Colonel Anton, the father of the young physician’s love, was a retired military officer, a hero of the Crimean’ campaign, and a widower. He wag a man of ample means, but lived a secluded life which was shared by his daughter. The colonel’s great hobby was the study of astronomy. At the top of his house he had erected a small observatory, where he spent most of his time. Natasha, who was nineteen years of age, was noted for her remarkable beauty, but her life was a rather monotonous one; for her father was averse to society, and kept no company himself.,; Among the few visitors to Colonel Anton’s house, was Natasha’s cousin— Constantin Mandt. The latter had been educated for the profession of aft analytical chemist, but he was idle and dissolute, and had already squandered a handsome fortune. Yet his uncle, the Colonel, who was blind to Mandt’s fdults, intended him for his son-in-law. Natasha did not agree with her father’s views, but thrf colonel who was an extremely hot-tempered obstinate man, would brook no opposition to his plans in this respect. He vowed that Natasha should become Contantin’s wife as soon as she was twenty-one. He would give her a handsome dowfy, and in the event of his dying before the marriage all his money would pass to her on the'ftole condition of her marrying her cousip. If she failed to comply with her father's wishes, the money would be distributed among Charitable institutions. Much as Natasha resented this calm disposition of her future life, she could see no avenue of escape opening before her. She therefore resigned herself to her fate until she met with Paul Ursoff. Then she became defiant, and when she had carried on a secret courtship with her new lover for two months, she boldly took him to her father’s house and introduced him as the man she intended to marry. As might have been expected from a man of Colonel Anton’s dogmatic type, this move produced a terrific ex plosion of rage on the veteran’s part Natasha, however, stood firm, in spite of her father’s rage. In order that the Incidents which follow should be clearly understood, it will be necessary to describe Colonel Anton’s house. The lower door opened from the street into a broad passage, p 1..„ I r,«...><>„ .Ido,

(Copyright by W- Q. Chapman)

with a window that commanded a view of the passage. A cord at the head of his bed enabled him to pull the latch of the door back, and give admittance to anyone seeking it, and from the window he could observe who passed. At night-time a small refiector lamp was placed on the window ledge in such a poslton that its light fell upon anyone entering the passage, either coming in from the street, or going out. At the end Of the corridor, Which was short, a flight of stone steps turned to the right and led up to another door, which was always kept on the latch, and could be opened with a latch-key. Natasha, her father, and the old housekeeper each had a key to this door, which gave access to the house proper, and on this flat was the kitchen, the drawing-room, Natasha’s sitting and bed-room, and the old woman’s bedroom. A story higher Colonel Anton had. his dressingroom, a library, and a sitting-room; and on the upper story of all was his observatory. Several days had passed since the interview between Paul and Natasha, upon which Mandt had intruded. Not having heard from his beloved in that period, Ursoff grew anxious, knowing that his rival must certainly have reported their meeting to the Colonel. He resolved to risk a letter to her, and wrote an epistle which was eloquent in its entreaty to be true to him. Alluding to her father’s objection to his suit, he wrote: ‘Ts there no hope that during your father’s lifetime I can claim you for my own? Is there no way of removing his stubborn obstinacy? If not, then I must say—and I say-it out of the excess of my affection for you—that his death alone can give me the happiness' which would alone make life worth living to me. But still, for your beloved sake, I pray .that he may be long spared to you. Sorrow and joy are ever woven together, and the loss of a father would give you a devoted husband, wh6 wpuld worship the very ground you walk upon.” More than a week elapsed before a reply came to his letter. It was a short note, which “Come here on Christmas eve between nine and ten—l expect to be alone. The porter will be absent, but the latch of the lower door will be left up, so that you can enter, and I enclose a latch-key whereby you can let yourself in. Be sure and burn this letter as a precautionary measure.” It struck Paul as being somewhat peculiar that Natasha should have sent him a latch-key; and it also seemed,: to him that the writing in the note was different in some respects from her usual style. But at last he persuaded himself that this was mere fancy, and as for the key—she probably had some well-founded motive for sending it | On the night in question Ursoff left his lodgings at half-past eight. It was bitterly cold, and in spite of the heavy coat and muffler he wore, he felt halffrozen by the time he reached Colonel Anton’s residence. He found the outer door unlatched, as the letter had stated. He entered, closed the. door after him, and latched it. The corrlder was In darkness, but he groped his way along, crept cautiously up the stairs, and let himself in with the latch-key. The passage of the house was illuminated by an octagonal lamp' of red glass, suspended from the ceiling. He paused and listened, bat all was silent. He had expected that Natasha would have been on the watch for him, but evidently she was not He was acquainted from his former visit with that part of the house, and so he made his way into the draw-ing-room, having first hung his hat on a peg on the hat-3tand. A lamp burned on the chimney-piece, but no one was in the room. He ‘waited for at least ten minutes, but nobody came. The house was silent as death, save for the ticking of a marble clock which indicated that it was half-past nine. Paul grew uneasy. In the observatory above Colonel Anton was studying the stars, utterly oblivious of everything else. Lying back on his cushioned platform, his eye riveted to the telescope, he heard nothing save his own breathing, and saw nothing except those worlds of dazzling lights. Ho was a star-gazer, and had no thought for anything else. While the Colonel remained lost in contemplation of the heavenly bodies, the glass panel that admitted light to the closet slid back silently, and in the aperture a man’s face, pale and flerce-looklng appeared for an instant It "was swiftly withdrawn, and the panel was partly closed again, an opening of about two inches being left At this opening there was thrust forth \what seemed to bo a brass tap, from wfiich Issued a slight hissing sound. In a few seconds the star-gazer’s hand, which was on the adjusting screw of the telescope, dropped suddenly like a lump of lead. His head fell back and rolled from side to side as If he were in agony. Hie deeply lined and careworn face became livid and ghastly, and the eyes appeared to bulge out There were two or three convulsive throes of the whole body, a spasmodic heaving of the broad chest, tot

lowed by a choking sigh; and the Colonel fen back an inert mass, b ; Meanwhile Paul Ursoff was still waiting ip the room below. The hands of the clock pointed to halfpast ten, when bls ears at last caught the sound of approaching footsteps. Natasha was coming, he thought and he sprang to his feet to greet her. The door opened, and the old housekeeper appeared. Paul started back disappointed and surprised. The old woman screamed, but quickly recognizing him, asked: “What are you doing here?” “I came to see your mistress—Natasha—” he stammered confusedly. “Then you have had your trouble for nothing,” snapped the old woman angrily. “She has gone .to, spend the evening with some friends, and will not return before midnight.” y f Paul gazed at her stupidly. He felt as though stunnbd by an unexpected blow- A deception had been practised on him—for whpt purpose he could not pause to Inquire then, for he. was overwhelmed with shame and mortification. He stammered out some kind of an apology, wished the old woman good-night, and passed down the stairs. As he reached the lower door, the porter’s lamp was burning brightly, and Peter Svalon, aroused by the noise that the young man made in endeavoring to open the door, slid back his window, peered out, and exclaimed—“ Who is there?” Paul muttered something about his having a mistake. . Christmas eve waned and merged into Christmas morning. The first rosy streaks of the dawn were still lingering In the sky, when four sternfaced officers of the law approached the house where. Paul Ursoff dwelt Two of them remained outside, while the others mounted the stairs to the young physician’s bedroom, and hav-

ing awakened him from a deep slumber placed him under arrest on a charge of suspected murder. The mysterious death of Colonel Anton excited unusual interest in St Petersburg, for he was well known as an officer who had rendered brilliant service to his country during the terrible struggle fa the Crimea, and he had also made a name for among scientific men as a well-in-formed student of astronomy. The particulars so far gathered showed that, being Christmas eve, Natasha Anton, in company with her cousin, Constantin Mandt, went out early to the house of some relative to take part in certain festivities in connection with a Christmas tree. The housekeeper and her busband, Peter Svalon, had also been absent for a couple of hours visiting friends, The Colonel, who seldom paid visits, had been left alone in his observatory engaged in his favorite pursuit, the night being exceptionally brilliant. The housekeeper returned at half-past ten, and on going upstairs was amazed to find a man in the house. She recognised him as an acquaintance of her mistress. He seemed muqh confused on seeing her, and stammered out something about having come to see Natasha Anton. The housekeeper knowing that the young lady had been out all the evening, ih accordance with an engagement made days before. was aware that his statement was false, and as soon as he had gone, she began to suspect that his motive had been robbery. She first of all descended to her husband, who had been no less surprised to see a man, whom he recognized, taking his departure. Making known her fears to him, they both proceeded to the observatory, believing that it WUsYkOfr ' k'* "‘.dL. * - ■'<'Vs 4 ?' ’

duty to inform the Colonel of the occurrence. Repeated knocking as the door brought no response, and becoming alarmed they entered the room. Colonel Anton .was lying motionless on on his sloping platform, where he to recline when watching the stars. They could not arouse him, and went after Doctor Zvfirsky, who resided close by. The doctor came at once, and pronounced the Colonel dead. At first the medical man was inclined to attribute the Colonel’s death to apoplexy, but on making'a more critical examination abandoned this theory. He summoned two colleagues, one of them being a wellknown scientist, and the trio came to the conclusion that the deceased had not died a natural death. The police were communicated with, and made a cursory examination of the premises to ascertain if robbery had been committed. On going into Natasha’s room the officers noticed a jewel-case on the table. It was not locked, and on examination they found it to contain a few odds and ends of jewelry of trifling value, and what was more to the purpose a letter addressed to Natasha Anton. This was opened and read. It was from Paul Ursoff and contained the following passage in allusion to her father: “His death alone will give me happiness.” The police took possessipn of the letter, and Ursoff, to whom suspicion pointed as the criminal, was arrested. It was after one o’clock in the morning when Natasha returned home with her cousin, and they were informed of the tragedy. Natasha by the news, and Mandt was also greatly affected. The latter at once stated it as his belief that Ursoff was the guilty njan, and asserted that the dead man looked upon Paul as an intruder in his household. i The case was taken up by Michael

Danevitch for investigation, and that famous detective at once went to the cell where the suspect was confined, and had a long talk with him. Following this interview he visited Natasha and her cousiii fa turn. Despite the girl’s affection for her lover her faith fa him had been sorely shaken by the nature of the evidence against him. The passage fa the letter he had written her fa reference to her father took on a new and sinister meaning Ih her eyes, and seemed to stamp Paul as a heartless criminal. Mandt was outspoken fa his denunciation ot Ursoff, but Danevitch, wise fa the ways of mankind, attributed much of this bitterness to the fact, which was no secret, of the two young men having been rivals for the girl’s hand. From the outset he had been rather favorably impressed by the prisoner’s demeanor. Also he knew something of UrsotFs honorable career, and the youthful scientist did not appear to him to be formed of the stuff of which assassins are made. His opinion of Mandt was not so favorable. The letter's evident anxiety to fasten the crime upon Ursoff was but thinly disguised, and Danevitch se’t him doWh in his mental note-book as a crafty individual with a good deal of venom fa his composition, who would stop at nothing to achieve a desired object The verdict of the physicians who performed the post mortem on the Colonel’s body was that death had been caused by the inhalation of some poisonous gas. In the observatory a small coke-stove was used to warm the place, which was lighted with an oil lamp. Danevitch found this stove to be fa perfect order, and giving off no fumes, while the lamp contained colza oil Besides, he reflected. the large aperture fa the roof

through which the telescope protruded would have rendered suffocation by the coke almost impossible, as the gas would have escaped too rapidly. Danevitch went over all the premises with peculiar care in search of evidence, and made an important discovery fa the lumber room adjoining the observatory. He found there a pearshaped rubber collapsible bag, with a brass nozzle and tap. This he subjected to a critical test, and was rewarded by discovering traces of carbonic gas. The cause of the Colonel’s demise was now plain to the detective’s mind. The bag had been filled with the deadly carbonic gas, the fumes of which possessed ten times the strength of coke or any other suffocating poison, and had been insidiously introduced into the observatory. Qna breath of this gas would have been sufficient to produce unconsciousness, and a second Inhalation death. To most people this would have appeared another piece of damming evij dence against Ursoff. No ordinary criminal would have dreamed of utilizing such an agent, but it was just the idea to appeal to a man of scientific knowledge. With the bag in his possession Danevitch paid another visit to the unhappy prisoner, and exhibited It to him. Paul denied vehemently having ever seen the apparatus before, and again asserted his conviction that he was the victim of a plot. “You stated to the officers who first arrested you that you went to Colonel Anton’s house in response to a letter received from his daughter,” remarked Danevitch. “Where is that letter now?” “I burnt it, at her own request contained in it,” was Paul’s reply. The detective made no further comment, but left the cell He had already questioned Natasha regarding the letter referred to, and the girl had denied

having written it. Long experience with criminals had made Danevitch a remarkably good judge of the value of a prisoner’s protestations of innocence, and he was inclined to beMeve that Paul had been drawn into a trap, black as appearances were against The next question was, supposing this theory to be correct, who was the enemy that had not flinched at 'committing murder fa order to bring about the young scientist’s downfall? As far as Danevitch had been able to discover, there was but one man who was imbued with sufficiently malignant feelings against Ursoff to go out of his way to Injure him. That man was Constantin Mandt Investigation had satisfied the detective that Mandt’s career had not been a particularly clean one, although no actual crime had been charged against him. Whoever the murderer was, he had been foolish enough to leave a very tangible piece of evidence against him, In the shape of the rubber bag, and Danevitch set forth to endeavor to trace the place where it ha<| been purchased. Fortune favored him so far that he discovered a manufacturer who made all sort of articles for chemical laboratories, one of whose salesmen remembered having sold, a fortnight previous, an India rubber bag with a brass nozzle and tap. Hie bag found fa Colonel Anton’s house was produced and identified. The salesman described the purchaser as a tall young man with very black hair, and a constant smile, which exposed frequently a row of teeth plentifully filled with gold. This description rather staggered Danevitch, for it fitted UrsofTs person in every particular, and seemed to clear Mandt of any complicity In the crime. While walking along the Street, musing ifrmght-

himself, who Inquired as to what prog.: ress he was making. ; “Though as far as that goes,** remarked Natasha’s cousin, “you any reason for suspecting another person than the fellow that’s under locate and key now.” The cocksureness of Mandt’s accent, and the malignant of his face jarred upon the detective, who gave him a sharp look. “No man is guilty until he is proved to have committed a crime,” said Danevitch coldly. Mandt only grinned broadly, and in that instant the detective involute.rlly remembered the salesman’s remark about the purchaser’s constant smile. But Mandt’s teeth were large, white and even, and without a suspicion of gold on their surface. Also his hair and eyebrows were a light brown, and those .of the man who purchased the bag were jet black. In all other respects, however; he was not unlike Ursoff, being tall, broadshouldered, • and carrying himself jauntily. Bidding Mandt a curt adieu the detective turned in at his office fa the Bureau of Police, and alone in the sanctum reserved for himself as head of the department ruminated over the events of the day. Presently a grim smile broke out on his stern features, and he Struck the desk in front of him with his clenched fist. “By Heaven, I still’ believe that young chap innocent,” he muttered, “and I'll take a chance at proving it.” He touched a bell, and a policeman entered the room. “Take two men,” ordered Danevitch, “go to number 110 Sergievskaya street and ask for Constantin Mandt. Tell him he Is wanted at police headquarters to give some Information in the case of Colonel Anton. He is not likely to refuse to come, but If he does, ..bring him along anyhow. Have him here by nine o’clock tonight. Also send a messenger to .Savelyev, and Company, the chemical manufacturers, and command the attendance here at the same time of a salesman named Bazhanov, with whom I was speaking this afternoon.” The policeman saluted, and left the room. Danevitch busied himself in making certain preparations for the reception of his expected visitors, and that done composed himself to await results. At the appointed time Constantin Mandt made his appearance, accompanied by three officers. His wonted smile was still In evidence, for he deemed It likely-that Danevitch wanted to learn some.more particulars regarding the career of his rival, which he was prepared to supply, with whatever coloring seemed needful. One of the officers approached and whispered in his superior’s Oat, and Danevitch nodded. “Let Bazhanov wait In an outer room, until I want him,” be said. “I have sent for you to try a little experiment, Mr. Mandt,” said Danevitch. “As It Is In the interests of justice, I trust you will not object to humor us. If you do object—wan, It won’t make any difference.” Mandt stared blankly, but made no reply. He seated himself In obedience to a wave of Danevitch’s hand, but started again to his feet when one of the chiefs aids approached, and removing his hat, placed a black wig on Mandt’s head. “I will not submit to this, it is unnecessary, undignified,” he cried with lips from which all color had fled. “If he protests again, gag him,” ordered Danevitch harshly. “No Innocent man need fear the experiments of the law, Contantin Mandt It is only the guilty who dread us.” Mandt said no more, but watched with terror-stricken eyes, as the officers proceeded with his transformation. A heavy crayon pencil, neatly applied, changed* Constantin’s eyebrows to a deep black. Then Danevitch produced a small bottle containing a thick, golden liquid. Placing some of the contents delicately on a camel’s hair brush, he held back Mandt’s lips and coated the latter’s teeth heavily with the liquid. “It will dry in a few seconds,” ho remarked pleasantly, “and the effect will be surprising. You should have come to us in the first place, my dear Mr. Mandt for q. few pointers in the art of disguising one’s self.” * Assisting his victim to arise, rwaavltch enveloped his shaking form fit 4 fur overcoat, and wrapped a woolen muffler around his neck. “Now, call in Bazhanov,” he ordered curtly. The salesman made his appearance, and started back at the sight at Mandt’s trembling figure. “It is he,” he cried. “Mr. Danevitch. there stands the man to whom I sold the rubber bag.” Mandt reeled backwards ahd fell fainting Into the chair behind him. “Take him away, and lodge him to a cell,” commanded Danevitch. “He is under arrest, charged With the., murder of Colonel Anton.” Before another hour had passed Paul Ursoff was a free “an again. Mandt broke down before , r being g brought to trial, and confessed that he had killed his uncle with carbonic acid gas. He had forged the letter to his rival, and cleveHy imitated his cousin’s handwriting. He had stolen away from the party whither he had gone with Natasha, and committed the crime while Ursoff was In the house. Then- he left silently and returned to the festivities, where his short aO He was"SmtoJjced to* It . was discovered that Colonel Anton had died without making s will, ter fatted ‘wealth*’ to - UiaU WHO, CHXI TOY 0 v 1»■ o 8