Rensselaer Union, Volume 7, Number 5, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 October 1874 — A Courageous Chief. [ARTICLE]

A Courageous Chief.

Letters from St. Petersburg speak of a remarkable feat of determination on the part of Gen. Trepoff, the head of the St. Petersburg police, who had given in early life .extraordinary proofs of personal courage. A fearful double murder was recently committed at the military academy of the city by a policeman, who; being attached to the female servant of the doctor of the establishment, fancied he had cause to suspect her of infidelity. Having entered the doctor’s quarters to upbraid her, lie ended by taking up a carving-knife and killing the unfortunate woman on the spot and then slaying the doctor himself with it in liis study. Here he locked himself in with the instrument of his crime, and vowed he would dispatch the first man with it who attempted to arrest him. The police summoned to the spot were awed by liis apparent determination, while some proposed to Shoot him as a wild beast, and' a party -went in search -of a fire-engine with a view of drenching him into surrender. A report of the occurrence reached Gen. Trepolf. Springing into the droschky, which is kept ready for emergencies, the General was on the scene in a few minutes. He ordered the door to be burst open, and then entered, unarmed. As he expected the murderer retreated into a corner, prepared to sell his life dearly. The General approached him unhesitatingly, with the words: “ Well, my friend, you have committed a pretty pair of murders, aud I hear you are going to stick any one who tries to take you. Now stick me; for I have come on purpose to take you myself.” The wretched man was so awed by the quiet and authoritative manner of his former superior that he lowered liis weapon and made no reply to the challenge, and two of the police officers who had followed Gen. Trepoff sprang on him and secured him without further resistance. It is hot surprising the St. Petersburg police, in relating the story, declare their chief to be the bravest man in Russia. —Pall Mall Gazette.