FAST LIFE IN ST. PETERSBURG.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 83, 7 April 1900, Page 13 (Supplement)

FAST LIFE IN ST. PETERSBURG.

A LOVELY WOMAN'S SHOCKING

CRIME. ,

Anna Konowalow, described as the most beautiful wanton in Russia, at whose feet princes and dukes have knelt in homage, was on January 20 sentenced to life imprisonment In the wilds of Siberia. Sent to life punishment with her was Catherina Pollow, a dashing member of the same class, because she was the other woman's adviser In the crime she committed.

Anna Konowalow was a poor girl, of the humblest station, four years ago, when a young locksmith sued her parents for her hand. She was only 17 years old. Her lover Was of the same age. The match Was made by the parents of the young people, without any reference to their wishes in the matter. The boy was madly in love with Anna, but she did not care for him. He bored her, and was really stupid, while she was noted for her brightness and beauty.

They were married, but lived together only a few weeks. The bride left her husband's humble roof, and the next known of her she was under the protection of a rich nobleman. The girl, who had so recently been poor and unnoticed, now rode in handsome equipages, and was clothed in richest gowns and furs. She had all the diamonds she desired, and so clever and lovely was she that she was much sought after in the fast set of St. Petersburg-.

The only cloud on the life of the Rtiy young woman was in the form of her husband. The law in fit', Petersburg provides that if a man is willing to support his wife and treat her kindly she must live with him. The locksmith wanted his wife and often called Upon her, insisting that she should return to him. He finally became so insistent that it was feared he might invoke the law ahd ruin the bright prospect*! of the butterfly. So Anna tonsuited with her friend Catherina.

The love of drink was the weak spot in the locksmith's character.' it was Qccklea that lie should be ilivitpci to tin entertainment and made to drink until dead. An orgie was invented, and to it the young man came. There was a brilliant company of men and women, all in the secret, and the locksmith was plied with the strongest liquors to be had.

He drank all night, and the company pretended to do the s=nmp. When at daylight all had gone except Anna and her friend, the husband lay in a drunken stupor. Then the fear that he might not die troubled the two women. Finally, the beautiful Anna, In a fit of rage and des^ peration. knelt down and strangled the unfortunate to death. The two -women cut the body into pnrts and packed it in a box. They caused the box to be carried far away and to be burled on the outskirts of a snlall Village. Then Anna continued her gray life, giving out to her friends that she had persuaded her husband to go to another country. A few months later a fisherman, whita dIKKihR for bait, came across the box and opened it. He notified the police. No one could be found to identify the body, and it was bufled, not, however, until the face had been photographed* The picture was the undoing' of the beautiful murderess, but not until two yeai's had elapsed. Theft, in some Way, a picture of the locksmith in the possession of a friend was compared with that of the man whose body had been found. His identity having been established-, the police were quick to suspect his wife. She was arrested^ and by various means, principally through tracing the box from her apartment to Where it had been buried, she was (Jonvlcted, as was her accomplice. The liappy-go-lUdky set in which Anna Koriowalow shone go resplendently was shocked for almost a minute at tier uh- ; timely fate, and then life went on as usual.