KIDNAPPERS KIDNAPPED.

Auckland Star, Issue XXXVI, 21 October 1905, Page 13

KIDNAPPERS KIDNAPPED.

The Kazan newspapers recount a strange case that is toeing fought in the law courts of that city.

Four years ago Baron. T.iupianoff, his coachman, and his valet, the last a married mail, disappeared mysteriously, and no clue to their whereabouts could be discovered. Early last July, however, immediately after the daughter of Ivan Ostrelski, fl wealthy fur merchant, had celebrated her marriage, ail three men reappeared with as little warning as had marked their previous exit

Barou Liupianoff, on reaching his country scat, found a cousin in possession, and was branded as an iinposter; the valet found that his wife, after mourning him as lost, had married a second time, and showed no inclination to renounce her home nnd "husband"

Much against his wUI the baron brought an action to recover his estates, for, naturally, he was forced by the court to explain his mysterious disappearance.

Four years ago, he admitted, all other means having failed, he attempted to kidnap Maria Ostrelski, a girl of barely 16, whose wealth and beauty had long fascinated" him. Ivan Ostrelski, her father, had declined his advauces, and the girl her*elf evinced no fondness for his suit.

The abduction was to have taken place at Easter, when Maria and her governess were on their way to attend a midnight service at the cathedral. Ivan Ostrelski, the father, however, got wind of the plot, and laid his plans accordingly. Instead of Maria and her governess, he placed two stout fellows, dressed as women, in the carriage that set out from his viUa, and two other mnscular bruisers were on the box. When the vehicle was stopped by Baron Liupianoff and his two confederates Ostrclski-'s quartette of ruffians acted with such promptitude and force that, in a trice, the baron and his men were themselves kidnapped and driven off to the Ostrelski villa. They had intended to ga;r and bind Maria and her companion and gallop her off to the baron's estate in her own carriage.

Now, instead, they were themselves prisoners, and at Ivan Ostrelski's mercy.

The fur merchant did not mince matters. "Till my daughter is married and protected by a husband, you and your men will stay with mc": and for four years, until the day of Maria's wedding, all three were indeed kept in a cellar under lock and key.

They were amply fed and comfortably clothed, the cellar being warmed in winter and well ventilated in summer. The baron and his servants even put on weight. Each night they were allowed an hour's exorcise in the villa grounds, due precaution being taken that they should neither escape nor communicate with the outside world.

Such was the story told by Liupianoff and his two associates, and nobody In Kazan doubts but that he will win his case. Financially his position has greatly improved by his enforced incarceration; for his more prudent cousin paid off the mortgages on his estates, little dreaming that their rightful owner would one day return to claim the unencumbered property. The valet will probably divorce his wife and allow fier to continue the contented life that she ts leading with her second husband.