THE HUNTED RUSSIAN IOVEES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 53, 2 March 1907, Page 13

THE HUNTED RUSSIAN IOVEES.

STATEMENTS IS LONDON. (MATMIVTF? OTJCHAKOFF IN BEFLY. Madame Ouchakoff writes as follows to Che "Melbourne Herald": — It was with grief and indignation that I read the article, reprinted from the "Daily Mirror," in your journal yesterday. Will you allow mc to mate a brief reply? 1. There would have been no "notoriety" attached to the whole occurrence had not General Ouchakofl* requested us to be arrested in New York, till he arrived "to till Captain Essipoff and take back His wife." These words were repeated to mc by the American immigration officer, and by onr General Consul in New York, Mr. Lodijensky. 2. My father having died a year ago, he left-his whole fortune to my mother, who refused the inheritance, and gave it over to mc, having a great fortune of her' own. I may honestly state that I "relinquished" this fortune by departing with Captain Essipoft, without having passed through the I necessary formalities to receive it. 3. We cannot return to Europe before I get a divorce and marry Mr. EssipofE, for my position there would be worse than in this far-away country. Then I am sure that in Australia no doctor or magistrate could be corrupted to deliver a certificate about my being insane, while in Europe I would hardly be safe. 4. We have cabled and written many times to London requesting Captain Essipoff's money to be forwarded to Port Adelaide first, then to Melbourne; but have never received an answer to our request from Mr. 8., who Js in charce of it. 5. It is untrue that I have been under medical treatment for my nerves, and only shows how easily Russian doctors will do anything for money. Dr. Rosen has not prescribed for mc once, being simply a business man of my husband's, whom he helped in arranging a sanatorium in Kurland. 6. I willingly believe in General Ouchakoff's "compassion" and kindness,, in which he has never failed towards mc, but I do not see how he can wish mc to return "for the children's sake." Every reasonable man must see that there is no return for mc after a year's absence from home in sucti scandalous conditions. I think it would be in my family's Interests to give mc a divorce, ask the captain to marry mc, and leave us to live as far as possible from people who knew mc once as Miss Teviashoff or Mrs. OncbakoO. CAPTAIN ESSIPOFF'S VERSION. Captain Esslpofl? also- writes denying that he is an invalid. He says: "I was perfectly well when I left Russia, and during my 12 years' service was never considered an luvalid. I did not "run away," but profited by a leave of absence granted to mc by my chief, and authorising my stay abroad. From Berlin I sent in my demission, to which I was enlitled by the 12 years* service; but this request was never granted, owing to General Ouchakoff's interference. When leaving Russia with Mme. Ouchakoff, I hoped to come bacfc and resume my service in a few years; but now there Is no more returning for me—a homeless, friendless deserter and wanderer. It is further said that "my courage is frozen." I can assure you that it is fully alive. Concerning the "imaginary spies," that I seem to see everwhere, how conld it be otherwise, when for five mortal months we have been pursued, tormented, and hunted down by impudent and reckless private detectives? Mr. 8.. might have remembered the "6earred" man that followed us from Havre to London. It needs ropes, not nerves, to bear all this unscrupulous, mean, and cruel pursuit. Danger we can see and feel is far less trying than hidden and underhand periL I should ever be ready for a fair fight, but I cannot struggle against people who use protection, position, and fortune in place of arms."