DEATH IN POVERTY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIX, 30 January 1936, Page 5

DEATH IN POVERTY

HUSBAND OF EX=KAISER’S SISTER FORMER RUSSIAN WAITER (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) LONDON, 291 h January. The former Russian waiter Alexander Zoubkoff, husband of the ex-Kaiser’s sister, has died in poverty. From washing dishes in a Berlin restaurant, Zoubkoff, who was then 30 years old, went to Bonn to visit relatives and there made the acquaintance of !he ex-Kaiser’s sister, Victoria, then 61 years old. She became infatuated with the Russian and against the wishes of Wilhelm married him on 20th November 1927. The pair pet off on their honeymoon on a motor-cycle. A fortnight later Zoubkoff was seriously injured by being thrown from his machine. Extraordinary rumours as to his conduct appeared in the German press, but the Jrutli of these was repeatedly denied by tlic Princess. In February, 1928, the couple, arrived at Berlin, where they proposed to settle. As the result of a violent scene in a night bar, where Zoubkoff savagely assaulted an attendant who had displeased him, he was taken to a police station for examination. Next day he was fined £25 for living in Germany without a permit. After that he lived at various places outside Germany. His extravagance resulted in the bankruptcy of his wife, whose property at' Bonn was sold at auction. The Princess, in November, 1929, began an action for divorce on the ground that Zoubkoff had made himself impossible in Germany and did not provide for her. She died, however, in the same month. Zoubkoff was arrested near Bonn while attempting to attend her funeral, and deported. In February, 193’u', it was reported that he had become engaged to a. German barmaid. In spite of his shabby clothes and two days’ growth of beard, Zoubkoff was recognised in a cafe at Luxembourg by a French journalist in March of last year. Zoubkoff was working as a. luggage porter. He said: '‘Once I spent £15,000 a year here. I used to give tips. Now I can hardly wait for Fridays when theatrical companies move and I help them with their luggage. I only manage to get one meal a day. I cannot get a permit to live in France, Germany, Belgium or Italy. Thev all politely tell me to go somewhere else.