A STORY OF SAGHALIEN.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 8280, 23 October 1905, Page 6

A STORY OF SAGHALIEN.

Mr E. J. Dillon, the talented author of " Russian characteristics," tells in the Sat/irday Prening I'o*t one of the most terribly tragical stories on record, which is closely interwoven with the history of the penal settlement of Saghalien. Twenty-live years ago there was sent to this dreadful place of banishment one Christopher Landsberg, an oflicer of the Imperial Guard. By his talent and good conduct he gained the confidence of the authorities, and was employed to conduct various works in the island. He was hated by his fellow convicts, and had many a narrow escape of his life. In the end he obtained partial freedom; that is, he was granted the right to live as a peasant, not as a prisoner, though he was still compelled to remain on the island. AA'hen the Russo-Japanese war broke out he volunteered for service, but his application was not granted, and Landsberg remains there an exile for life. And this is the story of his conviction, which we abridge from Mr Dillon's thrilling nan ative.

Landsberg, a guardsman, handsome, fascinating and distinguished, ono of the curled darlings of St. Petersburg Society, was like many another aristocratic officerpenniless. But he made the acquaintance of an old usurer, Ylassoll' by named, and in the most incomprehensible manner he won his way into the favour and even the affections of the lonely old miser, who advanced him vast sums of money on notes of hand, redeemable with heavy interest, when Landsberg should have captured an heiress. That was the understanding. He did become engaged to an heiress, a lady of the highest rank and distinction, as well as great wealth. The grim old usurer was overjoyed, though he confessed himself surprised. But he added that he too had a surprise in store for Landsberg, which he meant to keep until the wedding day. Landsberg took this to mean that he would then present the notes of hand and demand exorbitant interest, just as might be looked for from such a malignant human spider. Accordingly he visited the usurer's house one evening, sending the old servant out to buy some drink. The instant she was gone he entered the usurer's room with a razor, and, seizing the old man, cut his throat, wounding his own little finger in doing it. By this time the servant had returned, and he did the same to her. Then he flew to the old man's papers to look for his notes of hand. He found them enclosed in a packet directed to himself, with a letter wishing him happiness and enclosing all the notes of hand, which were returned to him as a wedding-present with the moneylender's love ! That was the surprise that the poor old man had prepared for him. But Landsberg was suspected and placed on his trial. His bleeding finger with other circumstantial evidence told against him. At the trial the papers of old Vlassofi were produced, and among them his will, by which he had left all he possessed to Christopher Landsberg! This was one of the most sensational revelations ever made in a Court. The prisoner stood unmoved, when all around him were overcome with horror and emotion. And the end of it all was his banishment for life to Saghalien.