ROMANTIC CRIMES IN RUSSIA.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 2760, 22 March 1890, Page 6 (Supplement)

ROMANTIC CRIMES IN RUSSIA.

Another crime, almost exactly identical with the Maybrick case, has been perpetrated at Rostoff, on the Don. A merchant' of that town lately married the daughter of a wealthy landowner for tho sako of her dowry. Tho young woman, finding that her husband was more iu love with her money than her persou, transferred her affection to a young man in her husband's employ. Shortly after this the merchant fell ill. The young wife sent for the physicians, but all their efforts to save the life of the unfortunate merchant were in vaiu. His early and sudden death excited their suspicions, and it was decided to hold a post mortem. It was only then discovered that tho sympathetic young wife had systmatically and deliberately poisoned hor unforlnnate husband, with the intention of marrying his employd after bis decease.

In a smalltown in tne interior a suicide has just taken place of rather a seriocomic nature. A merchant, on being jilted by a buxon widow, on whom he set his affections, resolved to make away with his life, but to efteot his purpose in tho most pleasant manner ho could think of. With this intention he purchased a small keg of votki (whisky), wliichho placed before himself and imbibed until tho spirit had ceased to burn, which happened when the votki and lover were both finished.

There is no necessity for writers of tales to invent fables and imaginary incidents when life is full of the dramatic, aa will be seen from the following incidentA few days ago the Central Prison at Charkoff (South Russia) was the scene of as touching a drama as auy in Slukspere. A young woman of that town, hearing that her sweetheart bad been arrested on suspicion, determined to join him at all hazards. With this end in view she publicly stole an article, hoping that the police would arrest her. She was not mistaken, for she was immediately incarcerated in the prison in which her lover was immured. The young man was, however, shortly after acquitted, it being discovered that he was inuocent of the offence imputed to liitn. The poor girl, on hearing that her lover had left the prison, and that she would not be able to see him again, poisoned herself in a lit of desperation and despair. In the government of Volinsk, a mysterious murder has been committed on the estate of Prince Ooroosoff, a wellknown Russian nobleman. The steward of this gentleman has just been beaten to death by a young man who served as the estate secretary. For some reason unknown this young man literally beat the flesh off the steward's bones, and tlien made sure of his victim by firing four charges of shot into his body. YV'ith a fifth charge he blew out his own brains, thus balancing his last account.