RUSSIAN BANDITS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1654, 5 September 1887, Page 2

RUSSIAN BANDITS.

A band of highway robbers was recently brought betoru the Blgh Coart of Pol* tava, Russia, at the head of whioh stood a noble lady of the name of Rustanovltch. The baud was exceptionally well organised, and it appears to have been extremely difficult to obtain a " membership," every intending member having to undergo a severe examination by the lady chief, who tpporttoned his work to eaoh. Mdme. Raatanovltoh was m the wildest sense of the word tho head of her paople, who blindly obeyed all her orders. She distributed the " work," had her agents, who sold the results of the " work," and divided the spoil equally between them, keeping, however the lion's share for herself . The head-quarters of the band were on the banks of the Dnieper, m the department of Poltava, and the polioe had for some yeats tried unsuccessfully to capture the bandits, the efforts of the most skilful doteotiveß being fruetrated by the splendid organisation. The final capture was due to the treachery of a member. All the members, as well as the daring lady chief, presented a bold front to the authorities, and were all of them condemned to terms of imprisonment.