Revenge and Mystery.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7874, 17 July 1905, Page 4

Revenge and Mystery.

There lias just tiietl, atone ami unattended, near Kostofi-on-lhe-Don, Russia, a man of mystery, who, 2" years ago, was the principal character in au extraordinary drama oi patsion and revenge.

Early in 18H5 Alexander Ku/.menski was a fashionable physician practising in Moscow. Tlie doctor iell desperately in love with a palicni who, unfortunately, was alreuU} juairied to a clever artist, Klamrotli bv name- The intrigue was the talk oi tlie town, but strangely enough Onanist suspected nothing. When at last lie awoke to his wife's infidelity

Klamrotli, with the eccentricity oi genius, determined on an extraordinary revenge. He invited the doctor to iliue with hint and his wife in

their cosy litllc flat m the Mrska\a, and the repast was in full progress, when suiWiiily the inotman. a in Um strong man, seized Kuzuieiiski Ip.ni behind, pinning his arms to tinchair. The doctor expostulated hu; KUmroth coolly remarked that Ku/menski had had His innings. Now i' was his turti. Klamroth and Hie servant thereupon cleared the tabic, and stripping the doctor of his clothing, bound him to the hoard, Klamroth then began to tattoo the unfortunate man's body. For three days Kuzucnski was kept tied to the tabic, and for three days did tlie process of tattooing continue, with brief intervals for rest. The victim was then given his clothing and kit-ked out of the house. Before a week had passed* Kuzmenski threw up his profession and retired to his country estate. Madame Klamrotli

lost her reason, and was taken to ia lunatic asylum, where she still re-

mains. There was intense excitement around Rostoff when it became known on April 21 than an inquest would be held on the dead doctor. For nearly twenty years Kuzmcnski had lived In a solitary room, ordering all his meals by a short distance telephone, and venturing out only after dark. Whenever a servant entered the room Kuznienski wrapped his head in a curiously shaped cowl, and even llic doctor's land agent and legal adviser conversed with him by moans of the teifcphone. Everyone had heard of Kuzmenski's "misfortune." and file wildest stories were afloat as to the manner in which he had been tattooed by his enemy. Contrary to expectation, none but the coroner and the dead man's lawyer were allowed to view the body. Tlie lawyer was helped back into court in a (aiming condition. The coroner himself, with ashen face and trembling lips, ordered quicklime, which he emptied into the shell. The cofin Was tnen scrcwrtl down. Father George Petrol!, ihr village priest, refused permission for the interment to lake place on consecrated soil, si< the doctor was buried in his own grounds. One nighf, filled with morbid curiosity, a band of ghouls from Rostoff-on-Don visited the estate arr.l laid the coffin hare. But the quicklime had done its work.