Shop Assistant Shot Dead by Her Lover: Attempt by Man to Kijl Himself The tragedy- which occurred in 1 Broadway on Saturday morning is poignant addition to the many crimes recorded among unfortunate} Russians driven eastward by the, revolution. The case presents little difficulty to the police, the facts all pointing directly to murder} and attempted suicide, and there: are documents to show that it was; 2 crime of passion, the. tragic termination to an unfortunate love affair.
The principal actor in the drama was Michael Gerasomevitch Smyslin, an ex-officer in the Russian Army. He served as a non-commissioned officer with Koltchak, afterwards holding the rank of Colonel, and was later with Simionov. When defeat necessitated flight _he made his way to Shanghai. Here, he assumed the name of Sadovnikeff, as one means of avoiding unpleasant attentions from Bolshevik agents, and for some time was in the employment of a Russian firm.
Anna AVERKIBYA, Some months ago Sadovnikofi, a man of somewhat—striking appearance, 39 years of age, made the acquaintance of Anna Averkieva, an attractive woman of} 30. She had separated from her husband in Irkutsk and for two years had been a very efficient employee in the dress-making and} millinery establishment known as "Tlegante," No. 5 Broadway, where the tragedy took place on Saturday. The sequel to this meeting was such as might have been! expected in the circumstances. The two agreed to live together, and from letters written by Sadovnikoft and now in the hands of the police, it appears that on the part of the man there was a passionate regard for the woman. They resided to-! gether at No. 10 Hannen. Road and what follows does not reveal circumstances of an_ ideal love! affair. Upon Sadovmikoff's' funds} becoming low, the couple separate ed, the woman agreeing to return in more prosperous times. If the_ circumstances are truly recorded in: Sadovnikoff's letters, the woman suggested the smuggling of arms and ammunition, and deals in! opium, as means of replenishing the exchequer, and to this business' it is alleged that Sadovnikoff set' his hand. Uf he did so, however, he failed and apparently a__ final, breach ensued in his relationship with the woman.
The letters to which, reference' has already been made show that Sadovnikoff brooded over this double failure. laying some blame! on the woman for not assisting him in the work, and that he deliberately resolved to end her life and his
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.