Painting from the memoirs of AF Cats

[LaBishop]

Arkady Franzevich Cats - Head all the criminal investigation department of the Russian Empire. In his book "Among the murderers and robbers," which he published in exile, there is absolutely terrific story with a certain attitude toward art. Offer it to your attention. If someone still remembers the picture mentioned in the story - everyone will be very interesting, I'm sure. So:

FROM THE MIRACLE

In memory of some staff members of the St.Petersburg police lived long story, at one time done a lot of noise in the capital. Details of the case, which I want to tell you, I know according to police records. It consisted of the following.
In the nineties of last century, the capital, who lived a life far more peaceful than in the first decade of this century, was shocked to a sensational murder that took place on Vasilevsky Island in the late Middle Avenue. In the attic of a house was found dead raped girl about 14 TUE. The child was strangled and his dead body lying among the clutter, beyond doubt a perfect victim of the heinous act.
Sounded the alarm press helped stir public opinion, but the police, forced to his feet, struggled vainly in search of evildoers.
A month passed, two, three, finally, six months, and the case was dismissed for identifying the culprit.
Here then begins the "something", referred me to a wonderful area. I have already said that the population of the capital was shaken by the murder. Was shocked and artist B. The dramatic description of the crime two months constantly appearing in all the newspapers, influenced his artistic imagination, and he painted for the corresponding plot. Painting out shiny, won the Academic Award and was subsequently exhibited at Datsiaro.

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It attracted crowds of its expression. It was exactly reproduced in the attic - the murder scene, and an accurate portrait of the prostrate and strangled the girl. In the background pattern in dark tones, the ominous silhouette could be seen hastily retreating assassin, just what had happened his heinous thing.
Palm of his right hand, he opened his attic door, half-turned to his victim. It was a hideous hunchback; particularly striking expression of his ugly and repulsive face, huge mouth, wedge-shaped red beard, the little wicked eyes, protruding ears.
This picture appeared in Datsiaro six months from the date of the murder. And once the crowd, glazeyuschey at her, there was a cry, and what a man, falling prostrate on the ground, huddled in convulsions. Coming up to help him were surprised by his striking resemblance to the hero of the picture - the same hideous hunchback!
He was moved to a nearby drugstore, where he came to himself, he wished to be brought to the police. Here, in great excitement, enveloped in a mystical horror, he confessed to his crime, and explained that the criminal impulse that pushed him to the crime.
- On the day - he said - the image of a girl strangled me haunted, day and night I heard her heart-rending cries. Quite unexpectedly, I approached the crowd and the Admiralty, and his eyes did not believe it: the picture I saw not only my sacrifice, not only with the same loft with all the slightest details, but myself! How could this happen, who could sketch me this terrible moment - I'll never know!
This is what that obsession is what hell is ...
The then head of St.Petersburg police Chulitsky bad, obviously, believe in miracles, and not without reason, decided to arrest the artist B., reasonably suspecting him of complicity, if not, then at least in the concealment and non-information.
Arrest, however, it is not immediately possible, as BA was at that time in Italy, where, obviously, gain artistic impressions. He came back about a month.
During this time Chulitsky tried in vain to penetrate the secrets of the crime.
He could not escape from the vicious circle of logical contradictions. And, in fact: it was difficult to doubt the recognition of the hunchback, he voluntarily made, and happen to fit them in the form of paintings, and was witnessed by passers and pharmacist. It followed that the artist was unknown B. hunchback. On the other hand, the artist Boris could not know the hunchback, the hunchback was the time he was captured and was in that situation and for those crimes in which he confessed. Assume also that the hunchback voluntarily agreed to pose for an artist for such a film - it is difficult, as the hunchback carefully concealed his crime and would not risk playing with fire, not so much of the logical reasons as to unaccountable feeling of fear.
Finally, the mystery cleared up.
During the stay abroad BS about the artist was above are given the most accurate and detailed information, turned out quite favorable, but nevertheless he was arrested on arrival.
Upon learning of the charges brought against him, he told the following:
- Like many others, I was captured by the stories of a sensational murder and decided on this subject to draw a picture. I immediately went to the scene and made detailed sketches of the attic. Her body, I saw and sketched in the mortuary.
Trying to reproduce in imagination the whole picture of the atrocities, I made the most precise information about the position in which body was found. All that I drew. I missed the main character, ie, hastily hiding the killer. My imagination pictured him why that is physically repulsive, something like Quasimodo. I used to wander through his Vasilevsky Island, where no time at pubs trying to find his haven Galley The Model and suitable sitters. Cherishing the idea to find Quasimodo, I stopped at an angle of 20 th line of the inn. And suddenly, to my happiness, is a man, amazingly responds to the image, is planned in my imagination.
He ordered a couple of tea and sat down not far from me. I took out my notebook and carefully took his sketch: but he was in a hurry and, after drinking tea, and left quickly. I asked the innkeeper, who he is and where to live. The innkeeper did not know this, but said that this man happens every day around the same time. I took advantage of five sessions and drew his precise portrait.
- I am forever surprised by the strange coincidence - ended an artist - but it's true!
Police had questioned the landlord, just confirmed the words of the artist, and Boris was immediately released.
The hunchback was sentenced to 20 years' penal servitude.