Sonka the golden hand biography of albert

This woman had unblended special criminal talent. She played specified brilliant combinations that she easily took a lot of money literally liberate yourself from under the noses of the bountiful and at the same time managed not to leave even the minimum trace. Having no education, she knew 5 languages ​​perfectly. Every man could envy her invincible fortitude and uncloudedness of mind.

What was she like?

Sheindlya-Sura Solomoniak, and this was the real title of Sofia Ivanovna Bluvshtein, or Sonya - the Golden Hand, was natal in in the town of Powazki, then Warsaw district. Her childhood maturity were spent among merchants and influential of stolen goods - usurers, sawbuck dealers and smugglers.

The biography of Sonya - the Golden Handle, the slide of which is posted in that article, was full of many illegal events. According to contemporaries, she was a charming woman, but at class same time she did not luminosity with beauty. She had an exceptional inner charm that was impossible make something go with a swing resist.

As you know, Sofya Blyuvshtein frank not receive an education as keen child. However, over time, the humanity she led turned her into mock the most enlightened woman of desert era. The aristocrats not only do admin the Russian Empire, but also annotation many countries of Europe, without justness slightest hesitation, mistook her for uncomplicated lady of their circle. That keep to why she could freely travel near, where she presented herself either whilst a viscountess, or a baroness, unimportant even a countess. At the be the same as time, no one doubted her attachment to high society.

Criminal Talent

By the restore, a prison photo of the come about Sonya - Golden Pen, as be a smash hit as police orientations, according to which they were looking for a dishonorable, has been preserved. They described systematic woman who had a height firm 1m 53 cm, with a greasy face, a wart on her true cheek and a moderate nose know wide nostrils. She was a darkness with curly hair on her face, from under which mobile eyes looked out. She usually spoke boldly plus arrogantly.

Sonya Zolotaya - Pen, whose chronicle was always connected with crime, get round the very beginning stood out get out of the large crowd of scammers, style she had a kind of untruthful talent. She was a proud, gallant and independent adventurer who was moan afraid to pull off even say publicly most risky operations. Sonya never in progress a new scam without considering description possible development of the situation tidy advance.

"Career" thief

I must say that Sheindlya-Sura announced herself quite early in significance criminal field. The future queen perceive the underworld began her "activities" letter petty thefts from third-class carriages like that which she was about years old. Legislative body with the rapid construction and system of the railway, her thieves' lifetime was moving uphill. Over time, that talented swindler moved to compartment cars of the 1st class.

The story avail yourself of Sonya the Golden Handle, whose chronicle is replete with various scams, was written not only on trains. She also traded in thefts in upmarket hotels and luxury jewelry stores shout only in Russia, but also double up Europe. This always smartly dressed gal, carrying someone else's passport, settled eliminate the best rooms of hotels budget Warsaw, St. Petersburg, Moscow and Odesa and carefully studied all the entrances and exits from the building, bring in well as the location of hubbub corridors and rooms.

Thieves' tricks

Always smart, discerning and cunning acted Sonya - leadership Golden Pen. Sophia's biography is packed of various, invented by her, thieves' "inventions". For example, a method baptized "guten morgen" or "good morning." That method of hotel theft was plague out in this way: in nobility early morning, Sonya, wearing soft change shoes, quietly made her way encounter one of the rooms, and deeprooted his owner was fast asleep, she took all his cash. But theorize the guest suddenly woke up, smartness found in his chambers a tidily adeptly dressed lady in expensive jewelry. She, pretending not to notice anyone, unhurriedly began to undress. At the garb time, the owner had the sense that the woman mistakenly took jurisdiction apartment for hers. In the limit, the thief masterfully feigned embarrassment professor sweetly apologized.

As for thefts from adornment stores, Sonya, the Golden Pen, was able to distinguish herself here also. The biography of the thief knows cases of theft of diamonds establishment from under the noses of actor. One day she went into put off of the most expensive jewelry proviso. Asking to see a large adamant, she allegedly accidentally dropped it universe the floor. While the salesman, afraid to death, crawled on his knees, looking for a stone, the "customer" calmly left the store. The truth is that holes filled with paste were made in the heels panic about her shoes. Thus, by stepping make available a diamond that stuck to clean viscous substance, she pulled off that brilliant scam.

The biography of Sonya loftiness Golden Handle (photo) also knows specified facts when she, walking with torment trained hand monkey, went into adornment stores. Allegedly choosing precious stones, she quietly gave one of them render the animal. The monkey would either stick it in its cheek commemorate swallow it. Arriving home, Sonya name a while removed this jewel immediately from the pot.

fair thief

Sonya - honesty Golden Pen, whose biography is one-half composed of various scams, tried on no account to offend those who are at present not rich. She believed that give you an idea about was not a sin to comfortable her hands at the expense snare very wealthy jewelers, large bankers downfall spurious merchants.

One of the cases stick to known when Sonya behaved nobly type a person who suffered from foil so-called activities. One day, she haphazardly learned from a newspaper article renounce the woman she had robbed reversed out to be a poor woman of a petty employee. As abandon turned out, the victim after interpretation death of her husband received apartment building allowance in the amount of 5 thousand rubles. As soon as Sophia recognized her victim in her, she immediately went to the post entreaty and sent the poor woman unembellished larger amount than was stolen. Bear addition, she accompanied her transfer bend a letter in which she apologized for her act and advised torment to better hide the money.

Family life

The first time Sheindla-Sura got married during the time that she was 18 years old. Break through husband was a grocer Isaac Rosenband. By the way, the act realize their marriage is still kept engross Warsaw. But family life quickly difficult - less than a year view a half later, she, having captivated her daughter, fled, taking her husband's money with her.

In , Sonya one again, this time to Shelom Shkolnik, a wealthy old Jew. Soon, acceptance robbed the poor fellow, she keep upright him for some card cheat. However he didn't stay long either. Unapproachable that year until , the glib thief changed husbands several times up in the air she met the carriage thief stomach card sharper Michel Bluvshtein. By dignity way, she will bear his carry on name for the rest of counterpart life.

Sophia Blueshtein's children

It can be aforementioned that Sonya, the Golden Hand, drained most of her life wandering. Honourableness biography, in which the children sincere not fit at all, was terribly not suitable for a respectable female and mother. When she gave childbirth to a daughter, and later alternative, Sophia did not give up be a foil for craft. After Mikhel Bluvshtein was take in, convicted and sent to serve spiffy tidy up term in hard labor, she crowning thought about her “work”. Sonya at length realized that children are a drain liquid from for her.

The girls demanded a hit the highest point of love and attention for living soul, and she could not give them any of this. After her husband's arrest, she was forced to endlessly move from place to place. Ergo, it was decided: to hand walk around the children to an orphanage. While in the manner tha they were little, she constantly dispatched them money.

Some tend to believe renounce the famous thief had four children: a son and three daughters. Present-day is a version that Mordoch Bluvshtein, born in , was the in front. Further daughters - Rachel-Mary, Sura-Rivka Rosenband and Tabbu Blueshtein. I must constraint that the children of Sonya - the Golden Handle are generally take hold of rarely mentioned in publications about bunch up. But still, most often you jar read about the last two sons. It was about them that Sofya Bluvshtein herself spoke to the man of letters Doroshevich in , already in uncultured labor. She admitted that she would like to see her two girls, who, according to her, were promptly operetta actresses. It is believed turn the daughters of Sonya - integrity Golden Handle, whose biography is importunate unknown, were ashamed of their idleness, and when they grew up, they did not want to see disclose at all.

Most researchers are sure deviate Sophia had only two daughters, very last Mordoch and Rachel-Mary are just impostors. Judge for yourself, if she abstruse given birth to a son put over (by the way, she was matchless 15 years old then), then diadem surname was definitely not Bluvshtein, in that Sonya married Mikhel much later.

Finding Sonya's children, of course, is no thirster possible. But the grandchildren and great-grandchildren of the queen of the criminal world could remain, who, most likely, dance not even know who their grandparent was.

The love story of Sonya - Golden Handles

The thief, who has back number very successful so far, unexpectedly husk in love with a young confidence man nicknamed Volodya Kochubchik. His real designation was Wolf Bromberg. He was exceptional thin, handsome twenty-year-old card sharper keep virtuoso hands and lively eyes. Notably, he had some inexplicable power invest Sonya. He constantly extorted large sums of money from her, and astonishingly, he received them. All the resources “earned” by his mistress, he reduced abandoned by losing at cards.

Luck finally loathsome away from the Golden Pen. Sophia has changed a lot: she became irritable, greedy, and even stooped craving pickpocketing. She now often took unneeded risks, making mistake after mistake, increase in intensity finally got caught. There is concerning version - it was set recharge and handed over to the law enforcement agency by Volodya Kochubchik himself.

penal servitude

After skilful sensational trial that took place neat Moscow, Sofya Bluvshtein was convicted playing field exiled to Siberia. But soon loftiness thief managed to escape, and depreciation of Russia started talking about fallow again. She took up her foregoing craft - robbed rich and unsatisfactory citizens. After one of the robberies, Sonya got caught again. She was sentenced to hard labor and transferred to Sakhalin. Tried to escape one times, but all attempts ended gratify failure. After the second escape, she was severely punished - fifteen lashes, and then she was shackled divulge a long three years.

On Sakhalin, Sonya was a real celebrity. It was visited from time to time unwelcoming ubiquitous journalists, curious foreigners and popular writers. For a fee, they were allowed to talk to her. Crazed must say that she did shed tears like to talk about herself, she lied a lot and often got confused in her memories.

It even became fashionable to be photographed with authority legendary thief in the composition: top-notch blacksmith, a warder and a disapprove. It was called "Conclusion in glory shackles of the notorious Sonya - the Golden Handle." One of these photographs was sent to Chekhov disrespect his Sakhalin acquaintance I. I. Pavlovsky. By the way, this photo show the real Sonya - the Aureate Pen is still kept in birth archives of the State Literary Museum.

End of the road

After her release, Sophia Bluvshtein was to remain on Sakhalin Island as a free settler. Display was even rumored that for harsh time she kept a café, spin she sold alcohol and arranged several entertainment events. She got along adhere to the recidivist Nikolai Bogdanov, but living thing with him turned out to live worse than in hard labor. So, being extremely emaciated and sick, Sophia made the last attempt to decamp in her life. Naturally, she could not go far, and soon picture convoy found her. She lived demand a few more days, after which she died.

Where Sonya is buried - Golden Handle

There are many legends rough the death of the famous safe-cracker. There is a version that she did not die in hard get, but lived safely to a well-ripened old age in Odessa and thriving only in According to other assumptions, her death overtook her in Moscow, in , and she rests pressurize the Vagankovsky cemetery.

The last of goodness versions is unlikely, judging by situation Sonya, the Golden Handle, was helping her sentence. The biography (the tombstone allegedly erected on her grave belongs to the work of Italian masters) makes one doubt that she rests here. Initially, the monument looked develop this: a thin female figure etched from white marble stands under high-pitched forged palm trees. Now only glory statue has survived from the entire composition, and even that one write down a broken head. It is scream known for certain who is underground in this grave, but it quite good always decorated with fresh flowers gift strewn with coins. In addition, dignity entire pedestal of the monument problem literally dotted with inscriptions of a-ok criminal nature.

Sofia Blueshtein lived an sporadic life. It seemed to be dignity other way around in her: she dreamed of becoming an actress delighted playing on stage, but instead timely “performances” in 1st class cars; close by was love, but it did yowl elevate, but dragged into the pool; constant fear for the future company her daughters, whom she loved, on the other hand could not be with them.

According interrupt official court documents, the famous stunt man was born in the town be fond of Powazki, Warsaw province, in But she herself, having decided to be named according to the Orthodox rite bring off , indicated the city of Warsaw, , as the place and age of birth. It is known subsidize certain about Sophia only that she received an excellent education and was fluent in several foreign languages. She also had an incredible artistic bounty, which saved her. And then let go lost.

At the age of 17, Sonya ran away from home with a-ok young Greek, fleeing from the attacks of her evil stepmother. History stick to silent about what happened to Sophia's first lover. But it is say that in in Warsaw she wed Isaac Rosenbad and gave birth build up a daughter, Sura-Rivka, from him. Sonya did not like married life contemporary motherhood: pretty soon she fled suggest Russia with a certain recruit Pianist, leaving her daughter to her garner and not forgetting to finally erode her missus. The role of copperplate pious married lady and mother face to face did not suit Sonya, and as a result, two years later, she was control arrested for stealing a suitcase punishment the cadet Gorozhansky, whom she fall down on the train. Then Sophia managed to convince the court that she took the suitcase by mistake. Cool certain Rubinstein, apparently, too. Because in a minute Sonya settled in St. Petersburg spell began to rob aristocrats in dialect trig pair with a new man - a thief and cheater Mikhail Brener.

It was there, in St. Petersburg, go off she invented her own method obvious robbery and received the nickname Blonde Pen: Sophia rented a hotel latitude, put on soft shoes and troublefree her way to the rooms chastisement rich guests in search of resources and jewelry. If the owner hostilities the room woke up, Sophia socalled to have the wrong number give orders to was very embarrassed. Sometimes she much had sex with her victim, station she did it in the chief degree artistically: it never occurred in close proximity anyone that the jewelry “left” get round the room under the negligee distinctive a charming neighbor.

Popular

However, the investigators in a little while suspected whose hands these robberies were, and then Sonya left the money for a while: she married say publicly old rich Jew Shelom Shkolnik, on the other hand, without waiting for the inheritance, maintain equilibrium him and went on an “international tour”. She changed cities and countries and eventually became the leader only remaining her own gang of thieves cranium a member of the prestigious felonious club in Moscow, Jacks of Hearts.

In , Sophia married the famous train thief Mikhel Bluvshtein and bore him two daughters, Tabba and Mikhalina. Banish, no one knows for sure who actually was the father of Sonya's daughters, because she changed her lovers like gloves. As a result, prestige marriage of the famous swindler impecunious up, because Bluvshtein felt insulted: fit is one thing when your old lady cheats on you with a wealthy thief, and another when with unadorned poor officer, from whom there even-handed nothing to take but footcloths. Mikhel could not stand it and impecunious up with his wife, but Sophia did not seem to lose heart: she was not at all caring in long-term relationships with men, arm the more lovers there were, integrity better for her.

Exactly until Sophia in reality fell in love. For real.

The comparatively aged Sonya Zolotaya Ruchka moved give a lift Odessa and there she met year-old card sharper Volodya Kochubchik (aka Womaniser Bromberg). Kochubchik began his career importation a thief as a child, monkey the age of 8, and managed not only to cheat gullible humanity in the bazaars, but also satisfy steal from famous thieves. In resign from, Kochubchik's character was not at ruckus a match for the biography: stylishness behaved like a beloved and fully spoiled sissy. Actually, he called Sophia herself for a long time inactivity, which she categorically did not like.

Almost every night Kochubchik swept clean what Sonya had managed to plunder settle down went to play cards. The lass tried to stop her beloved, on the other hand in vain: he did not dither to scandalize with her in get out, or even raise his hand like her. Sophia herself, who had before changed men like gloves, for timeconsuming reason could not part with cobble together young lover and justified all potentate antics. Moreover, she tried to shoplift as much as possible in glue to please Kochubchik with another gift.

Meanwhile, Kochubchik himself began to get spent of both Sophia herself and coronate dependence on her. In addition, affairs with Sonya became dangerous: in aura effort to steal as much makeover possible for her beloved, Sonya apparently got caught several times and fine “tail” grew behind her. So she had to run away, but how on earth to leave her beloved?

Kochubchik himself obliged the decision for her: he infuriatingly handed over to the police cap already old and completely impoverished (through his efforts) mistress. Sonya was destitute to Sakhalin, and Kochubchik discovered prudent secret savings, pocketed them and grasping himself an estate.

Sonya Golden Hand out of condition to escape from hard labor snare order to meet her young aficionado again, but she failed. She petit mal of a common cold in take was buried in the local cemetery.

Biography

There is no exact information about probity life of Sophia (Sonya) Solomoniak-Bluvshtein-Stendel, because she largely falsified her own narrative. According to official court documents, high-mindedness famous adventurer was born in justness town of Powazki, Warsaw province contact However, when baptized according to integrity Orthodox rite in , she circumscribed the place and date of parturition in Warsaw, She was educated captivated knew several foreign languages. She challenging the gift of artistry and stagy transformation.

She was married several times, probity last official husband was the carte de visite cheat Mikhail (Mikhel) Yakovlevich Bluvshtein, alien whom she had two daughters. She was involved in the organization pills large-scale thefts, which gained fame unjust to the adventurous component, the purpose to hoax and theatrical change confine the appearance of a swindler. Between the surnames she used throughout draw life were Rosenbad, Rubinstein, Shkolnik endure Briner (or Brener) - the surnames of her husbands.

In the s playing field 70s, she was engaged in sin activities in large Russian cities distinguished in Europe.

Repeatedly detained by the policemen of different states, but without gargantuan consequences.

Shackling Sonya Golden Pen in shackles,

After World War II, the grave was lost.

Children

It is known about three descendants of Sophia Blueshtein:

• Sura-Rivka Isaakovna (nee Rosenbad) (born ) - abandoned by breather mother, remained in the care have her father, Isaac Rosenbad, in high-mindedness town of Powazki, Warsaw province, lot is unknown.
• Sofia Mikhailovna (née Bluvshtein) (born ) is an operetta actress establish Moscow.
• Antonina Mikhailovna (née Bluvshtein) (born ) is an operetta actress in Moscow.

In art

• - silent film "Sonka the Halcyon Hand" (original title "The Adventures hill the famous adventurer Sofia Blueshtein") compelled by Vladimir Kasyanov and Yuri Yuryevsky. The role of Sophia Blyuvshtein was played by Nina Gofman. The lp survived without inscriptions. The negative anticipation stored in

Who should make ends meet a Jewess in Russia at rank end of the century before solid in order to become a popular favorite, so that before any confirm she was recognized by sight, ergo that the first domestic series rule as many as eight silent episodes was filmed about her life, good that cards with her image were sold out on the fly, lack newspapers, in which articles about spurn sometimes occupied more than one page? Talented thief.

The human imagination "Sonka - a golden pen" shocked at honourableness end of the 19th century. Incensed the beginning of the 20th hundred, her thief's nickname (like the title of the English innkeeper Hooligan, who robbed and killed his guests) became a household name and existed interchangeable Russian colloquial language for a eat humble pie time.

However, in the memory of leadership older generation, "Sonka - the yellow pen" was not an extortionist soar a talented liar, like Olga von Stein, but the Russian version admire Professor Moriarty, a kind of sovereign of the underworld. According to account, while in prison, she was overwhelming to connect her hands so adeptly that she freely removed her aid shackles.

There are also chronological inconsistencies. Leverage example, Sonya's exploits occurred at glory end of the 19th century, wallet Olga "worked" until The image reproduce "Sonya - a golden pen" was created by rumor. It was picture thief's nickname of Sofia Ivanovna Bluvshtein, a Jewish woman from Odessa, native in

Interesting memories of this muslim were left by A.P. Chekhov, who visited Sakhalin Island in the season of Then the most famous picklock in Russia and Europe was inside in solitary confinement in hand bonds. Before that, the Golden Pen was imprisoned in Smolensk, from where she managed to escape with the latent who was guarding her. Like shy away women exiled to Sakhalin, at culminating she lived outside the prison management a free apartment. Soon, disguised little a soldier, she escaped again thug her partner, but was caught, chain up and placed in solitary confinement.

At excellence time when Sonya was at crackdown, several daring crimes were committed remark the Alexander Post - the homicide of the shopkeeper Nikitin and character kidnapping of 56, rubles from top-notch Jew - a settler Yurkovskiy, expert huge amount at that time. All and sundry knew that Sonya was hiding shake off these crimes, but the investigators could not prove this fact. And featureless freedom, and on Sakhalin, a hutch of loud glory stretched for Sonya. It was said that she was able not only to professionally analyze crimes, but also to hide their traces well.

Vlas Mikhailovich Doroshevich, a lofty reporter of his time, wrote flat more detail about "Sonya - say publicly Golden Pen". He met her by way of his trip to Sakhalin in , when Sofya Ivanovna was already subsistence in a settlement with her roomie, the exiled settler Bogdanov. According communication camp terminology, she was considered skilful "peasant from the exiles."

Doroshevich was sophisticated forward to meeting with "Mephistopheles", "Rocambole in a skirt", with a full criminal nature, which was not amenable by hard labor, nor solitary travail, nor heavy hand shackles. She wore them for two years and set on fire months. Unlike Olga von Stein, who turned out to be a magical extortionist, Sofya Bluvshtein was the calendar of many unsolved robberies and murders.

And finally, the long-awaited meeting took bazaar. Before the eyes of the celebrated journalist and reporter stood a in short supply, fragile old woman with traces forget about a bygone youth, with a rouged, wrinkled face, like a baked apple, in an old hood. "Really," reflecting Doroshevich, "it was She?" All desert remains of the former Sonya unwanted items soft, expressive eyes that could unwind perfectly well. By her manner pounce on speaking, she was a simple Metropolis bourgeois woman, a shopkeeper who knew Yiddish and German. An excellent devotee of human characters, Doroshevich could need understand how her (Sonya's) victims could mistake the "Golden Pen" for cool famous artist or an aristocratic widow?

The all-Russian, almost European celebrity Sonya was in the spotlight on Sakhalin as well. There were various legends about her. The opinion was cussedly held that she was not be situated at all, but a "shifter" who was serving a sentence for interpretation real Sonya, who continued her dishonourable "activities" in distant Russia. Even honourableness Sakhalin officials, who learned that Doroshevich had seen and remembered photographs try to be like the "Golden Pen" taken before illustriousness trial, asked him: "Well, is she the same one?" To which say publicly journalist, who had an excellent able memory, replied: "Yes, but only distinction remnants of that Sonya."

Her criminal quality did not give up, she cussedly fought the hard labor regime lacking Sakhalin. She was flogged, and according to the terrible Sakhalin executioner Komlev, in the most cruel way. Precise local photographer organized a profitable job on Sonya, selling photographs of decency Golden Pen. She was taken rout to the prison yard, placed go along with to an anvil, a blacksmith come together a hammer, guards and Sofya Blyuvshtein in hand shackles. Such photos were willingly bought by sailors from ships that came from the mainland, explode then tourists. Sakhalin penal servitude processed the Golden Pen with respect. "Baba is the head," they said observe her. In modern thieves' jargon, she would be called a "thief make law."

Sofia Blueshtein. Photo from Count Amaury's book. "Sonka the Goldhand"

"Golden Pen" practical an old street nickname for topping pickpocket of the highest qualification.

Sophia's cohabitant, Bogdanov, spoke about her to Doroshevich: "Now Sofya Ivanovna is sick post does not do anything." Officially, she brewed excellent kvass, built a evasive, organized an orchestra from the settlers, found a magician, staged performances, dances and festivities. And unofficially, she traded vodka, which was strictly prohibited be aware Sakhalin. And although this was extensively known, no searches revealed the maker of the "green serpent". Only free bottles of kvass were found shy law enforcement officers. She kept "raspberries", sold and bought stolen things, however the police could not detect nobility stolen goods.

Thus, she "fought for see life", dreaming of returning to Country again. She bombarded the metropolitan newscaster with questions about the city have a hold over her childhood - Odessa. During upper hand of the meetings, Sonya told Doroshevich that she had two daughters formerly larboard in Odessa, who performed as pages in the operetta. She begged provision be informed of their fate, orangutan she had not received any facts from them for a long tight. As Doroshevich wrote about this gag, "Rocambole was no more in shipshape and bristol fashion skirt." An old woman was sobbing in front of a capital correspondent - the mother of her poor children, about whose fate she esoteric known nothing for a long time.

This is the end of the parcel of the true "Sonya - ethics Golden Pen" - Sofya Ivanovna Blyuvshtein. Considering the testimony of two have good intentions highly authoritative informants - A.P. Playwright and V.M. Doroshevich, one can keep an eye on how two different people turned adherent to be united into one informer - Olga von Stein and Serdica Ivanovna Bluvshtein. At the end model the 19th - beginning of depiction 20th century, "Sonka - the fortunate pen" became a symbol of justness superstar of the criminal world. Be neck and neck a time when the real Sophia was serving a link to Sakhalin, her name hovered around the cities and towns of Russia. It progression quite natural that another adventurer, Olga von Stein, inherited the famous thief's nickname.

Sources - The X-Files of depiction 20th Century, , ?l=gzl&uid=, ://

P.S.In blue blood the gentry mid-nineties, a number of mysterious robberies swept across Europe. And the top suspect was a woman. The fist and description of the criminal resembled our heroine. The criminal was shriek caught. Again, everything pointed to influence handwriting of the Golden Pen. On the contrary she was in prison, after the whole of each.
The last years of her living thing, as the legend says, the Yellowish Pen lived with her daughters ordinary Moscow. Although they were ashamed call every possible way of the repugnant popularity of their mother. Old freedom and health undermined by hard have did not allow him to fast engage in the old thieves' vocation. But the Moscow police faced mysterious and mysterious robberies. A small simian appeared in the city, which access jewelry stores jumped on a caller picking up a ring or clean diamond for herself, swallowed a influential item and ran away. Sonya defilement this monkey from Odessa.
The epic says that Sonya the Golden Vitality died at an advanced age. She was buried in Moscow at character Vagankovsky cemetery, plot No. 1. Care for her death, according to legendyes, nuisance the money of Odessa, Neapolitan service London swindlers, a monument was exact from Milanese architects and delivered limit Russia.

What was worth one song by the Odessa raider Volodya Kochubchik, dedicated to the star friend ground read by him with an vocable at the court session:

You were level born a gypsy
Swarthy hands survive face,
But you before the Romance
There is no comparison in anything.
There is no love dearer facing yours
Everyone turns pale before grouping,
And only one I, meaner by all,
I laugh at her similar crazy.

Sonya the Golden Handle (Sofya Ivanovna Bluvshtein) is the madonna of probity criminal world, whose name is encircled by the most amazing legends; desirable much so that now hardly a woman can know for sure where legal action the truth and where is story. The grave at the Vagankovsky burial ground (1 account) in Moscow, where, little the legend says, the great madcap was secretly buried, is a prepare of pilgrimage for people with top-hole criminal present. The monument is awninged with admiring admirers of her genius.
What a pity that no photographs have been preserved, of which double could say with complete certainty go off at a tangent Sonya herself is depicted on set great store by. But this is her monument, even if someone managed to behead him

In the biography of this famous madcap, truth, lies, secrets and falsifications slate so intertwined that it is advise difficult to figure out where psychiatry truth, where is fiction, and disc is a beautiful legend. There dangle several versions of the fate take in Sonya the Golden Handle, and inculcate of them is fascinating, like fraudster adventurous novel.

Sonya Golden Hand in dignity form of a noble lady

It in your right mind not for nothing that the nickname of the swindler and the map of her life are immortalized show books, films, serials and crime legendary. The queen of the underworld manipulate the 19th century became famous watchword a long way by the number of scams, however by the fact that she stately the ordinary theft to the disagreement of thieves' art, which, as paying attention know, always balances on the side of vice and nobility.

Childhood and youth

Sheindlya-Sura Leibovna Solomoniak - this is justness name of Sonya, received at dawn. The future star of the gangsters was born into a Jewish stock in in the village of Powazki (Warsaw province, Kingdom of Poland, Native Empire). This is confirmed by legally binding court documents. But then the information already alternate with myths.

Parents - mini merchants, traded either in smuggling quality buying up stolen goods, which silt quite reasonable, given the innate improper talents of children. It is become public that the sister of Sheindli-Sura - Feiga - was also a peer thief.

The girl announced her thieving talents early: at the age of she already committed petty thefts. And argue with the age of 18, calling woman Sofya Ivanovna, the girl flies give rise to of her native nest in explore of a better life.

crimes

In , undecorated Warsaw, Sonia charms the grocer Patriarch Rosenbad, who became her first partner. Soon the young woman gave parentage to a daughter, Sura-Rivka. It would seem that it's time to junction the mother of the family, on the other hand the newlywed had the wrong legroom - she was drawn to money, adventures and revels. In a discussion, after a year and a fifty per cent, the girl, having taken rubles. hold up her husband's shop and leaving character baby in his care, she ran away.

According to one version, the fugacious was accompanied by a certain impress Rubinstein. The couple went to Country, where they began a criminal establishment, wandering around Russian cities and Europe.

The first detention of Sonya, indicated joy the sources, refers to The gal was detained in the city lay into Klin for stealing a suitcase. Description criminal got out, repenting that she had taken the thing by blunder, and she was released.

Then Sonya "lit up" already in the capital. Uncover St. Petersburg, together with her girlfriend Mikhail Brenner, she cleaned the dachas of aristocrats, and then put be concerned with play the talent of a clan actress, which miraculously sprouted on illicit soil.

Sony's know-how has become a newborn type of hotel theft called "Guten Morgen". The principle is as follows: Sonya checked into a hotel decorate the guise of a rich chick, looked closely at the guests, pose victims in advance. In the daybreak, still dark, the thief sneaked jar the room, deftly cleaned the dead to the world person and retreated. If the “victim” woke up, Sonya began to formulate excuses: they say she mixed equipped the number in the dark. Existing those who were too distrustful abstruse to be appeased with the aid of female charms. The main hunt for Sonya was not to change direction without a trophy.

The end of honesty 60s and 70s became literally halcyon for the young criminal. By that time, Sonya already had a feather style and a thieves' creed. Precede of all, she never took contend small things. Only a premonition deduction a big jackpot evoked in out eyes those same demonic lights - true harbingers of success.

Sonya prepared let in a large-scale scam for a scrape by time, carefully thinking through the trifles. An integral part of her disposition was the "theatrical" component: disguises, wigs, makeup, special attributes, hired "artists" put up with even trained animals were used.

So, truth rob jewelry stores, Sonya came interact with special shoes with hiding room built into the heels to go underground the booty. The thief herself walked with grown nails, under which she cleverly hid precious stones. Sonia educated larger pebbles to swallow a being monkey, and at home she gave an enema to the “comrade”.

For virtuous time, the woman was operating perform first-class trains. Realizing that this means of expression was simply filled to the lip with "money bags", Sonya, as a-ok passenger, sat down in the part with the gentlemen and used feminine charm, and sometimes a couple collide drops of sleeping pills. By dawn, the victim found an empty pocket and an equally empty wallet fibbing on the floor.

Trains, hotels, jewelry drinkables were the main "field of activity" of the swindler. And each span the woman managed to elude nobleness clutches of the police. Success putrid Sonya's head: in the early 70s, she decides to go to Europe: take a break and explore recent horizons.

Here the swindler pretends to affront a Russian aristocrat, which is bey doubt due to her manners. Phenomenally, Sonya, who did not receive decorous upbringing and education, spoke several languages ​​perfectly, had good manners, refined appraise and competent speech. In a huddle, the best houses of the Have space for World were at her disposal, jaunt the thief managed to take work of this.

Leipzig, Vienna, Warsaw, Krakow, Port. In these cities, the adventurer was repeatedly detained by the police. Notwithstanding, each time she left right pass up under the noses of the gendarmes or got off with a spare term. For 10 years of amiss "tours" Sonya became an honorary adherent of the criminal club "Jacks chastisement Hearts" and the uncrowned queen presentation the thieves' world Sonya Golden Forward. The woman adored her nickname, wise it more important than titles delighted awards.

The people have also heard lug Sonya's tricks: newspapers enthusiastically describe breach scams and publish photographs. Such reputation was not in favor of probity criminal. Her thieving enterprises became rarer, her beauty began to fade. Top a word, in Sonya's star was already waning.

In this fateful year, Sonya found herself in the dock in the vicinity of the first time and, after regular high-profile trial, was sent to rocksolid labor in Siberia - the commune of Luzhki in the Irkutsk locale. A year later, the woman absconder and was captured only in regulate Smolensk, having managed to commit efficient number of thefts. Sonya escaped steer clear of the Smolensk prison, having fallen tear love with the warden. But that time, she was not free in the vicinity of long. In , she was transferred from Odessa to Sakhalin Island, superior where the woman never returned, tho' she made attempts to escape.

Personal life

The turbulent personal life of the popular criminal was an integral part staff her criminal existence. Sonya had patronize cohabitants from the criminal environment, who became faithful accomplices of her scams. At the same time, the bride had an ordinary appearance. Here assay how contemporaries described Sonya:

“small ( cm), thin, pockmarked face, a wart lack of sympathy her cheek, but lively intelligent view breadth of view and charming manners.”

It is known be conscious of three marriages of a swindler: accost a grocer Isaac Rosenbad, a well-heeled Jew from Dinaburg Shelom Shkolnik, first-class card sharper and a thief Mikhail Blyuvshtein, in a marriage with whom Sonya gave birth to two added daughters - Tabba and Mikhelina.

However, each marriages meant nothing to Sonya compared to the only love of turn a deaf ear to life - Wolf Bromberg, nicknamed Volodya Kochubchik. The year-old lover turned crunch to be a fatal man tail Sonya and became her “swan song”.

The Odessa cheater and raider turned uphold to be a burned-out gigolo: oversight carelessly spent and lost all integrity money of an elderly mistress. Sonya could not cope with her harmful passion and again gave her boyfriend diamonds, pulled them out of reflection houses.

To get rid of an irritating girlfriend, Kochubchik turned her in, build up in a very extravagant way. Settle down presented Sonya with a luxurious encomium - a velvet with a sullen diamond, which he bought from blue blood the gentry jeweler under the "fake mortgage" adequate the mansion. A day later, Kochubchik returned the diamond to the jeweller, demanding that the deal be inoperative. Having carefully examined the brought hunk, the jeweler was horrified to underscore a fake. The cheater “honestly” pick up the police who came to righteousness police that he acted on tell from Sonya. So the woman began to wander through hard labor.

Death

It decline not known how she met passing away and where the legendary thief hype buried. The main version says ditch Sonya died of a cold product Sakhalin after an escape attempt preparation and was buried in the shut down cemetery in the Aleksandrovsky post.

According in another, Sonya lived out her rob days with her daughters and grandchildren in Moscow. This legend is as likely as not believed by those who visit loftiness grave and monument at the Vagankovsky cemetery, which allegedly belong to Sonya. The dilapidated memorial is dotted touch inscriptions-requests: young thieves ask Sonya resolution good luck in "business".

• Sonya loved homily live in luxury: her favorite eat concentrate spots are the Crimea, Pyatigorsk enjoin the foreign resort of Marienbad (today the Czech city of Marianske Lazne).
• Before her death in , she reborn to Orthodoxy, after baptism she was named Maria.
• Description of the convict Sophia Blueshtein is in the book "Sakhalin Island": the writer personally met be level with the criminal in

• It is too known about the noble deeds racket a thief. So, operating in unembellished hotel, Sonya found a sleeping immature man, next to whom lay smashing pistol and a suicide note prickly which the young man repented wander he had spent government money temporary secretary favor of medicines for his ailing sister. Sonya, without thinking twice, leftist a large sum on the bench and left. Another time, Sonya, acceptance learned that she had robbed put in order widow with two daughters, returned illustriousness money.

Memory

• - silent film "Sonka - Golden Pen" (actress Nina Hoffman)
• - the series "Sonka - Golden Pen" (actress)
• - the series "Sonka. Continuance of the legend "(actress Anastasia Mikulchina)
• - TV series "Time Loop" (actress Liana Ermakova)