Sonya the Golden Pen stars: 10 facts from the biography of the famous con artist

Sophia Blueshtein’s real name is Sheindla-Sura Leibovna Solomoniak. The date of her birth appears in all sources – April 1, 1846 – probably also fictitious. During her baptism, Sophia changed her name again, this time to Mary.

Sophia became a worthy successor to the dynasty of thieves. Her father and older sister were engaged in this “craft”. From early childhood, the girl was surrounded by thieves, swindlers and buyers of stolen goods, which perhaps predestined her criminal career.

The golden handle of Sonya gave the impression of a true socialite. She spoke six languages ​​fluently, sang and played musical instruments. It is impossible not to notice her ability to act, as Sophia easily passed for a countess or baroness. Sonya skillfully changed her appearance, knew how to make up beyond recognition and charm anyone.

There are several versions of where Sonya’s nickname came from. According to the first, her music teacher admired Sonca’s “golden hands”. The second version says that Sophia always wore a lot of rings and hid precious stones stolen from a jewelry store under her nails. The story of Sonya has acquired such myths that if it were all true, even James Bond himself might envy her. The scammer allegedly had high-heeled shoes with gold sticking to them and a monkey that swallowed diamonds.

Despite her ordinary and even, according to some sources, repulsive appearance (“Height 153 cm, torn face, nose with wide nostrils, thin lips, warts on the right cheek”), Sonya was a resounding success among men. She married many times but was never faithful to her husbands, cheating and stealing from them. But the fraudster was able to maintain friendly relations with them and they even became complicit in her crimes.

In the world of thieves, Sonya was a true innovator. Among other things, she came up with her own tactic called “Guten Morgen”. When checking in at a luxury hotel, the fraudster quickly found out which of the guests here is the richest. Early in the morning she quietly entered the rooms of the rich and if they woke up, she pretended to be in the wrong room.

One of Sonya’s favorite activities was stealing trains. At first in the third-class carriages, but the rogue’s appetites grew – and she began to hunt larger prey. From now on, Sonya traveled only in first class, played the role of a noble lady, and when her fellow passenger fell asleep, she robbed him. The thief often used sleeping pills. The biggest trophy that Sonya received on the train is three hundred thousand rubles.

In 1872, Sophia was invited to join the Jacks of Hearts, the most prestigious club of con artists, and soon headed it. The con artist was incredibly lucky: she was caught in the act many times, but always managed to get out. However, luck turned away from Sonya when she fell in love with the thief and gambler Volodya Kochubchik. Her lover turned her in to the police and the queen of the underworld was exiled to Siberia. Kochubčik appropriated her money and became a wealthy landowner.

Sonya escaped from exile and returned to her risky business. But she was caught again and was sentenced to hard labor on Sakhalin. She tried three times to organize an escape, but in vain. After the second attempt, she was flogged and chained for three whole years.

Anton Pavlovich Chekhov wrote about Sonya in his book “Sakhalin Island”:

“This is a small, thin, gray-haired woman with the face of a wrinkled old woman. Her hands are shackled: there is only a fur coat of gray sheepskin on the bunk, which serves her as both warm clothing and a bed. She walks around the cell from corner to corner and seems to be constantly sniffing the air like a mouse in a mouse trap and her expression is that of a mouse. Looking at her, one cannot believe that not long ago she was beautiful to the point that she charmed her jailers.

Not only the life, but also the death of Sonya is surrounded by legends. Some historians are convinced that she died during hard labor, others believe that the fraudster still managed to escape and a dummy served the sentence in her place. It was rumored that even the jailers were not sure that it was Sonya who was serving the term. Someone said that she died in Moscow in the 20th year, someone said that after the war in Odessa.

The grave of Sonya Zlaté ruky is located in the Vagankov cemetery. An unusual white marble monument attracts admirers of her thieving talent, who leave flowers and turn to their “patron” with requests.

But many believe that this funeral has nothing to do with the famous fraudster. Like it or not, we most likely won’t know.