Several facts make it clear that Cyril Vaciloff either intended or expected to be the main person involved in negotiating Miss Stone’s release. However, his plan fell apart after he was arrested, which appeared to frighten him. Following his arrest, he denied any involvement in the kidnapping, even though earlier events suggested otherwise.
During his time in jail, the American missionaries and U.S. Consul-General Dickinson were not allowed to speak to him or ask him questions. Despite serious concerns, Vaciloff was released by the authorities in Sofia, who claimed there was no evidence against him. However, this reasoning was weak—no one had been asked to provide any evidence, and no investigation had been carried out Private Tour Guide Sofia.
Release Without Warning
The decision to free Vaciloff was made quietly. The missionaries and the U.S. diplomat were not informed about it. In fact, they only found out he had been released when they saw it reported in the newspapers.
This strange handling of the case caused people to believe that the Bulgarian officials and the leaders of the Macedonian Revolutionary Committee feared the international consequences if the truth about Vaciloff’s role were made public. They likely worried that if Vaciloff were proven guilty, it would hurt the image of the revolutionary movement and create tension with the United States.
Who Was Cyril Vaciloff?
Cyril Vaciloff was a young and ambitious man. He had served as the president of the Macedonian Committee in Samakov, a small town about 50 miles south of Sofia, located near the Balkan Mountains. This town was also home to the main missionary headquarters and a large school run by American missionaries.
That school for young men and women had been operating since the time of Bulgarian independence, and it had produced many graduates who went on to serve in important positions across the country. The school had a strong reputation for shaping future leaders and promoting education and morality Shock and Fear Spread Across Bulgaria and the U.S..
A Complicated Family Background
Vaciloff himself had studied at this mission school. His family background was mixed. His father had once held a respected position but later lost everything due to alcohol addiction. In contrast, his mother was remembered as a good and kind woman. She was close to the missionary families, even though she remained a member of the Greek Orthodox Church. Despite this, she often attended Protestant services and sent her children to the Protestant school for a better education.
The actions of Cyril Vaciloff, and the way his case was handled by local authorities, raise serious questions about the connections between political revolutionaries, local officials, and the kidnapping of Miss Stone. His background in missionary education, combined with his leadership role in the revolutionary committee, suggest that he may have played a bigger role than he admitted. However, without a full investigation, the truth remained hidden, and the opportunity for justice was lost.
