Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1872-09-26
4 POLISH LADYKNOUTED.
Tho O6iefal whipping In Public Of
Alexandra nKOssOwifz-The Pen.
nifty of sympathy wfllB Rebels,


At gathering Of Poles in the little
village Of Kernst, on the Southern Me
men, on the goth of July last, when all
thought themselves secure from the in
trusion Of any of the numerous spies
who keep the Russian officials informed
Of the indictments among them, Alex
andrina Kossowitz, young lady whose
father, the youngest son of formerly
noble Polish family, was killed in the
recent troubles in Warsaw, expressed
her sympathy with the unfortunates
whom Russian severity had murdered or
sent into exile. The meeting was a
purely social one, and none dreamed
that anything said there would reach the
ears Of spies,for all present were known
to be Poles, and firm haters of the harsh
rule under which they then lived. Still,
as the young girl, in her passionate re-
membranes of father love, deplored
his death, expressed her sympathy with
rebellion and her detestation Of her OPP
pressors, she was cautioned lest her loud
tone should enable people at the window
to hear her. With a hasty glance, as
though to read in the faces Of those
about her who should betray her, the
young lady ceased her 2execratlons and
relapsed into silence. When ten o clock
arrived, the latest hour OF Polish gather
ings, the company separated, and Alex
andrina Kossowitz, accompanied by her
afiianced, Julian Temensky, wentto her
home 'I gGe .ls.'55e. oa.rtssi.
| \ If, in passing from the house of the
gathering, she had been more observant,
Alexandrlna would have seen the mali
ciously triumphant glances cast after her
by Catherine MerdoH, q woman of about
thirty-fiye years, Pole by birth, and a
sympathizer with her unhappy country
women whenever her own passion was
not concerned, and, from the subsequent
proceedings, 1t seems that in this case
she had been superseded in the affections
OF the young DIR. Temenslky by the more
beautiful and younger Alexandrlna Kos
sowitz.l ! luE INA NQN
On the following day, shortly after
rising, Alexandrina was seized in her
own home, a short distance from kernst,
by two Cossacks Of the guard at the gar
rison, and taken before the petty judge.
The young lady Of nineteen, hand
some and trembling, produced no feel
ing Of pity. Having at first denied the
accusation, she was confronted with
Catherine Merdof and then acknowl-
edged her offense. In passing sentence
the petty Judge said that her seditious
utterances might have warranted him in
sending her before q higher tribunal,
where the penalty would be death; but
in view OF her youth and contritlon, he
should merely order her to receive thirty
five lashes Of the knout. Almost be-
numbed with shame and terror, the girl
was led away to be prepared for punish
ment, for in Russia all sentences, save
that of death, are carried out immedi-
ately after they have been pronounced.
Word having been sent to the officer
commanding, the troops, guard of two
hundred men, was ordered into the gar
rison square, and the executioner Of the
troop was called upon TO be- ready to
carry out the duties of his office. In
half an hour after the sentence had been
given the troops had been formed in
hollow square, in the center of which
had been placed a scatfold, standing on
four legs, the top of which was an in
clined plane. Beside this stood the ex-
ecutioner, having in his muscular hand
the knout. This weapon consists of
stick, or handle, two feet long, with
lash four feet long of soft leather, to the
end Of which is attached by a loop
piece of fat raw hide two feet long. In
the hands of an experienced man the
piece of raw hide can be made TO cut |
like knife.
AS the executioner stood facing the
scafold, Alexandrina Kossowitz was
brought to him by her guard, and in a
few moments her clothing was removed |
to her waist, despite her almost mute
appeals to be spared the shame. AS she !
pleaded she was bent on the plane, her
hands strapped to the upper corners and |
her ankles secured at the foot OF the
structure: One OF the execntioners as
sistants held her head, and the petty
judge gave the order for whipping to
commence, Twlrling the long lash in
the air the eXecutioner stepped suddenly |