The anti-monopolist., 1878-06-06
WERA SASSULITSCH.
The Russian Charlotte Corday.-.An Inter
ting Narrative.

ting Narrative.
1t appears that when but 10 years
of age Vera was accidentally brought
into familiar relations with family
of the Nihilists, the secret organlza-
tion in the nature of the commune.
which has caused infinite trouble to
the empire in the laStdecade. She was
particularly attached to well-knOwn
leader, Netschajeff, but of course, on
iy in "a childish way and without any
knowledge. much less any compre-
hension, OF the reasonable agitation
in which he WAS engaged. He was
incarcerated at Moscow, while stupid.
tyrannicai police vengeance caused
her arrest as dangerous character.
and for years she was detained with
out trial. Finally set at liberty. she
was marked as a felOn, and was un-
der constant suspicion as an arch en-
emy Of the state. A girl of spirit.
she resented the outrages which had
been heaped upon her. and. in time.
became full of sympathy for the peo-
pie with whom she had been claSsed.
and for whose designs upon the we'll
being Of the state she had pltlfully
suffered. Reading, last summer, that
one of the Nihilists confined IL jail
was mercilessly scouTged, she 1elt
some of the prOmptlngs Of Charlotte
Corday, ard resolved TO avenge his
wrongs and her own by striking
down a person high in authority. She
selected as her victim Trepow. pre-
feet of police, commandant of the
city of Petersburg, and conhdant Of
the car. armed with q pistol she
made her way in January last to the
audience-room of the great official.
and shot him but not fatally, in the
abdomen. She was tried IN April
last before jury Of twelve men, COM
posed for the most part OF persons
connected with the government. By
the government class she was looked
upon rs murderesS, by the rank and
file OF the city as heroine. She adj
mitted the assault, but claimed that
she was but redressing Il mighty
wrong, for while the man who was
scourged happened to be an outlaw,
it rested with Il tyrannical govern
ment to brand any man as such, and
condemn him to the treatment of a
dog Her bullet she meant to be an
emphatic demand for that personal
liberty of the subject which in Russia
was but name.
The galleries of the courtroom
were crowded with spectators, whose
sympathy for the prisoner was loudly
manifested. and with such menace TO
authority that the presiding officer
feared to check ii. The questions
submitted to the consideration of the
jury were these:
Il. Is the prisoner, Sassulitsch. a
captain daughter, 20 years of age.
guilty of an intent of avenging her
self on Adjt. Gen. Trepow. the cap
tain Of the city of st. Petersburg, for
his punlshing Bogolueboff, prisoner.
to DO which she procured revolver
and premeditatively wounded Adj.
Gen. Trepow. on the oath of Janua-
ry. 1873. having shot him with a re-
volver containing a ball of large cal
iberi
.. If yes. was it the intent of the
prisoner To kill -Adjt. Gen. Trepow.
3. If Sassulitsch intended to kill
Adjt. Gen. Trepow, did she do all
she could do to effect that end, so
that the generals life having been
saved is not to be attributed TO her.
but to other causes!
Under the strong pressure of pub
lie feeling the jury brought III mega
tive to the first query. and were ST.
lent as to the rest. Vera, taken from
the courtroom was rescued from the
police amid great tumult and has not
been found since then. Ii was evil
IDENTIFY to appease popular clamor that
the wounded general was retired from
his post.
The whole affair discloses Il temper
among the people of Russia which Is a
mighty menace to the prolongation of
absolution in the government is not
entertained solely by so-called social
lists. but has extended to the better
classes. and is exhibited daily in the
liberal press. The act Of Vera >assul-
litsch. indefensibls in itself, is not
Judged by the vulgar standard. and
her acqulttal is applauded by the press
or by so many journals rs do not hang
on government favor. The following
expressions indicate the tone of all.
one lcuIndt says,
1t is now evident that personal
liberty and security are but m empty
word in our country, all the rules OF
civilized criminal procedure. institu.
ted hv the law of 1904. are paralyzed
by The power of the police. working
in the dark, whose disgusting myste-
ries have been strikingly illustrated
hv the SaSSulitSch case. The priso,
ner's aequittal and the sympathy
shown 10 her by all classes OF our so
ciety is serious warning given tc
the government. The despotism and
corruption Of our administrative sys
TEN pollute Our national honor. now
more than ever, while We are pretend
ing 10 act rs 'Gberators abroad
How long Shpu we still have 10 bear
with Shamef'
Another journal Published at the
capital. and m organ og the radical
party, proclalms. They wanted -
send the poor young sirl TO Sibera,
The nation has answered by her &c.
ouittal. which has been gladly greet
ed throughout the whole country.
That acquitsal is j terrible warning
to the government. If things do not
change. the time will soon come wheT
the same ery-.To Slberar-will pt
,-,srS~ -haSa mar, yvba h ava