St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1879-07-18
An Execution in Russia.

A spectator of the execution of Solo
vieff, the young Russian who attempted
to assassinate the Gar, sends to the
London News the following description
ga platform, something less than
three feet in height, had been erected
in the field about one hundred yards
from the Great Prospect. On this were
placed two upright posts, and a cross
bar was affixed to these, with duplicate
arrangement of ropes, which certainly
seemed very slight. The second was
evidently provided in case of any acct
dent with the other. Toward the back
part of the platform, and in the middle
was third upright post, against which
subsequently the prisoner stood. 1t is
called by the Russians the post of
shame.' There was also a block of
wood, two to three feet in height, on
which it was evidently intended the
prisoner would be placed. At 6 a. III.
probably some fifteen hundred people
had assembled, mostly from the imme-
diate neighbOrhOOd, attracted by the
preparations that had been in course of
completion through the light summer
night. No soldiers had arrived up to
this time, nor any large number of pO
lice. These gradually increased, and
about o'clock two prison vans arrived,
containing two convicts in prison dress,
brought from the fortress, whose func-
lions were to assist the eXecutiOner as
he might require assistance. By 9
o'clock a considerable body of troops
had arrived. Altogether three battal-
ions of infantry, two sOtnias of COssacks
and large body of mounted gendarmes
were on the ground. These and the
police kept the Great Prospect clear
Immediately and for some little distance
in froLt of the field where the scatfOld
was erected, and also guarded the
lines at right angles as well rs the
ground behind. At 9 O'Clock the gen.
eral in command arrived, and at half
past the Minister of Justice, the Gov
ernor-General of st. Petersburg, and
the Police Project. .. e..
At ten minutes to 10 the condemned
man and his escort appeared, the Cos
sacks leading, then company of gren-
adiers, and then a cart ('telega,' us it is
called), surrounded by mounted gen.
darmes. The prisoner was seated on
an elevated bench, with his back to the
horse, and his hands tied to rods fixed
in the cart. He was in the ordinary
dress of criminal of the privileged
class-black coarse cloak, black cap
without peak and white trousers. On
his breast was large black board with
the words, State CRIMINAL written in
white letters. The eXecutiOner at once
approached and assisted him to alight
The prisoner then with firm step as
cended the platform, standing at the
post of shame with his hands tied. The
order was given to present arms the
executiOner took off Solovieff's cap, anG
the sentence was read. During reading
the prisoner appeared unmoved, an(
looked repeatedly on the crowd from
side to side. Immediately the reading
of the sentence was finished a priest as
cended the steps of the platform with
cross in his hand and advanced toward
the prisoner, who moved his head anC
said Il do not wish it; l do not wisl
it. The priest bowed as he retired
7 and the prisoner acknowledged hi
I farewell greeting in the same way
The placard was then taken off, th,
, drums rolled, the hands of the prisone
were united, the executiOner put on
long white dress which covered hi
head and reached to his feet, the hand
being wrapped in underneath. HI
> then conducted the condemned man t.
y the block, where he stood after the cor,
3 was adjusted, and in a few seconds al
q was over. About half an hour after
ward black coffin was brought to tn
q platform. The assistants helped tn
E executiOner to place the corpse in il
5 the medical officer of the police cert
: fed as to the death, and under an es
a cort of Cossacks and mounted gen
s darmes the coffin was carted away t
s be inferred, as 1 am informed, in tn
. burial ground for suicidesn