The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-02-19
POLITICAL TRIALS IN RUSSIA.

criminals I'm Russia wero tried by Senators
the C1ars representatives. Arrests were usually
made at midnight in order to escape publicity,
and the accused were sent to prisons where
only officials could ace Thorn; they wore tried in
secret and even the verdict was not published.
Frequently parents could not ascertain what
became OF their unhappy sons and daugh-
| tors Thus, In 1925. tho rcvolutionists were
tried nvc OF whom wcro hanged in prison.
and many wore sent for life TO Siberia Thus
| was tried and hanged Karako1on who, in 1866.
attempted to kill the Czar and thue, also. at
different times, were triod many members of
secret societies and writer's and professors, IA
web as Nihists. OF both sexes. OF course such
u method OF trial WIS not favorable to the pris-
| oners; but It was consistent with the unlimited
! power Of tho Car. ruling all the Russias NC
| cording to his own pleasure. and nobody had
| the legal right to complain.
Yielding TO tho demands OF civilization, tho
present Gar became roformer. or his re-
| forms the two most important were the abolition
Of seridom and the introduction OF trial by jury.
| Many Russians expected moro popular I'M
| provement from the latter than even from the
| former. and 1t Is now easy to sec to what extent
these expectations have been realized.
| In 1869 n revolutionary society was dlscov-
| ercd. and many arrests were made. Tho pro-
| liminary inquest lasted till April OF 1871. when
| about eighty persons were submitted to trialby
| jury--tho fret public trial OF political offenders
in Russia. All tho proceedings Of tho trial
werc published in the newspapers. and were
read and discussed throughout the country.
According to the verdict a few persons were
sent to Siberia TO hard labor. several were eNied.
| and some were condemned 10 brief imprison-
ment. but the large majority tower thrcc-fourths)
| were found not guilty. The public were pleased
with the new way OF trial. But to the Car its
result was unsatisfactory. and in order to mod
! ify the mistake Of the jury. secret order was
issued that denied those who had been acquit-
ted not only the privilege Of service in any pub
| lie capacity. but OF teaching in colleges and
schools private or Official and even Of working
in factories; and. furthermore. provided for
their deportation to secluded hamlets in dis
tant provinces. where they were kept under the
surveillance Of the police.
In many ways the new form OF trial by jury
| proved troublesome 10 the Government. and
how to make 1t satisfactory became momen-
| tous question. On several occasions. after the
great trial OF 1871 when prisoners we're acquit-
| tod they were rcarrestcd by gcndarmes rs
| they left the court. and sent 10 the Unknown
| lands" This method Of action was n
| failure in the case Of Vera Zasultch
for her friends had made preparations
| to thwart ii. The Government then resorted to
ures as could be trusted TO give vcrdicts in its
| interest. Under this new arrangement. those
| charged with political heresy or with Nihilism
| in 1876 and 1877. In Odessa. Kew. knzan. Char
kow, and other places. were tried or condemned I;
and thus the Government found means 10 stihe
the new way Of trial without abolishing it.
We may understand the operations Of the
| Russian courts during the past three years by
recalling the trials OF 1877 in st. Petersburg.
There had been arrested in previous years
over one thousand Nihilsts. Of whom about
three hundred had been imprisoned and held
for trial. Some Of them had been in prison over
six years before being put on trial. and almost
u hundred OF them had persisted. some by their
| own hand. others by insanity. and others 10y
disease. About two hundred Of them broken
down and in wrctchcd plight were nj
last brought before special court in
the Senate Tho trial WAS announced TO b."
| public When the prisoners were brought into
the court room il was AT once evident that means
had been taken to keep out the public, for the
| room WAS too small to admit any spectators.
| except half a dozen persons privately IN the
pay Of the Government. The counsel for the
| defendants protested and asked that the court
be transferred To more spacious quarters; but
this request was pcremptnrily refused Tho
prisoners realized the situation. acted no.
corlingly. gave no heed to the proceedings
Of the court. and s'cmod 10 enjoy their
temporary release from solitary conhne-
mont. Meanwhile their nlmcs were called
ami tho preliminary questions put Many
- them refused even to answer and when asked
the nature Of their oncupdion one said: 60
published books forbidden boy the Governments
another said: o." I tried To- prepare the people fot
war upon their vamp.rr-;' and 81, ,crtl other
replies of this dcnaut character wrrr given
When reminded boy the President of tie respect
due to the Court. "a prisoner cried We cannot
recognize % cour; which, 90 begin with violates
the law, and therefore there can Co., no question
Of respect Tho prisoner who spoke thus was
about TO be summarily dealt with; wheroupui
the other prisoners attempted to leave. and
amid great disorder. the court had io be- closed
Next dHv. when the prisoners W rr brought {,
court. one Of them SAID a. tho President; Yes
ierlay. when We protested against srcrr
trial You stated that this court WIS pub
lic because half "A dozen unofficial per
sons were here; but Is that what il
meant 10y the law admitting the pu'li
20 the court room To speak ~ this trial a'
public is % mock on" of tho most -uhstantia
principles of the law" The Pres dent r'pli",
{ that publicity WAS obtained not hy the aini-
sion II the pnhlir. hlt Jy the publication of tn,
Proceedings % s"rur' which Govcrnm,n
s,enographer w. present The prisoner
These official reports have Turmoil oU
70 bo false. AMI W. wish g. pre-
sont our d,!ou'n. NOT before a few
on 'rrs. lut before the puhlIe. who q. sir,
! toknow it, TN" President. Stop" Prisoner
The lieht 81 publicity is avoided only hy thu~.
who would hido their mi- lccds but W.. sur
of the rigi.t"ou~nre- 81 tio rnu~r for which ",
have suffered and mast -till -u.I,r. demand CA
thing, the publicity oi the trial.. President
Siop! Al the prisoners arose and said tina