The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1880-01-08
TORTURE IN RUSSIA.
Failure to Pay Taxes a Capital
Offense at KaKalnik.
Berlin Correspondence London Standard.

TORTURE In RUSSIA.
Failure to Pay taxes a Capital
Offense at KaEalnik.
Berlin Correspondence London Standard.
The st. Petersburgh Ssyn Otetsches-
twa (Anglice, Son Of the FatherlandD
contains the following accounts of re-
voting instances of tyranny, of which
the village of Kagalnik, in Southern
Russia, was recently the scene. An
inhabitant of that place, one Phillip
KObaltschenko, an infirm man of so,
was summoned on the Goth of Septem-
ber before the burgomaster and asked
If he had brought balance of certain
taxes that were due. Kabaltschenko,
bowling to the earth, begged for time,
as he had no means whatever of pay
ing. "As soon as have earned some
thing" he added, st will pay ALL"
Z" Wait, you old dog" shouted the
burgomuster, 81 Will find a way of
squeezing the money from you. Bind
him to the post"
In the twinkling of an eye two Off
cials seized the trembling old man.
bound him to strong post in the court
yard and fastened his arms with ropes
to his back, the burgomaster looking
on.
Now, old beast" he cried to the old
man, who was bareheaded and motion
less, will you pay your taxes"
"Christ is my Witness" was the re-
ply, "I have not single copeck."
"Then you will remain where you
are."
"Set me free, for the love of God !;
my wife and children ure famishing at
home"
"Pay what is DUE"
Have compassion on my age; am
the laughing-stock of the mob"
",Let them laugh, old theft"
I am fainting," groaned the poor
wretch in scarcely audible voice.
my lads, said the tyrant upon this,
give him a shower BATH"
The officials obeyed by pouring two
cans of cold water upon the fainting
man, which restored him to conscious
ness.
"Now unbind him." commanded
the tyrant, land take him for a walk
through the Streets"
This having been done, the burgo-
master ordered him to be fastened to
the public pillory, where he was kept
for the whole night. Police were sta
toned on the spot to prevent compass
sionate passers-by from offering him a
piece Of bread or glass of water. Du-
ring the night, one of the old mans
children, a girl of Is, brought her faith
er small roll. The police, seizing her,
fiogged her almost to death, and ulti-
mately threw her into prison. The
rain then began to fall heavy. The
police sheltered themselves under a
roof, leaving their prisoner exposed to
the weather. On the following day
the martyr was released, when, being
unable to walk, he was conveyed home
on a cart. The poor man, after nnger-
ing for fortnight, died in consequence
of the treatment to which he had been
subjected.
The above is not the only deed of
cruelty with which this burgomaster,
Stepan FilaUewitsch Puschkarento,
has lately distinguished himself.
Within the last week or two he order
ed two Inhabitants of Kagalnik, VOL
kowski and Woroschento by name, to
receive one hundred strokes and forty
strokes respectively with cane for
quite insignificant offenses. Maljawt-
skhenko, POgnirybko and Lysenko,
three members of the local council,
and the tax-gatherer, Fisenko, were
also bound by his orders to the public
pillory, their faces being hideously
masked and books placed in their
hands. In this position they remained
for full twenty-five hours. Kornej
Swellitschuy, 80 years old, was bound
to the pillory for four hours for insult
ing one of the burgomaster's grand
children, and a cashiered officer was
kept there for six hours.