Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-05-21
A WOMAN ON THE GIBBET.
SOphy PerOysky's Speech Be
fore Being Hanged at st.
PptprSblry.

fore Being Hanged at st.
Petersburg.
On the trial of Sophy Perovsky, the
Russian woman OF noble family recent.
" hanged in st. Petersburg as a regi-
eide, when leave was finally given her
to speak in her own behalf, she said:
"In 1869, being then sixteen years
old, and having gone through the usual
school studies, | fitted myself for teach
or. In 1870 taught village school. |
soon found out that the Government by
its system OF despotic interference with
the affairs OF the peasantry was putting
insurmOuntable obstacles in the way OF
their normal, intellectual, moral and
economical development. In 1872 | was
forced to leave the school, and | then
Joined the revolutionary party. Since
then have served the cause. Several
times | was arrested aud tried for TAX
ing part in the revolutionary propagan.
da. In 1875, without any trial, but By
administrative order, | was transported
to the province Of Olonetzk. | escaped,
dropped my name, and procured false
passes. My part in the Moscow ex'
plosion OF 1879 is known to the Court.
Since June, 1880, have been living in
st. Petersburg with 4 woman whose
name don't want to give her Gel!aboff
came TO live in my rooms and by order
OF the Executive Committee We began
preparations for the event OF March Is.
Being an agent of the committee, knew
everything about the means TO be re-
sorted 20. ! was charged with the duty
of finding out where and when the Car
could be met with In the morning OF
March l3, brought two bombs into the
rooms of Hessy Heliman. But whence
the bombs were brought and how many
persons were charged with the duty OF
throwing them don't choose to say.
| drew the map in order to show the
station appointed for each Of M COM
rades, and 1t was TO whom the bomb
throwers had to look for directions on
the place of action. | made signs with
my handkerchief, and they moved and
acted according to our agreement.
had no bomb myself, for we had not
enough of them Tor all OF us. stood
on the other side OF the Catharine Canal
and observed the effect Of both explO-
sious That is all want to say OF the
practical part which took in the revo-
lutionary movement.
LAS to the motives that induced me
to join the revolutionary party, can
say this: The principal task OF our
party is to awaken in the people con.
seriousness that they have the right and
power to govern themselves. To solve
this problem our party hoped TO gradu-
ally raise the intellectual and moral
level of the people, to improve their
economical condition, and SO to develop
this consciousness OF their civil rights
and therefore the members of the party
settled among the peasGntry in different
capacities and carried on peaceful So
cial propaganda. But the Government,
bv series Of represSive measures, made
our peaceful work impossible. Then
our party, after long hesitation, was
forced TO undertake political struggle
against the Government, as the chief OO.
siaclc in our way. Orce on the politi-
cal arena, we could not help adopting
the terrorist policy. Oar relentless per.
secuti0n OF the late Gar was, on one
side, an answer TO his relentless persa.
cution OF our party, and on the Other it
was the result of our conviction that lac
would never change his ruinous inter
nal policy. admit that am mem.
Der OF the party OF Narodnaia VOLTA 1.-THE
Will of the People,, and am an agent OF
the Executive Committee. The party
of Narodnaia VOLTA is far from having a
desire to impose on the pnblic and on
the people at large any institutions
whatever, or any form Of government;
il has only deep conviction that by
and by the people and society will adopt
its social ideas AMI will realize them. |
consider ii my duty to say few words
for some of my comrades. Hcssy He'll.
man, being in charge OF the cOnspira.
tors room, was connected with the party
Of Narodnaia VOLTA, but she had no
knowledge ofor part in the terrorist
acts. Mikhailof, too, had no part in
these acts, took no share in the prepare
tons for the event OF March Is, and was
not among those who were charged with
the duty OF throwing the bombs, in
short he had no part whatever IN the
event OF March l3
MANY, very many, accusations have
been heaped upon us by the Prosecu-
tor. AS regards the practical part OF
those accusations, | will no: say a word {;
have admitted all OF them. But do
most solemnly protest against his &C
cusing me and my comrades OF immor-
atty, cruelty and contempt Of public
opinion. | am sure that those who
know our lie and the conditions under
which we have had to act will not throw
a stone at us-will not accuse us ii i'm.
morality or cruelty. And now for my
single AMI last quest: | DO not ask
mercy, but demand that in dealing
with me no favor shall be shown be-
cameo ri my Soy ~