Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-04-23
/ CONFESSIONS OF THE REGICIDEs
How the Cars Assassination Was
Planned and EXeCued.

Tne c0nfe6S10n mau6 ny Inc NLulil5t RuSSa-
kofr, who was hanged last week, Is published
In the London Standard. 1t makes known for
the first time the exact means by which the
Cars assassination was planned and executed.
The deposition is divided by the Procureur into
various sections, the first OF which contains
matter relating to Russakoff's connection with
the revolutionary party. His inclination tend
ed toward nihilism even in 1873, before hts entry
into the School OF Mines but he took no active
Ing that he could do nothing alone, he
determined to enter into the Workman,s
Revolutionary Organization. and this he
Jellabofr, whose acquaintance he made about Ut
this time. In jar uary last his new friend.
seeing his success among the workmen, intro
duced him to Others who offered him member.
snip In the W0rkman'5 organization and pecu-
mary assistance to the extent of thirty roubles
q month. Russakof In turn worked hard at
the organization OF workman circles. the meet
1ngs OF which took place some times at his
rooms, sometimes elsewhere. at these meet
ings terrorist measures were only spoken OF
as means to quicken the movement aud
feeling the want OF a leader, it was de-
term1ned that the Narodnaya yolya party
should act as such, and In imitation presu n
ably OF the organization of that section as dis
closed at the last great trial. the workmen
were divided into propaganda and directing
party and an executive committee, to the for
sho n eUnsed and S
1vanof," alias ''Kotika, that Is Einkoff. To the
executive committee, or terrorist division, be-
forged Russakoff, Jelabofr, ElnIkoff and
Michaelo1. The ASSASSIN alton OF the Emperor
did not emanate, according to the deponent
from the terroriSts OF the workman's patty but
was pIopos ed by the executive committee, {that
Russakon at first understood it would be ear.
r1ed out. However, the deed was discussed and
ten days before its c0nsummation JeliabOf
called Tor volunteers willing to undertake 1t.
PLANNING THE D3KD.
AT first. the date Wag NOT fyad and WAC mt
thougnt to be near, but soon Russakoff OBJ
served In Jel1abOn and his friends a fever1sh
haste. occastoned, he thinks, by the arrests that
nad weakened and alarmed the party. It was
week oefore the 1st Q3th) OF March that he &C
cepted the task In answer to Jeliaoof's cate
goI1cal demand The latter then brought him
preparing for the deed, and he was introduced
Into the reYolqtonary quarters Of sa6in
duty fS' VAS H. In Company S''' With Ein.ko3,
to follow all the movements Of the Gar,
under the direction OF Peronsky; TIE
rooms. were Michaelon and one 'Mlcnael''
From time to time, too. man made his ap-
pearance who was called "The Technic," who
explained In detail the bombs and furnished
them with q sample, which the vdlnteers
tried with full success in field behind the
Smoino Monastery. Coming back they found
been arrested. on the eventful day, at eight
In the morning. they assembled again at
Sablin's to get final Instructions and ths
bombs. These were brought by Perofsky in
said that perhaps more would come; they
had been working all night at them, but had
0een unable , to prepare the numoer pre-
Techn1c" arrived, bringing more bomba
which were given to PeroffsSy, who drew on
the cover OF each plan OF the streets, marking
the spots where the respective bearers were to
stand. The disposition was as follows: II the
Emperor passed down the Sadovaya, the mine
was to be exploded, Russakoi standing With
his engine In the square at one end, Michael
at the other end OF the street where 1t runs
INTO the Nefsky. In the Manage square. as the
more dangerous place, were to stand Einikofr
and Michaelo1, as being better known TO each
lutionary record. On the explosion OF the mine
all were to run towards the spot to insure the
death OF the Emperor If the explosion had failed
Rage did not come that way tn the conspratars
were to meet In the Michael street, where Pc
roffsky would give them sign II they were to
go to the Catherine Canal and wait their vic
tim there. This was what In fact hap pened;
and Russakon, getting the signal from the
woman, went to the canal, and, as already
stated, threw his bomb under the horses. At
that time Einikon was standing by The railing
some way further on.
MOTIVES OF THE PARTY.
In explaining the motives that nerved him to
regiclde Russakof repeated that the party con-
sidored terror" means Of protection TO the
movement and OF showing the people their
strength, holding hign their standard and Sc
curing its authority, also as an answer to the
He personally did not share the Views OF the
party as to the general advantage OF regtcide
and terrorist deeds; out In present cifcun.
stances cn ne felt that the death Of the npsror
ton. and the only way to obtain new and
better conditions Of life and activity for the
socialist. AZ worker for the good OF the people.
go express 1t, carried his rights In the bacral
Of his revolver" Speaking only for HIM
self, ne looked upon successful regtcide as a
longer necessary under the new condition OF
things; ~ 10 render possible the free develop
nent OF a peaceful socialist propaganda; (3) TO
bloody agrarian rising against the nearest
enemies OF the peasants-an 1nsurrectton be-.
yond the control OF the party, and so terrible
that even we. hardened eviI-doers. stand
hostility existing between the supreme power
ana the socialists. In consequence OF all this
he, as Jeltabon rightly said, painted to be
Ing willingly JeliaDons Invitation. was
altogether at variance with the party as
TO the true meaning and object Of the deed
under changed conditions Of political life, a
transition from purely political struggle
with which he had no sympathy, to one more
In accordance with his convictions-a peace
ful, economical struggle after true sollalistIc
principles. Thus, in consent1ng to Jellaboff'a
proposal. he undertook the crime Of the LIST
Q3thl Of March not as bind instrument, but
In accordance with the dictates OF conscience
and moved by his heart and soul. 1t seems
that RusSakOn was friend OF Sheeraef,
hanged In the fortress last year for CON-
plicity In the various attempts on the Emperor,
and that this connection got him into trouble
with the police, whereupun he began to live
under the name OF GlaZ0n, with false pass
port. Before he entered actively upon nihilism
JeliaDon told him that the party were In great
neeo OF money, upon which Rus sakoff drew I've
montns allowance and gave fifty rOubleS to his
mentor. He worked hard at school, and lived
modest life. On the morning of the LIST u3thl
he was, contrary to custom, In nigh spirits. and
when his laDdlady asked whittier he was going
SO early, he said ITO work." She remarked that
IL was sunday, and he then said, 81 am going 20
friend: It's all one"
THE PRIME MOVER.
Jeliaboff, an extremely Intelligent and genial
man, acknowledged his participation In the
GoDgs OF the nihilists, aud explained that he
served the cause of popular emancipation and
belonged TO the NarOdnaya V0lya party, which
held the destruction OF their rulers one OF the
means to be employed In an active struggle
for the attainment OF their ends. AS an agent
OF the third degree-that Is, posse sing the full
confidence OF the executive committee-he re-
celved from It the commission to organize q
fresh attempt on the life OF the Car. He chose
Russakon and the others from the forty seven
men Who answered to his call for vOlun.
teera On March C45h) the prisoaer
sent letter to the Procureur declaring
his intimate completely With Russakon and
demanding TO be included in the process.
He had several tunes attempted the lie Of the