The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1882-04-20
An Execution of Nihilists.

The trial at Odessa, Russia, of the
two men concerned in General Strelni-
kof's assassination terminated very
quickly. The following facts were
gathered from the evidence given: The
deceased was sitting on a seat on the
boulevard quietly contemplating the
sea, when his murderer approached and
fired revolver. The general was shot
through the neck, the ball entering his
brain. He expired in few minutes
afterward in the arms of some persons
who had hastened to his assistance.
After committing the crime the MUIR
derer jumped into droshki which was
awaiting him on the boulevard. He
was stopped, however, bya man called
korriga and was arrested, together with
| his accomplice, who acted as coachman
A citizen named Labsine, sold er
| named Nekrasson and q custom house
clerk named Isnatovitch also played q
part in the capture. Labsine and Mex
rasson were wounded by the murderer
in the struggle. The droshki had been
hired by the two men for day and q
half. The horse had been bought for
twenty five rubles two days previously.
On searching the assassins three revol-
vers, three daggers and several TASKS of
poison were found on them. One of
them was stopping at the Hotel de la
Crimee, where General Strelnikoff also
stayed. The accused declared that the
generals death had been resolved on be-
cause of his activity in prosecuting in
quiries into crimes against the state.
Eo was ali obstacle to the successful
propagation of revolutionary doctrines
among the working classes of Odessa.
The two captured criminals, who gave
falee names, we're brought before the
military tribunal at Odessa, and were
sentenced to be hanged. General
Strelnikoff's funeral took place with
great pomp at the cathedral. The hearse
was escorted by large detachment of
infantry and artillery and was followed
by thousands of spectators.
The, execution of the murderers took
place the next morning, after the SEN
tence had been approved by Gener
Gourko. At 7 o'clock in the morn
ing the prisoners reached the place of
execution, wearing on their breasts pla-
cards, on which was the inscription
estate Criminal" The hangman, who
had, as usual, been brought from
his prison at Moscow, and had
arrived during the night, according to
custom, was dresseGsin the red shirt of
the Russian moujiks, the wide trousers
tucked into high boots, The scaffold,
which was approached by five steps,
was rough platform resting on ties
ties. Two gibbet rose above it and
two black posts. The local authorities
were stationed in circle around the
scaffold. The arrival OF the prisoners
was heralded by the shrill sound of flies
and the beating of dlums. Each pris-
oner was attended by priest. On as
cending the steps they were received by
the hangman and bound 60 the posts. |
The death warrant was then read by the |
military attorney, while the executioner |
placed short ladder under the right |
hand gibbet. The usual white shrouds |
were next thrown over the heads of the
men. One of them mounted
the right hand ladder, followed imme-
diately by the hangman. When the
prisoner was exactly under the gibbet
'he rope was slipped round his neck
outside the linen shroud. The execu-
,ioner then jumped quickly from the
adder, which he instantly Withdrew
rom beneath the mans feet. While
'ne prisoner hung struggling in the
asst commissions the rope was put
'ound his companions head in the same
manner. In three minutes the execu-
ion was over.