Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-11-21
TAKEN TO ST. PETERSBURG.

TAKEN TO ST. PETERSBURG.
After this Kcrvelli naturally expected
to be set at liberty. But he was mis-
taken. A few days later they tookh him
TO the other end o. Russia, to st. Pc
tersburg, where he lay seven months
in prison without being examined or
eve learning the nature of the crime,
ii any. that was laid to his charge.
Eeingused TO russian ways, and hoping
always to be allowed to resume his
business, he bore the affection with
more resignation than an utter stran-
is a long time TO lan9uish in Jail. and
seeing no prospect OF speedy release.
he at length made up his mind TIC com
municate with the french Consul.
whom he happened to know. The
Consul came ut once to see him, and at
his instance waited on NJ. Ilcve, the
Chief of the political police, and re-
questcd, not that Nj. kervelli should be
freed, but that he should, at least, be
examined. This demand was con-
coded, the examination being con-
Quoted by M. Pleve in person. The
questions and answers exchanged were
highly characteristic and throw u Curl
GUS Ii. hit on husSian Official ideas of the
influence of literature and the functions
OF its %purveyors.
CURIOUS OFFICIAL LOGIC.
"Why have you kept me all this time
in PRISON." asked kervelli. 1t APP
pears he was allowed to ask questions.
x have broken no law, neither sold
unauthorized books nor belonged to
any secret society,"
"lhat we know quite we'll" returned
the Chief; ''but it only shows how very
prudent you are, and. therefore, how
very dangerous. We know, too, that
you have never sold forbidden books.
but we are equally well aware that
even books that have been passed by
the censor can be selected and dis
played in such q way as to spread sub
versive ideas quite as e'cctually as if
they were lectures printed at Geneva"
These are the very words of the
Chief of the political police of st.
Petersburg. They bring to mind a
very old story, that Of the wolf and the
lamb. If a man joins q secret soci-
ETY. he is liable to be sent to Siberia for
the remainder of his life. If he holds
himself aloof from politics and minds
his own business, lie is liable to i'm
prisonment or being prudent, and,
therefore, all the more dangerous.
In answer to the Chiefs argument
Kervclli observed that. according to
the theory the former had propounded,
the more innocent a man was the
more he deserved to be punished, and
that q vendor of books could only sell
such wares as his customers wanted to
buy. 1t was their requirements. not
his %fancies, that guided him IN the Sc
lection of his stock.
This ended the examination and M.
kervelli was reconducted 10 his cell.
On the Consul being informed of what
had come TO pass he took the prisoners
part more decidedly and intimated TO
the chief OF Police that unless ker-
vclli were either promptly released
or prosecuted IN due form his de-
tention would be made the subject
OF s. .'dipIomatic interpretations"
SET FIRE All LAST.
There being no charge against the
man. it vas impossible to prose ute
him, 50 the eonsul was informed
that Nj. Ectveili would be released,
Iut ,bot atI.,. h., mo- ulj,wnJ ia a,,,a p,r.