Semi-weekly south Kentuckian., 1888-06-12
THE RUSSIAN POLICE.

Throe Systems of Espionage Diroc b.
| an Unscrupulous Chief
| There are three separate and distinc
systems of police, each of which il
independent of tho other, and has ;
different chief. bnt all ara directed by
one head, the mighty Grcsser
The first system is the ordinary force
of patrolmen, such rs is found in all
cities, for the preven ton and detco-
ton of ordinary crime. 1t is composed
of veteran soldiers, who wear the miii-
iary uniform and wear sabers in the
streets instead of clubs.
The second, oF gendarmerie. Is a
large body of special agents scattered
all over the empire. one or two in
every town, who are superior to the
regular police, and are authorized to
call upon them at any timo to make
arrests, or to assist in Investigations.
They are well known to the public,
wear a distinguishing unifor and
;heir business is to detect and investl-
gate frauds upon the revenue, to pre-
Tent and detect Official dishonesty, and
TO look after the proper administration
Vt the several Offices. This system
Tas first organized by tho Emperor
Nicholas carly in tho century.
1t was reported TO him that there
was large amount of corruption in |
the different provinces, and calling |
his PrOcurator- General. he said that |
he would hang every official who stole
the value of n piece of rope.
Then your Majesty will not be able
TO fill your off ccs, replied the Pro-
General, but Nicholas thought
he would try. So selecting tho best
men he could find, lie sent them
throughout the empire rs spies upon
his officials. From this beginning the
system has become permanent. These |
special agents are known as the polit-
ical police.
Then comes tho hated and hateful
'third section," tho spies, who exist
in every branch of the social, political
and commercial world, are unknown
10 the public and 10 each other They |
are everywhere, and number thou
sands. Women in the highest society, |
mobiles. prince, lawyers. clerks in
houses, workmen in the |
factories, walters at the hotels and |
cafes, barmaids, drosky drivers, ped
dlers, courte sans, house servants; no
one knows who. A mans wife, OF
son, or valet, may be in the pay of the
police; perhaps ii is his brother
OF sister Everybody in r ussia is sus-
pected of belonging to the much-fear-
cd "lhird section" but no one would |
dare confess that he is spy. These
people are not paid salaries, but are
given such sums of money rs tho
police authorities think they have
earned.
The Russian Government has the
most extensive and skillful spy system
in the world. All The capitals of Eu-
rope are full of its secret agents. The
system is so complete that there is
sc arcely person IN s.. Petersburg or
Moscow or any of the larger cities,
who does not feel that he is CONSTANT
ly under the espionage of some branch
of the police, and tho people are
naturally very cautious. A single
word from spy may send them 10
prison, a secret dcnuncialion may
transport them 10 Siberia. The in
vesIigalions are always secret and
the accused can not confront his ac-
cuser, he can not have the benefit of
legal counsel, nor communicate with
his friends unless the police have some
motive for permitting HIM 10 do so. -
". q. Curtis, IN Chicago Nous.