New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-05-25
MORE RUSSIAN TYRANNY.
AN AMERICAN CITIZEN THE VICTIM
THROWN INTO PRISON HE SAYS, BECAUSE HE
LEFT RUSSIA WITHOUT THE CARS
PFRMIs IsSION.

Herman Kempnski. a passenger the steamship
Augusta Victoria. which reached this port Yesterday
from Hamburg is American citizen Of foreign birth,
who nevertheless has spent thirteen months in
Russian prison, and would probably have been sent
TO siberia but for the energetic action Of secretary
blaine in his behalf The horrible crimes Of which he
was guilty were. he says leaving his native country
thout the Cars and becoming an American
citizen.
Thi, Is the story he told 10 Tribune reporter yes
icriay: lie was born In the town of Konin. In Rus
ian Poland. At the age Of seventeen he came TO
America. was naturazcd five years later. and after
spending eighteen years in the United states sold ont
his profitable business in Bridgeport and returned 10
his native town 10 visit hi, parents, taking his wife
and Two little girls with him ON the way he took the
precauton to inquire Of the American Con
sui at Berlin il he any risk in going
back to Russian soil The Consul advised
him 10 consult the Russian Consul in that city. This
he did. The answers he gave % the Consul queS-
rons we're satisfactory. and both officials indorscd his
pas>port the Endorsement Of the Russian Consul GER
tfyin that he was at liberty travel IN any part ..
Russia.
Thi, was on June II. ls5S. Eight days later he
reached Kopin HIS STAY with HI, friends there was
undi,urbcd until December - IN that year. when TWO
POLICEMEN suddenly made thcg appearance at frlends
house where KempnSi was about to SIT down 10 dlI'-
per and arrested him. on the way % the prison no
asked ~ What Is the charge against me What nave
done,r The officers intmdtcd that it was none OF
his business.
The burgomastcr whom lie saw at the prison. al
though more civil, was unable 10 answer the same
questions None Of the officials ever told him why
he was arrested and he was never brought before
court 10 be tried. but friend came u tle PRISON
and Informed him that he to be cNied 70 SIBERIA
on the charge OF having left Russia WITHOUT '"o P
mission Of the Government.
rumor spread through the town that the pFl'-
oncrs friends intended to force an entrance lE'o IN"
jall and set him free Accordingly the chel oi 'hc
police had him removed in handouts 10 tae
city Of K.dsch, nifty one NerstN oiSu.n'' ~
Az Kalsch he was cons sgned to.a cell In the miuuc
~ IN. prison where he remained for four days ana
hall Kempinsd described this place aS 'warmlhs
with vcrmin and dark that he coma not redl'"o
i,s horrors when he first entered IT, unti an oiicer
LIGHTED n match \ few days oi tms was
enough 10 entitle him to admission TO the
urI,on hospital where his body gradually resume"
its normal sic. After an Illness OF 'cNe'd "cc'' "e
wa, better treated. for good reason Ills de'o,''
wife maid literally for the privilege Of bringing MS
dinners 10 him. and further fees To different OFFICIALS
secured other comforts. She paid 4oo rouo'S ~
postpone his being sent to siberia
Neaovhic the governor Of the prison are" up
petton To- the Car, which Kempn>hi signed. II was
written IN Russian. language he dd ho' "l'"crs
rhc vernon cNpla ned that il merely ra' ed for t'e m
ucriaI paron for his leaving Russia without pers'on
p,r NC his mpri .onmcnt his wife mad two uhSu''c"'
iourneys 10 st. Petersburg, where she 'aw Mr ""t'N'
Tho American Charge d'ANaircS. who told cr a, her
dr,t visit ia March, 1So9, that her hSDdnu MoH W., mo
,moo I'm three weeks. " her second coUlhE,, III
Kemnn,I saws she coldly treat a,lu ~
Wurt. declared that her husband had III ms P'tt"u
ic',cd Nj, American citizenship. Mcanwnc trleH
who had returned from Poland u New-lor" app'il'u
" Krnpinskf showed the reporter Berlin papcr IN
which th, foreign policy Of the new Auhi.h>
,,atInn wa,Im III" was favorably compared with thlt
t,. nredoce,,or, and stating that Mr
YIalnc had Instructed the American rrprcNt NATIVE
=, ~ pc,rrsburg to ask for his passports II kem
% o., ,i vcrrc not released. on January ~, ~" ne
p. cot free i'm accordance with dispatch from the
'''b hburinp his Imprisonment 10000. he says, was
consmmed in fees to his jacrs for decent treatment
III, returns to his adopted country almost pehheSS u
begin life anew in free country