The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1891-10-10
QUESTION BY TORTURE.
BARBARoUs CUSTOM THAT IS
NOT YET ABOLISHED.
The Horrors OF Examinations by Russian
omciaIs--The Methods OF Tor
ment la Turkey where HUI
manity a. Unknown.


trated in the experience OF the forty
six prisoners condemned on political
charges at Warsaw. The details may
seem Incredible, but they are circum-
stantially given by delegate from
Poland to Western Europe, the nc
curacy of whose statement there Is no
reason to doubt.
The charge against the forty-six
Poles was that OF belonging 10
secret society which had for its object
TO alter. sooner or later, the existing
form OF government This they were
told verbally, no written document
whatsoever being shown TO them.
Political suspects are not allowed 10
seek any legal advice in seli-defence.
The investigation Is managed not by
judges or lawyers but by officers OF
the gendarmerie. In the present case
tho Judges OF instruction, were Col.
Bielanowski and Lieut.. Wonsiotski.
They were assisted by special substi-
tute OF the Public Prosecutor-an
official whose sole mission Is 10 attend
10 political charges.
Among the accused was one Ladislas
Guisbert. lie was a private tutor OF
good reputation. While in prison he
fell IN with fever and became de-
lirious. Little or no care was taken OF
him; but on the contrary attempts
were made 10 profit by the disturbed
condition OF his mind TO extort con-
essions from him. The gendarmes
nit upon an ingenious device 20 weaken
his mind by breaking up his rest.
Every half hour or so during the night
they would enter his cell under the
pretext OF attending TO n small oil
lamp. They made such noise and
chatter that the prisoner awoke end
then tho gendarmes would question
tiim, thinking that in his half sleepy
condition he might make some impru-
lent answers. Sometimes Colonel
Bielanwosk caused this unfortunate
nan TO be- brought from his cell after
midnight so that he might sign the
minutes or protocol OF the questions
that had been put 70 him while he was
in bed. Such treatment inflicted al n
moment when the patient was suffering
from fever SO aggravated the delirium
Shat ultimately Ladislas Guisbert com
slctely lost his reason. After a time
&c became "A raving lunatic and was
removed TO a madhouse.
Another prisoner, named Ferdinand
l.aleslti. was asked TO give information
about the propaganda carried on In tho
factories OF Warsaw and neighborhood.
lie refused TO turn informer. There
lpon the authorities gave orders that
TaleslSi should be conveyed to another
Iart OF tho prison building and severe
Iy logged. Col. Biclanowski accom-
panied the prisoner ready 70 take down
lds answers, and, doubtless. had these
proved satisfactory the severity OF the
Jogging would have been mitigated.
ialesSi bravely endured the torture.
lie did not answer a question nor utter
l. word. This man had been cruelty
tortured because he would not say
THAT the gendarmes supposed or.guess-
I'D he might know The authorities
low fearing that this modern revival
IL tho old and barbaric custom OF ques-
iioning under torture might, II known
cause the outbreak OF serious disturb
hnces In the town il was only at the
ihomcnt the prisoners were about 90
leave Warsaw that the authorities al
lowed them 20 sec their friends. At
his interview the truth became known
In Turkey torture Is regular part
VI the criminal process, and not as in
Russia comparatively exceptional
Foreigners, OF course, are subject 20
tho jurisdiction OF tho diplomatic rep
resentativcs OF their respective coun-
lries but the natives. whether Christ
ian or Turk, arc at tho mercy OF the
Iultan and his agents. Western forms
1f trial are unknown, and while inn
prisonment Is the nominal penalty for
many crimes, Turkish Imprisonment Is
lingering death. The methods OF
extracting Information from accused
persons In Turkey would be almost
incredible in civilized country. The
bastinado is freely applied on suspicion
OF most offences. IL Is true that the
beating often includes the penalty of
conviction. The magistrate causes
the prisoner to be thrashcd until nc
has confessed and then lets him 90 as
sufficiently punished. But suspected
political offenders, who In Turkey as
ln all despotic countries arc considered
among the gravcst, are dealt with In
ways that make the bastinado seem a
pleasant pastimc. During the recent
panic In Constantinople on the subject
OF an Armenian insurrection hundreds
OF Armenians were arrested and thrown
int rl.iann IL hnn hn... ....n..I.. II n....