The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-12-01
RUSSIAN POLICE TORTURE.
liz Has Been Abolished for n Century,
Yet still Exists.


Moscow Letter in London Standard.
The centenary OF the abolition in Russia OF the
torture as an organized system OF legal inquiry
mas PROVIDED the Russian press with a text Tor
numerous articles on the humanity and progress
or their country. No doubt II was a great step
20 axe put II has sth 70 be ratified in practice
oeIore Russia has any particular occasion 10 re-
lolce. In the old days the torture was applied
10 all suspects as a nrst means OF insulrVs and
when the unhappy wretch had been compelled 10
confess Something-usually. as the Empress
Catharins expressed il. ANYTHING which was put
into his mouth-he was subjected 70 a second
inquiry" by the same or more severe means. In
order TO secure confirmation OF his nrst con-
fession. Occasionally the whole process was
repeated twice more, with a view 10 eXtorting
the names OF -accomplices. The tortures applied
wers much the same as in other countries. but
could be added TO by the ingenuity OF individual
the ex-stable boy ana favorite OF the Empress
Biron. was in power, IL was a favorite form 0f
during the severe northern frosts OF midwinter.
and TO drenoh him with buckets OF water. either
OF Inquiry" which had the disSdvantsgs q
too often killing the poor wretch before he had
time 10 confess anything. Thumbscrews. the
clog. and every form OF whipping and beating.
with almost as many names for the various pro-
eesses as are 10 be found in the dialogues OF the
slaves OF Roman comedy. were every day at
tributes Of the old Russian halls Of justice.
Just a hundred years ago the Emperor Alex
ander l abolished the torture as being a ''shams
and a reproach 10 all mankind" But he forgot
10 oruer ths leeal instruments or torture 70 De
destroyed, and these fingered on, and were un-
Sescfsn-s - = anotneE quarter OF u centuIy.
CmClany the torture has, OF course, actually
disappeAred-at any rate. those forms OF IL which
lrANA0 eldooAaAt AIkU uulcllS lT AneI dpkiCa-
ton are no more TO be found. In actual fact.
however. and in secret. there Is a great deal of
Of the Russian empire at the present day. and Il
Is exercised 10y the police intrusted with the
muEhik has a saying that two visits TO these
police Is equivalent 10 half a lifetime; I'm other
the insurance companies say, is reduced 10 half
what it ought to be for his age and condition BY
falling into the hands OF these wolves" as they
are commonly called by those who know them.
How is this brought aSout7 First Of all there
Is no hanelS COTnuE IN RuNHiQ- and "A nrfaOnar ON
suspicion, may languish for as much as a couple
OF years in jail before being brought 10 trial.
During this period much may happen to The sus-
pect. Very occasionally some paper, more dar-
ing, or enjoying more powerful protection than
its neighb0rs. ventures 10 tell something Of the
story OF these doings, but not much Such q
properly accredited TO the Russian court. This
man was arrested in connection with a theft at
the embassy where he served. and was treated
with such b~arbaTity in the preliminary in
quiry'' by the detective police that he con-
fessed, falsely, in the hope OF getting sent 70
prison and so lettering his condition. The police
kept him, and repeated their Inquiry with a
view TO extracting other information from the
accused. who, after more than eight months of
curry" was accidentally found to be entirely In
nOcent Of any connection with the robbery in
Oriental test OF feeding on salt meats ana keep
ing without water; it left him a deaf man. and.
before he got out OF this den OF wolves" his
hair had turned gray.
How difficult 1t must be TO keep out OF reach
OF suspicion may be inferred from the fact that
in one OF the largest and most enlightened towns
or the RUSSIAN empire more IMAM u per cent. OF
the inhabitants last year passed through the
hands of these same people over $500 persons,
including nearly 5000 women, were arrested in
Odessa in 1900. and the vast majority, over 1900.
were taken up by that dread engine, the "sd-
its scttons 70 snv hut It, ean ssDeriors ana
theoretically, 20 the Car. As 10 the beatings,
Negotiations, thumpings. poundings, and bruis-
ings, the terms are happily toIsotten. X tnsy
ever existed. IN English. The detective police.
punishment by blows. A common method "
Furnishing a delinquent Waterman, who may per-
the animosity OF the police Tor no reason that
could be- formulated In legal language is 10 set
sistants," who strike him alternately, one be-
fore and one behind, until he has had enough
The man goes home sore, he has no Witnesses
and no Russians word counts for anything with
out confederation; besides. complaint might lsad
beating has been continued long enough. the odds
are that the mans lungs-for the blows are given
on the breast and back-are permanently In
jured, and cases have been known where the
victim has died within a few months from con-
up 10 a short board. for all the world like the
old back boards with which our gTanonothers
trussed up, with ankles tied together, 70 thrust
weight on the board; this, repeated a dozen or a
score OF times, Is said 10 be certain death withih
a few months from the injury done to the lungs.
There are also no marks left. which Is some
times a consideration. though generally a mattSr
OF Indifference where the police are concerned
A wet sheet tied tightly over the naked body adj
mits also OF a very severe thrasning being given
without o - ieaVt ans instTumept thai viii not cut. IA
for the hundred forms OF cuns and clouts, each
with its appropriate name. they are hardly
worth mentioning, though severe enough 70 the
recipient.
is in favor OF such practices. they are probably
merely survivals OF a ruder age, which the
police, who are sadly overworkeo In directions
We fn England, should not consider al al con-
nected with police duties, find shorter ana
easier. to say nothing OF cheaper, than the IN
terminable paper reports, and replies. ano coun.
ter reports. and supplementary returns. ana
sheavss OF other docuinsnts. without which no
magistrate In Russia il permitted 70 settle =
case involving even q sixpence OF a charee OF
beInR more than benttingly drunk IN the pubic
streets on a great holiday. II Is the aim OF many
enlightened men in Russia that enough psohcaty
shonld be- allowed, through the daily press. 10
act as a check on the petty tyranny now prac-
ticed with impunity by the hresponsiols ponce;
and. in due course. IL is possible that 50 much
will be accorded TO the common sense OF tho
Russian. But In the meantime ora cannot hear
Of this great country.