Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1902-08-15
A DRAMATIC MURDERER.
ASSASSINATION OF A RUSSIAN OFF,
CIAL THAT WAS AUOAClOUS.

| The Nihilist Student, Stepond Nalevano-
witch Baimascheh, Killed NJ. sipia-
guine, Minister of the Interior, in a
Manner which Was Prodigiousiy Cool.
! Owing to the secrecy always OBJ
served here, with regard to state trials
and during the Investigations of the
political police, the particulars rela-
tive to the assassination of M. Sipia-
guine, minister of the interior, have
| leaked cut only this week. writes the
ST. Petersburg Russia) correspond
ent of the New York Mail and Express.
They recall to memory the manner Of
preceding of the Nihilists who killed
Car Alexander II in 1881, several
chiefs of the Russian police and sew
eral other high officials.
The murder of Sipiaguine SHOWS
| prodigious audacity and coolness on
the part of the assassin. At 1 o'clock
in the afternoon an elegant carriage
drawn by two blooded mares, arrived
in front of the staircase of the council
OF state. In a carefully studied atti-
tude the young student revolutionist,
Stepane Valevanovitch BalmaScheff,
was reclining aimlessly in the car
riage. The usher on service at the
gate hurried to the droska and respect
fully opened the door of the vehicle.
Without making move, and with a
J naughty tone, as if hardly deigning to
| open his mouth, as it becomes bril-
liant lieutennt, Balmascheff said to the
| usher:
Say, my man, is the minister of the
interior here? l come with a message
from his Majesty, Serge Alexandra
WITCH" (Even grand dukes are re-
ferred to as "Majesties" in Russia). At
these words the usher's face became
still more humble.
| Il ned to see the minister immedi-
ately," Balmascheff went on. This
was said with the tone of a man used
to command, so much so that the ush
er had no longer any doubt. He an
swered: mo; his Excellency has not
! yet arrived"
well, if it is so, shall find him at
home yet" said the young man.
The carriage wheeled around and
went toward the Morskaia street. But
1t had hardly gone more than a few
yards when it returned and stopped
again in front of the Palace Mariynis
ky, the "envoy extraordinary" declar
ing that, after all, he preferred to wait
there for the minister. The gate was
opened Immediately, with a great
noise, by the usher Balmascheff
stepped from the carriage with quick
and perfectly military manner, keep
ing his large portfolio under his arm.
| The usher murmured in the ears of the
lackeys: THAT is a message from his
Majesty"
Balmascheff took off his military
overcoat, glanced in the mirror, freed
| his right hand from it's glove, opened
the portfolio and looked at the envel-
opes, while putting in a convenient
! place the revolver which was in the
portfolio.
One or two minutes passed. Balma-
scheff became uneasy, fearing that
| Sipiaguine, instead Of coming by the
| door where he was waiting, should
! come this time, like the other minis,
ters, by the main entrance of the Pal
ace Mariyinsky. Then the whole plot
! would have miscarried. But the min
| ister's carriage arrived. The usher
rusher forward and said: There is
message for your Excellency from his
Majesty"
| Sipiaguine entered the anteroom
vestibule. To meet him the heavenly
missionary" as the nihilists call him.
advanced, and presented to the minis
ter big package, enveloped in heavy
! paper and difficult to open. Balma-
scheff then carefully placed himself III
a position favorable to his attack, and
also calculated to avoid any unfor-
tunate interferences on the part of the
servants.
What is the matter?" the minister
! inquired, with astonishment, trying to
open the envelop.
That's the matter" quietly an
swered Balmascheff, while taking from
within his portfolio a Browning revolv-
| er of an expensive make, which never
| misses fire. The weapon is of fiat
| tened form, easy to carry in a side hip
pocket At the moment he fired, from
below upward, so that the bullet, after
having gone through the body, should
not touch other people present, but
should lodge itself in the ceiling.
The revolver was charged with
| smokeless powder There was a sharp
report, and the minister fell at the
feet Of Balmascheff, who remained
! quiet and tried to tranQuilize the
| frightened servants
DON'T be afraid, by brethren; you
shall not be hurt" he said. "Remem-
ber that only the enemies of the peo-
pie are thus treated"
Balmascheff made no move to es-
cape; his coolness and calm were ex-
traordinary, according to the reports Of
ocular witnesses of the tragedy and
can be found only in men capable of
thinking and feeling
Balmascheff's examination after the