The San Francisco call., 1904-08-18
RxSndn DnpIsoity Exposed.
eDeoaal oorresDondsnos.

0N0A 6AGG NeeCN - N--N ~S~~N--~
Iations made at the Konigsberg pohu-
cal trial, Just concluded, OF Russian
Aupucity and the undignifed zeal
uhown by ths German Government to
curry favor with the Czar by the sacrt-
Zee OF some OF its own subjects.
The prisoners, nine In number, were
all men in the lower walks Of life Most
of them could neither read nor write
They lived near the Russian border in
East Prussia, a district from which,
with the connivance Of the corrupt
Russian police, a brisk business is done
IN smuggling goods into the dominion
Of the Gar. They were accused, firstly,
with being concerned in a conspiracy
or secret society; secondly, of circulat-
ing books and pamphlets melting to the
murder Of the Car and the overthrow
OF the Russian constitution, and. third
ly, OF being guilty of lese majeste
against the person Of Emperor Nicho-
las ii by cire14ating these books and
pamphlets.
For nine months that were occupied
in a preliminary investigation the men
were kept closely confined in Jail During
this period the German authorities were
in close communication with Russian
officials for the purpose OF procuring all
possible evidence against them. Mean
while it was loudly proclaimed that the
object Of the prosecution was to stamp
out nest Of dangerous anarchist and
nihilist conspirators, whose threats
against the Car rendered their exter-
mination desirable in the interest Of
law and order throughout Europe. But
after a trial lasting nearly fortnight,
sn which the presiding Judge displayed
the bitterest hostility toward the pris-
oners, ali the major charges of the in
dlctment. which covered 200 pages, were
dismissed. On the technical charge Of
conspiracy, II is true, six of the prison
ers. who were shown to belong to a Sc
cret society, were condemned to terms
Of imprisonment ranging from three
weeks 10 two months. AS a matter Of
fact they were simply smugglers.
The prosecution failed ANONYMOUSLY
in its purpose. But the exposures made
at the trial Of the deceit, lying and
downright forgeries resorted to by the
Russian officials TO obtain the convic-
tion Of the prisoners have furnished an
object lesson in Russian judicial meth
ods which Germany viii not soon for
get And Russian institutions have
been pilloried in a manner which will
effectually prevent for years the growth
Of sympathy for the neighboring state,
which the German Government is seek
ing so assiduously TO cultivate.
The alleged seditious literature was
ell in the Russian tongue. A selection
from the books and pamphlets seized
by the police IN the homes of the pris-
oners were sent to the Russian Consul
General at Konigsberg that he might
translate extracts from them for the
benefit Of the German authorities. He
took advantage OF the opportunity af-
forded him to make the evidence fit
the crime" IN accordance with the
most approved Russian methods. He
sent back an alleged transcript of GER
tain passages which would have fully
justified the charge that the accused
men were engaged in circulating
printed matter '1nciting to the muir
der OF the Gar and the overthrow Of
the Russian constitution" But he
had not reckoned on the license al
lowed IA oross-examinatdon in the Ger
man courts. He was asked to point
eut in the original text certain pas
sageH IN which. according TO his trans
lA1on Of them. terrorist methods
were approved and recommended. The
sensation produced IN the court can
be imagined when, after fumbling
nervouEly over the pages for some
dime. he had to acknowledge that he
could not nnd them. Further examin-
alton revealed the fact that the most
discriminating OF the quotations that
- - f-r-. a. ~
ing were pure Observation-Disclosures
1orgeries. In short. Others had been
mutilated and distorted so as to coin
eide with the Russian official view of
revolutionary doctrines. For exam
pie, where the original text arraiEned
the sbsolutism Of monarchicaI govern
ment In Russia and condemned It as
q nefarious institution the inventive
genius Of the Russian Consul had sub
stituted the personal designation of
Nicholas H." making it .Iese ma
3este" beyond a doubt. He left the
witness box virtually self-convicted of
doing that which were he amenabIe
10 the laws Of any free country would
send him TO jail. But if his own Gov
ernment censures him-of which
there is no indication at PRESENT.
will not be for forging and distorting
evidence. but for making such a mess
Of Il that he was found out
In another matter in connection
with the trial 1t was shown that he
had exposed the German Government
10 well merited ridicule and contempt.
The proceedings against these German
prisoners for sedition against the
Car and his empire was undertaken
on the understanding that reciprocal
treatment would be meted ont by the
Russian Government for similar Of
lenses against the German Emperor
and Germany, that being the essential
condition Of the validity Of such a.
course in Germany. This Russian
Consul General supplied the German
authorities with a translation of the
paragraphs OF the Russian criminal