New-York tribune., 1904-10-09
RUSSIA,S FOES ABROAD.
The Nihilist Conspiracy at Lake
Leman-Recent agitation.

ST. Petersburg, Oct. "A long police investi-
CATION has revealed the fact that the inspira-
ton for the revival Of terrorist activity in Rus
sa comes chiefly from a band OF revolutionists
mostly recruited from exiles 20 Siberia, living
on the shore os Lake Leman. Switzerland. where
there may possibly be another executive COM
mittee" such directed cyihilism from 1873 TO
1882
The two movements differ. however. both as
20 character and purpose. Nih;iism was essen
TALLY domestic growth o: revenge for the
transportation to Siberia OF the pupils OF
TchernyshevskiI ard Bakunin.
Tie present 'hghting organization" as II is
termed. seems TO be without direct object,
but rather as supplemental to the work Of the
revolutionary propaganda which the agitators
abroad are spreading among all classes Of the
population. the political murders being INTENDED
10 stir up the discontented portion Of the people.
The revolutionary press abroad ana the lit
erature which it sends into Russia are charged
with Systematically preparing the way for
crimes. both here and In foreign countries. by
defaming the Russian public men selected
Victims The press campaign abroad. it is
pointed out began in 1898 1900, and the muir
ders in 1901 With the capture Of the revolu-
tionary agent Gerschunin the authorities are
satisfied that they have laid hands upon the
active agent in Russia of the foreign agitators
The revelations at the trial OF Gerschunin
which have not yet been made public. 1t is
authoritatively stated, prove that three Jewish
exiles. Gotz, Roubinovitch and Gerschunin. who
formed the editorial stan Of the Messenger OF
the Russian Revolutionaries. were the leaders
OF the fighting organization.
The evidence, il is said. shows that Gotz and
Rouhinovitch are graduates OF the nhst
school. Roubinovitch preached anarchy and
terrorism publicly in Italy last winter. Gotz
was exiled 10 Yakutsk. Siberia, in 1887. for con-
Quoting q secret printing press IN his course as
a university student. During his term of exile
he was implicated in a plot of the convicts
against the governor Of the prison, in which
number Of guards were killed. Upon the ac-
cession of Emperor Nicholas TO the throne he
was set free. He immediately left Russia and
entered into relations with Roubinovitch for
the purpose OF uniting the Russian revolution
airy forces abroad.
Gerschunin was formerly a pharmacists as
sistant. and several times early as 1895 was
accused or completely with revolutionary so
cieties each time. hoV-eve-. escaping conviction.
In 1900 when the police had absolute proof
against him. he fed to Paris where he was soon
joined by Gotz and Roubinovtch- The next
year he returned to Russia and travelled the
Baltic and Black Seas the emissary OF
organization instigating political murders. In
each case he selected another person as the IN
strument in the crime.
His relations with Peter karpovich. who muV-
dered N. Bogoliepof. with Balschanen. the as-
sassin OF NJ Spiaguine. with Grigorieff. who at
tempted 10 kill Nj PobiedOnostseff. and with
Kochura. who fired upon Prince Obolensky. was
established at his trial, and il is believed that
he may have fired the shot which killed Gov
ernor Bogdanovi;ch. IN each he planned
the murders the police say and also prepared
M
mtted and on which he engraved revolutionary
notices. and even wrote proclamations in the
name OF the assassins.
The police are convinced thar NJ. Piehve fell
a victim TO this same organization. but they
Russia who succeeded GerschuniL after his
arrest and conviction.