Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1905-02-07
ASSASSINATION OF PR0oURA-
TOR GENERAL.

ASSASSINATION OF PR0CURA-
TOR GENERAL.
News of the assassination yesterday
of Soisalon Soininen. Procurato r-General
OF Finland, though received in ST..
Petersburg, was not generally known
last night 1t may be expected to pro-
duce an immense sensation when it be-
comes public, as it will be regarded as
the precursor of au era of terrorism for
which the events in January in st.
Petersburg and throughout Russia gave
the signal.
Until the identity of the assassin is
definitely known it will DO impossible,
of course, to establish the exact motive
of the attempt, but the present circum.
stances in Finland render it almost GER
tain that the crime is ofapurely political
character and of the same nature as the
assassination OF Count BObrikOf, Cover
nor General of Finland, in June Of last
year.
The classification of Finland, as is
we'll known, has been meeting great
opposition and creating much bitterness,
especially since the formation Of the
party of active resistance, which was
recruited from the holder spirits of the
original party of passive resistance and
to which the perpetrator Of this latest
crime probably belonged.
a. 81 raunlrftnns nor.
ties of Russia, comprising representatives
of the Finnish active resistance party,
the Polish national league, the Russian
emancipationists and other organizations
in Berlin last November q programme
for concerted action was drawn up. The
assassin of Soininen undoubtedly was in
touch with the dissatisfied element
throughout Russia. Asa matter of fact.
never before in the history of the empire
have events of an anti.governmental
nature been in closer connection, as has
been shown by the spread of the strike
movement, and the assassin of Soininen,
though principally inspired by the griev-
ances of the Finnish nationalists, un-
doubtedly was also spurred on by the
use of troops against the strikes in st.
Petersburg and elsewhere.
Little is known in St. Petersburg re-
garding the murdered official, but as
Procurator- General be was the adviser
of the Finnish Senate, which incurred
the enmity of the anti-Russian parties
on account of its alleged subserviency
to the process of classification, and Soin-
inen undoubtedly was selected as the
representative and responsible victim.
A dispatch from Helsingfors, Finland,
says: Salsalon Soininen. Procurator.
General of Finland, who before he was
enncbled was known by the name of
Johnson, was sssassinated yesterday
by young man, whose identity up to
the present time has not been determ-
ined.
The assassin and Sentiments son
were both wounded in pistol duel
following the killing. The motive of
the crime apparently was purely
political, the slain official being q
prominent member of the government
party.
The murderer appeared at the Procu-
rator's residence at III o'clock and sent
in card bearing in French the name of
Alexandra Gadd, who is in the Russian
service. The young man, who was
smsrtly dressed in an officers uniform,
was promptly admitted to the officials
private study, and on his entrance fred
four shots from a pistol, one of the
bullets piercing the breast of the Pro-
curator, who expired almost immedi-
ately.
Soipinen's 17-year-old sen, hearing
the shots, rushed in from an adjoining
room and fred three or four shots at his
fathers assailaDt, whose right leg was
broken below the knee by bullet. The
was also slightly wounded in
the shoulder and finger Of his left
hand was struck.
The assassin fred the enc bullet re-
naming in his pistol at Sentiments son,
wounding him slightly in the calf Of the
right leg. He then tried to escape, but
fell unconscious to the floor in the ante
room. There be was seized. The assas-
lin wss.renoved to the surgical hospital,
where he lies guarded by police, answer
ng no questions, and evidently uncon-
'cious. His recovery, however, is
thought to be certain.
Up to the present the authorities have
been unable to identify him. he is of
lark complexion and apparently between
IS and 80 years Of age.
Soininen was born in Finland in 1856 |
md practiced at the bar before beginning |
lis political career.
Fewer Gallons; Wear Longer.
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