Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-27
TERRORISTS' LATEST COUP
Robbers Got Away With $193, 600
From a Treasury Wagon.
BATTLE IN A THOROUGHFARE
In Recent Military Trial Defendants
Refused to Acknowledge the Juris-
diction Of the Court.

ST. PETERSBURG. October PA dar-
ing robbery was committed at about noon
today In the center Of this city, by which
number of hghwaymen got away with
$3.50 from a wagon which was convey
ing the cash from the customs deDa rtment
to the state treasury. Two bombs were
thrown in quick succession at the vehicle
as It was passing a corner near the Ekater-
insk canal, close to a branch Of the treas
ury. after which rush was made for the
wagon by number of armed men who,
after exchanging hot fire with the gen.
darmes escorting 1t. managed to secure the
booty and fled across a small foot bridge
spanning the Ekaterinsk canal. but ieavlng
five of their number in the hands Of the
police Many bystanders sustained slight
injuries result of the explosions.
Trial Without Defendants.
ST. PETERSBURG, october 27-In con-
sequence Of the refusal yesterday Of the
court which is trying the members of the
Council of Workmen to admit the report Of
M. Lopucsin, the former director of the po-
lice department, to Premier Stolypin, prov
ing that the police department had caused
incendiary proclamations to be printed and
had organized attacks on the Jews. or to
summon Count White. Minister of War
Rudiger Admiral Birilieff and other min
isters as witnesses to prove that the Coun-
ell of Workmen was sanctioned by the gov
eminent, the attorneys defending the fifty
two defendants today withdrew from the
case.
The accused men, through their spokes-
men, NM. krustaleff and Bronstein then
declared that they ceased to recognize the
jurisdiction of the court and would press
TO the extremity of shedding blood their re-
fusal to participate any further in the trial.
The court, to avoid trouble. thereupon de-
cided to proceed with the case without the
presence of either lawyers or the accused.
Such a procedure is quite customary under
presentfrevolutionary conditions in Russia.
The scene in the court was dramatic
After NJ. Grusenberg. the leading attorney
for the defense had presented his reasons
for withdrawing the case, M. Prustal arose
and harangued the court with fiery elo-
Quence, declaring that the whole procedure
was a traVeSty of justice, that the con-
vctlon of the accused was predetermined
and that the lawyers for the defense had
been frankly informed In advance of the
uselessness Of their efforts, as even the
extent Of the sentences of the accused had
been decided upon in advance. The speech
awakened the greatest enthusiasm In the
audience, and serious demonstration was
prevented only by the overwhelming force
Of gendarmes In the court room.
Fixed Bayonets In Court.
AS the accused were taken. under guard.
back to the prison the spectators demon
Stratively left the room, where the trial
proceeded before audience composed
mainly OF policemen. A number of the wit
nesses who earlier in the year were con-
victed of participation In revolutionary con-
1piracies were accompanied to the stand
by soldiers with fixed bayonets.
The withdrawal Of the attorneys was
dictated largely by political reasons and in
order to emphasize attacks on the govern
ment for organizing outbreaks against the
Jews. as shown by M. Lopucsin's report,
which was without special bearing the
defense. The accused at conference last
night volunteered to sacrifice themselves
for the good Of the cause.