The Topeka state journal., 1906-05-14
STABBED IN BACK.
Vice Admiral Kuzmich Latest
Russian Victim.
Commander of the Port of st.
Petersburg.
KILLED BY WORKMAN.
Employees Refused Permission to
Celebrate May Day.
One of Them Committed the
Murder and Escaped.

st. Petersburg, May 14.-Vice Admiral
Kuzmich, commander Of the port, who
was very unpopular with the workmen,
was assassinated here today by work
men whose May day demonstration he
had attempted to stop.
The admiral was killed at the new
admiralty works, a government inStitu-
ton where most of the 1000 men en-
ployed there reported for duty at 5
o'clock this morning. They wanted i'm
medtately to march out in body and
celebrate the Russian May day, but I'm
ally agreed to work until 2 o'clock in
the afternoon. The admiral, however,
made speech to the men saying that
he could not agree to their leaving work
at o'clock and the matter was left
open.
At about $3.50 a. M, according to an
officer who was at the gate of the works
the admiral was emerging from a small
shop in the works when a workman,
who had been concealed around the cor
ner Of the building leaped on Kuzmich
from behind and drove a long dagger
into his back. The admiral fell forward
on his face which was badly cut by
stones and died Immediately. The as
sassin fled into a large forge, where he
was lost among the men employed there.
The works were promptly surrounded
by troops and police but the search for
the murderer was unayailing, his COM
rades protesting ignorance of his identi-
ty.
The police say it is evident that the
assassination of the admiral had been
planned IN advance. The dagger which
was found on the spot was concealed
in a round stieklike sword cane.
Among the workmen are many for
mer sailors and revoIutionists. Kuz-
mich had a bad reputation among the
Workmen being regarded as hard and
despotic.
No Clashes in the City.
The workmen of St. Petersburg to-
day made an imposing showing in their
May day celebration. practically every
factory, mill and shop in the city was
idle, over 200, 900 men joining the dem
onstration. Early reports from the in
terror showed that work generally was
suspended in the provincial cities of
Russia proper. While the leaders here
protested their intention to avoid col
H3islons the radical. element which is
/ DoycOtting parliament determined to
| celebrate the day with manifestations
and the men out of work decided to
parade in the industrial sections early
in the day with flags bearing inscrip-
tiOns reading: Liberty and work for
those out OF work"
The gravest fears were entertained
that the day would not pass without
bloOdshed. The chief of police post
ed notice that no manifestations would
be permitted, large reserves Of police
armed with rifles were massed in the
Industrial quarters and detachments of
infantry and cavalry, though they were
kept out of sight, We're posted at
strategetic points.
Shortly before noon came the news
that Vice Admiral Kuzmich, the com
mander of the ports had been assassi-
mated at the new admiralty works as
a result of his attempting to force the
| employees to work all day instead of
celebrating May day.
Admiral Kuzmich participated in the
Russo Turkish war and in 1902, was
second flag officer OF. the Port Arthur
fleet. He returned to St. Petersburg in
1903, and was appointed commander of
the port. Politically he was a reac-
ZIONIST