Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1907-02-02
dangers of Port Arthur had been dur
inc tbo war

dangers of Port Arthur had been dur
ing the war.
CZAR WOULDN'T SEE HIM.
IT is customary for Russians of rank
who return home from foreign SER
vice to be received by the cxar, who
then listens from their own lips TO a
report of their official activity. Gen.
StoeSsel was not summoned to the i'm
perial presence, and when. after an
interval of waiting, he applied for an
audience with the car. he was CURLY
informed by the communication of
subordinate court official that his PEE
tition could not be granted. IT is also
customary for a Russian general TO
report himself to the minister of war
on returning from foreign service, but
when Gen. Stoessel presented himself
at the ministry to discharge this duty,
he was not admitted and soon after
ward received written cpmmunica-
ton that the minister did not desire
to see him. When he went to call
on old comrades with whom he had
been on terms OF Intimate friendship
before and during the war, they fire.
quently were mot at home" When
he went to the theater. the persons
sitting round him made critical and
insulting remarks about his general
ship in voices intended to reach his
ears.
PURSUED BY MOB.
When the general ventured out into
the streets for n walk he was often
recognized and pursued by a mob of
fanatcal. patriotic Russians. who
overwhelmed him with curses and
showered insults on him with aston
ishing vehemence. on one or two
occasions he was still more seriously
molested by patriotic street mobs.
when men and women alike attempt
ed TO tear the clothes from his back.
At another time party of women
and girls spat in his face, cursing him
as a cowardly traitor to Russia When
Gen. Stoessel applied for permission
to leave st Petersburg In order to
seek refuge from persecution in some
secluded part 6f the empire, the au-
thorities refused to allow him to de-
part on the ground that he was sus-
pected of a desire to support the
revolutionary movement
Finally. after long period OF tribu-
lation. a court martial met TO try Gen.
Stocssel on the charges formulated
against him In connection with the
defense of Port Arthur. Gen. Floug,
another high officer who took a pro-
minent part In the Manchurinn CAM
paign, presided over the court-mar-
ttal and leading lawyer named
counsel for the defense. The pro-
ceedings OF the court-martial Were
conducted In an extremely unsatis-
factory manner, for the military
Judges followed no particular rules
of procedure and accepted or reject
cd evidence according TO their own
personal whims Evidence proffered
by Cen Stoessel 10 prove his inno-
cence was rejected while witnesses
who testified against him were allow
ed to discourse on their impressions
for hours together, The whole course
of the proceedings of the court-mar-
tlal led impartial observers TO the con-
clusion that 1t was cut and dried be-
forehand.
Yet this military tribunal, despite
its iniudlcial character, was not able
TO find Gen. Stoessel guilty OF the
charges leveled against him, and shut |
fed ont Of the controversy by admin
isterlng a reprimand 10 tho accused
man. This course ruined Stoessel
without exposing his military judges
To my dlsngreeable consequences for
eaus,rs a Miscarriage OF Justice. Gen.
Stoessel left the court, not indeed |
branded as a coward and traitor. but |
SIN With a sufficient stain on his |
character To render him an outcast |
from his own class OF society forever /
and over.
SYSTEMATIC PERSECUTION.
shortly after tho trial pamphlet
was published Ia ST. Petersburg giving |
"A seilast' onnl account Of the System |
atic persecution OF Gen. stoessel. The |
author. who signed his full name 10
his statements OF the case de- /
olared that Gen. StoesselS hui
initiating downfall was primarily due |
To a personal quarrel with Potter |
pournovo, formerly minister OF the |
Interior and the most powerful man |
IN ali Russia DournoYo possessed |
Immense influence and far-reachlng |
According 10 this PAM
phlet. which was entitled "a Terrible |
Judicial Error" DournoYo concoGted |
a regular conspiracy against Con. |
Stoessel, first of all nstigating vari- |
uns creatures of his corrupt system |
OF rule to bring charges against the |
defender OF Port Arthur and then |
his reptile press 20 dis
ssmnate the accusations TO all ends
OF the earth.
This version OF tile AFFAIR was de-
scrlbed In full detail with many aD-
conclusive proofs ana great
how OF justification. After the pub
llcation Of this pamphlet Gen Htoessel
challenged Dournovo 10 a duel, thero-
by indicating that he himself regard
ed the story Of DOurnovo's Machine
lions against him as accurate and