The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1907-02-22

WAS GUILTY OF NO GRtME

shock The CiN.liZad world 1t RtaA hANs
Impossible Tor many years 70 come my
return lG my native ID II l Go le
eide TO return IL may cost me G2N NE
Vet II Is Iay duty. for no II of my
countrynen is better equipped To tell
1t than I-no oae is IN possession oI So
many OF the facts. III Russia II Viii
be unnecessary for me 10 give any otler
substantiatlon than the signature OF
nly name, but I am ready 10 Su9stah-
yiSte every word L say if any one OF my
statements should be questioned.
For TWO years nave made it my spe-
cial business as a professional journal
Est to study ON the spot and expos
before the Russian public the barbari-
ties OF the government. For two years
/ havs been the special emissary OF the
Russ. OF st. Petersburg.
During my Investigation o. the gov
er.1ment repressions have in no case
been satisfied with the iunuinerable
and circumstantial stories OF those VINO
have directly suffered. Everywhere |
have talked with the most reputable
ci~;izcas-doetors, lawyers, professors
and merchants-and in all cases ! have
been able to find among the govern
lnenI officials and the army officers a
few liberal individuals who, knowing
my name family, and being certain
that their names Will never be used.
nave ~intrGsted me With every govern
ment .;ecret; and ! venture to say that
20 man has received more of these con-
LESSONS than i.
Recently the world was shocked by
the tortures of the young girl Spirit
dorova by a Cossack officer and an
official of the police. l wrote a widely
circulated book on the case. There is
no question that this and other bar
oarities were approved of. if not insti-
gated by the higher government Off
ciaiS.
There rave been innumcrable other
cases of torture by subordinate off
ciais; but this is not sueh an isolated
Ease If it is nothing less than an in
stance of the establishments of the sys-
TEN OF torture Tor the purpose Of clio
1tins discriminating evidence. and it is
&a1ing place even in the most impor-
ant prison of Russia.
Already l ave written a description
OF the establishment of the inquistion
IN Riga in the Baltic provinces. | have
shown from the records of military
trials innulnerable cases of the beating,
rutting and lnutilation of prisoners
In order To eXtort confessions from
Them These stories l shall be ready at
any time to give to the world in con-
Nected form and in detail.
In Warsaw, the capital of Poland,
the third city of Russia, and one of the
most important on the continent of
europe. the fortunes We're in
the Same buildings in and under the
very eyes OF the goNeflof-gefleral ana
fig@er officers of the garrison of War
saw. all noblemen personally %acquain-
Ted with the czar and his court and in
Gaiiy touch with them.
! nave secured fina ard conclusive
evidence to show that the Spanish
tnauistion has reappeared and been
Incorporated by the Russian govern |
alent as the chief Weapon to combat
the rising revolutionary tide.
Forced to Flee.
stories OF the torture in the citadel
Of Warsaw nave been current for a
Fear or more. / was sent in the great
ssl secrecy by the Russ TO Investigate
sheir truth. | talked with innumerable
private persons of all social classes
and parties; with those who had suf- |
fered directly, and also with several
officials in n position to know every
thing.
Tae Russian government began to
cersecute me. In a few weeks-and af-
yer my investigation was we'll rounded
out was forced TO flee. That l am
no, in Siberia or a dungeon cell at the
crescent moment is due solely to the
tfact that | was kept informed of every
proposed nov of the government by
lsny own friends in its midst.
TINS story IS no worse than many
Others OF its Kind. l had The details
largely from the lips of an older woman
prisoner who had spent several months
In daiiy converse with the tortured and
.iy.n. girl. Her character and ante
.ce,aentA We're learned from her neigh
hors ana her fanny, and secured
supporting evidence IN plenty from
pSfscns cohheeled VAN the government
ttseli-
Eele ere the facts =! the case:
Souns man named Rothkopf. a citi-
ger OF Rig went to visit a friend who
sisad, as most Russians live in the
larger cltles, IN an apartment house,
containing a number of families. Now,
taost u~niortunateiy for Rottkopf. just
Sefor" his visit y bomb had been oun
81, the police Secreted in one of the
flats. suspicion pointed Rothkopf's
fr;e1lh- lie was promptly arrested, and
as il friend of the suspected Roth
kept Was arrested also.
NON. Rotakcpf had q S~iste:. a young
girl of is. she you must remember,
GNai committed no crime. No such
charge Was brought against her, but
she was he sister of a friend of a sus-
oected u and that was enough for
the police. The very evening of her
brothers arrest she went out to drink
ssa with some friends in company With