New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-11-07
HOW POUREN FOUGHT
Witnesses Tell of HIS Secret PoI'ta-
cal Work an Russia.

Mrs Trina Shepte a young Russian took the
stand yesterday in defence Of Jan Janon Pouren'
when the hearing on the new extraditon proceed
ings brought by the Russian government was con-
tinued before Commissioner Hitchcock in the Fed
eral Building Mrs. shepte. who now lives in Rox-
bury Mass was fellow revolutionist OF Pouren-
She testified that Pouren was guilty OF poiitica1
offences IN Russia This was the point which Con-
gresham Herbert Parsons. who is Pourens coun-
sell wanted 10 bring out, for II the defendant Is
sirnoIv political offender he is not subject to
tradition.
'cPouren did belong to that secret Organization
the Brothers of the Woods, said Mrs Snepte
through a interpreter. Il often saw dim NJ me
meetings in 1905 He also belonged to that secret
society in sissegael. Lavonia and he came to the
villages with talk of helping ourselves against cruel
Russia.
I'VE chose members Of the National Guard to
fight for our people in 1885, she continued We
wanted the government saloons closed and the Cos
sacks driven out The women voted at these meet
ings Pouren was there 10 tell what happened
st the other villages.
was he member of the revolutionary militia"
asked Mr.. Parsons.
Yes and then the dragons came" she said.
and the town officers ran away 1 stayed oenlnd
with some OF the records OF doings, but when
some Of the townspeople were shot 1 burned the
papers. Pouren came to my house. and fed him
"One night the soldiers came, and Pouren fed
We were whipped by the soldiers-uny mother and
hut we didn't tell where he was
Mrs Shepte said that the BLACK Hundred was
band of robbers and murderers who went about
the country in the name Of the Russian Demo
cratic party.
John Murray. the Russian representative objected
to the womau's testimony political questions
but his objections did not stand. Mr.. Murray
asked how Mrs Shepte knew that Pouren had been
a member OF the Brothers OF the Woods"
Because the police and soldiers were always
looking for him" Mrs shepte replied Mr.. Muir
ray objected to this answer, but Mr. Parsons in
sisted that it stand Mrs shepte refused 10 give
the location OF the house TO which the police had
gone in 1908 looking for Pouren.
IF tell I may make trouble for the people who
live there now" she said A conversation among
counsel followed, and then Mrs. shepte said she
would talk about the house While she did so the
other Russians and Poles in the courtroom listened
with deep attention
John Lic.t. Mrs shepte's brother. who lives IN
Cambridge Mass, said he was Russian Demo
crat and had voted in his town elections. being
elected to an Office in Kraston Manor. He de-
clared that Pouren had been member Of the
Brothers of the Woods and that he also be-
longed the society, fighting against the sale Of
intoxicants and protecting the people against the
BLACK Hundred He fought in a fve-day battle.
he said, when five or six thousand revolutionists
took several barons and dragons prisoners and
locked them up at Kokenhausen from which they
escaped
Parsons.
No but know he was there. I saw him the
way to the fight, marching at the head Of his
company
Lfcit gave more testimony regarding the nature
of the Cars manifesto allowing persons to meet
for political discussion and said he had been
working in Massachusetts for two years