The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1909-10-27
Nihilist Spy Who Discovered Ifcach-
cry of Former Famous Leader OF
Downtrodden People. Recitcs, Tor
First Time, Dramatic Details OF the
Tragedy.

the story, in its dramatic details, OF the
lynching of Father Gapon once leader
of Russia's downtrodden people, early
in 1906, has been told. M. Martin
Ruthenberg. at that time a spy for the
Russian nihilists, in remarkable
newspaper narrative here tells how
Canon was trapped as a traitor and
later strung up by the Infatuated men
whom he had sold out to the police.
once, a year before his end, Gapon
had been a power. Rising from
swineherd, he became master of
great peoples movement. Eloquent
and fearless. he held the first open-air
meetings in Russia. A score of labor
ers acted as his body-guard at all
times.
He wore the garb of bible-time
Syrian and dressed his hair and beard
so that his face rcsembled that on the
holy lions that the people worshipped.
Then came the great Putiloff strike.
St Petersburg was Seething. The
workingmen draw up petition to the
car and, with Father Gapon at their
head, began a march to the palace on
that "Black Sunday" in 1905. Sol
diers moved them down in platoons,
in history Gapon escaped. but from
that day he was hailed as leader of
the masses-maybe a savior of the
people.
Ruthenberg opens his story a year
later when he determined to spy on
Gapon and prove him traitor. He
suspected that Gapon had sold out to
the project, and later found his sus
picionS true.
He visited Gapon and told him he
wanted to interview Project Ratch-
kowsky for the purpose of gaining
the big sum that such an interview,
under guise of disclosing secrets to
the police, would bring. He began by
saying that all that could be done
would be to extort money from the
police chief.
THAT is true" replied Gapon, adj
ding, with an odd smile, that a little
time ago he received 5000 roubles
from the car.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. mach will he
give if I come and dine with him?
Five hundred roubles,
Gapon-He will perhaps give TO-
900. This is what I should advise you
to do: Simply go to Cubats restau-
rant on Sunday, and l shall tell Ratch-
kowsky.
Ruthenberg-Hc won't re ceive me;
he no longer trusts you.
Gapon-Yes, he does.
Ruthenberg-He is not afraid of
me?
Gapon--No, as he trusts me; and
how about the money?
Observation-Disclosures thou
sand l must have, and cash down. And
it is only to come and dine with him
to ascertain what he wants
that everything should be known be-
forehand
Gapon-Very good. 1t is necessary
Ruthenberg-One more condition.
l must not have spies at my heels.
Gapon-Of course. You say that
you want twenty-five thousapd; but if
you choose to tell him about the affair
which you have in hand, you might
have fifty thousand.
Ruthenberg-Twenty thousand
for only dining with him. I shall
know what he wants. l shall tell him
nothing the first time. / should have
to consider the matter.
Gapon-That is true. Twenty-Five
thousand is too little.
Ruthenberg-And what will you
get for having made me come?
Gapon-I don't know yet. l shall
talk about this tomorrow.
Continuing M. Ruthenberg tells how
the project of police had refused to
see him. Gapons treachery was al
ready proved. So it was decided by
the wOrkmen to kill him in st. Peters,
burg.
A house was taken near the capital
and Ruthenberg induced Gapon to go
there with the idea of fixing meeting
with M. Ratchkowsky. On the fatal
afternoon Gapon and Ruthenberg ar
rived at the house and went together
to room adjoining one in which, with
only thin partition between them
were workmen, members of the tri-
bunal," met to overhear the CONVEX
sation.
Ruthenberg presently asked: What
if l betrayed you and opened peoples
eyes by denouncing your intercourse
with Ratchkowsky?
What nonsense" Gapon ex-
claimed; "who would believe you?
Where are the witnesses? Then
could always announce in the news
us go to business"
Presently Ruthenberg was again
heard to object.
Our comrades would be hanged"
he said. Gapon retorted to Ruthen-
berg that he had sent one man to the
scaffold, and asked what would pre-
vent him from doing the same with
the rest.
An exciting scene soon occurred.
Gapon was going out of the room for
moment, when he ran into a work.
man, who was acting as caretaker of
the house. and who had just stopped
al the door to listen.
Crying to Ruthenberg: Martin, he
has heard everything; he must be
killed." he seized the man by the
throat, but, his panic subsiding, he
said to the man in kind tone: Don't
be afraid; we shall let you go; only
say who sent you here"
In order to gain time, the man re-
piled: Il shall tell you everything,
but don't kill me-"
Gapon repeated his assurance but,
turning tn NJ Puthaphar.