Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-07-26
Gen. HartiDg Discusses
Russian Police System.
Admits That He Plotted Is
sassInatIon Of The Emperor.
Calmly Tells Of Revolutionary LEAD.
/ y Or Who Is Government Spy.

st. Petersburg. July 25.-GeneraI
Harting. former chief of the Russian
political police abroad, who recently
was denounced by M. Bourtzeff as be-
ing implicated in the plot to assassin
ate Emperor Alexander III. is here ar
ranging affairs He has been retired
from the police service, at his own
request, on an annual pension of $500.
In an interview General Harding,
who was known also as Michael Lande-
sen, made the announcement that Azef,
leader of the fighting organization OF
the reyo'utiOnists, and a noted police
spy. whom the Russian police profess
to be seeking throughout the world, is
now in Russia, occupying an important
post in the so-called Third Section or
political police.
General Harding is living in one of
the apartments maintained by the po-
lice where they can meet the revoIu-
tionary agents, but the servants there
dnied all knowledge of his presence.
He finally was encountered in the I'M
perial Summer garden, a fashiOnah1e
promenade, and consented II ta116t
when convinced that he Weg1ec01(f q
He readily admitted his Identity "a Ill
the etrrorist Landesen, saying thai
early youth he sincerely believed m
the, principles Of terrorism and parHef
pated, under the name of LandaseN4iks
pIannig with others the assassinatisn
of alexander III, in 1890. He denied,
however, that he had betrayed his come
rades to the French police, as n. 4
Bourtzeff has charged,
His ideas changed after he obtained
employment as clerk in the embassy
at Paris. He was transferred to the I
police service but never was a traitor,
citing as proof of this his continued
friendly relations with his old revOiu
tionary acquaintance. He served the
Russian government, he said, honor
ably and faithfully and his services
were recognized by commentator from
high quarters on his retirement.
General Harting was bitter against
Bourtzeft, who, but for Harting, ac-
.cording to his assertion. would long ago
have persisted in a French or Russian
prison. The French government repeat
dly had proposed to arrest or expei
Bourtzeh. On such occasions General
Harting had interposed, and now
France was in possession of evidence
that Bourtzeff was hand in glove with
the active terrOrists. and had again
decided to expel him. He talked about
the famous government agent, Azef.
who, from n central position in the
revolutionary councils, had for yearas
kept the government informed on NEs
rorist plots against the Emperor -
high officials. General Harting, VIA 4
longer and more intimate relations W30ix
Azef than anybody else. declared tlit
Azef had never played double gJzl!e
with the government, nor sacrff1ced'
the life of a single official to furthers
his own ends He asserted that Boalrt
zeff's charge that Azef had pafticl-
pated in the assassination of Won
Plehvc was absurd Azef owed every
thing to Won Plehve and sincerely loved
him.
Continuing. Harting said that Azef
and had repeatedly risked his life to
serve the government, and that he was
still highly appreciated at ST. Peters
burg. and was giving valuable service
at the present time. although in what
capacity he had no right to state.
During the Interview the former po-
lice chief displayed no embarrassment.
He said he was now gathering doct-
mentary evidence for the full rehabili-
tation of his character which would
be published shortly, in order to justify.
his retention of the honorary Rus
sian title OF councillor state and men,
bership In the Legion of Honor. He
expects to live abroad, however.