Los Angeles herald., 1910-03-09
TRIES ACCUSED
REVOLUTIONISTS
COURT HEARS CASE BEHIND
CLOSED DOORS
MAN AND WOMAN NOTED RUS
SIAN SOCIALISTS
Political ConVicts in Chains Appear as
tnesses-Subpoenas for Ameri-
cans Are Denied-Government
Case Is to Be Made Brief
Associated Pressl


ST. PETERSBURG, March S.-Nich-
olas V. Tchaikovsky pleaded not guilty
and Madame Breshkovskaya said, II
admit | am a social reyolutionist,
when their trial on charges of criminal
activity in the revolutionary organlza-
tions began today. The public was not
admitted to the court room, the audi
ence being confined to the prisoners,
court officers, Relationships wife, and
forty gendarmes and plain clothes Of
ficers.
The court denied a motion for sep
arate trials, as well as the request for
an adjournment of Tchaillovsky's case
in view of the non-appearance of Feod-
off. the political agent of the secret
police, and three other important po-
lice witnesses. The issuance of sub
poenas for American witnesses also
was denied.
Following the reading of the long
indictment the pleas of the prisoners
were made and Madame Breshkov-
skaya announced that she was ready
for trial Save for her counsel the
woman had no friends in court.
Before the proceedings began Nine.
Bracey, the daughter of Tchaikovsky,
was admitted to the court room mo-
mentarily to state on behalf of the
continue on her fathers bail bond until
a verdict was reached. The father
asked the court to permit Nine. Bracey
to remain at the trial. but this was
refused.
ConVicts in Irons
The witnesses, including several
prominent Radicals and a political
convict, who appeared in chains. were
excluded from the court room during
the preliminaries.
Just before the opening of the trial
Nine. Bracey received a letter from
Premier Stolypin, in which he declined
to revoke the order that the trial be
within closed doors, "in view of the
possibility of a demonstration"
The defense gained the first point
when the court overruled the objec-
tion of the prosecutor and admitted
witnesses who expect to discredt the
veracity of the informer. Pateuk
The large and usually crowded court
room, the doors of which were heavily
guarded by the police, had an almost
deserted appearance. the little group
of accused and counsel being huddled
in front of the red-covered dais upon
which were seated the judge and the
three class representatives of the no
bility urbanites and peasantry.
NenqeIul WltneSS
The presence on the dais of Admiral
Delivrion, a prominent parsonage, who
represented the nobility, was con-
strued as a bad omen by the defense,
since his son was killed by the terror
lists in st. Petersburg.
An alderman and a peasant elder
completed the judges.
Tchaikovsky was brought to the
court in a carriage escorted by ten
gendarmes. AS he was seated between
two swordsmen in the dock he waved
a cheerful greeting to acquaintances,
and his face was radiant as though at
the thought of again suffering for his
cause.
His emotion was marked as he re-
piled to the customary questions. His
occupation, he said, was that of a
preacher, and the doctrine he ex-
pounded was socialism.
All of the testimony of the prosecu-
tion will be introduced today and the
trial probably viii be concluded to-
morrow. The governments chief wit
ness, Pateuk, the informer, made an
unsatisfactory impression, even upon
the judge, who co-operated with coun-
sci for the defense in bringing to light
the shady reputation of the man.
The court adjourned its sittings at II
o'clock tonight with the testimony Of
the prosecution and QotenSe entirely
completed. The prosecutions whole
case rests on the statements of Pateuk,
who added nothing to what he had al
ready given in the indictment.
The cross examination, in which the
presiding judge played a prominent
part, brought out, over the objections
of prosecutors, Pateuk's criminal rec
ord Of murder and brigandage. Pateuk
has been cited as a crown witness in
eight political trials yet to be held.
Both Tchaikovsky and Nine. Bresh-
kovsky fatty denied several points in
the accusation on the ground that they
were not in Russia at the times
specified.
The only other crown witnesses were
the colonel of Gendarmes. who arrested
Tchaikovsky, the landlady in whose
house he lodged under a false pass
port, and a policeman who testified
that the passport was false.
TchaikoVsky's witnesses included
business associates from England.
The court also admitted as a witness
a committeeman Of the labor party,
who testified that Tchaikovsky had
been delegated by the Labor party to
collect funds in America for the bene-
fit of eXiles.
A large number Of old-time radicals
and men of letters gave evidence on
Il of fha accused