The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1913-05-09
SIBERIA EXlLES
CRUELTY TREATED
Conditions of Russian Political Pris-
oners Even Worse Than Two
Months Ago.
INVESTIGATION IS REQUESTED
Learn of Joker" in Amnesty Several
Days After It Was
Proclaimed
WOMEN SUFFER INDIGNITIES
Chief Wardens Allowed to Do What
ever They Like With the
Prisoners.
INVESTIGATION IS REQUESTED
WOMEN SUFFER INDIGNITIES

st. Petersburg, May 9.-The con-
dition of the Russian political pris-
oners and exiles today is even worse
than it was two months ago when
the much lauded amnesty proclama-
ton was issued by the Gear, on the
occasion of the tercentenary celebra-
ton of the founding of the Romanoff
dynasty. Not until today, when pc
titions for an investigation were
humbly requested by relatives Of po-
litical prisoners, did these facts be-
come generally known throughout
the empire.
The petitioners learned of the
"5oker' in the amnesty several days
after it was proclaimed They de-
clare the amnesty was so worded as
to include just as few politicals as
possible and a subsequent "interpro-
tation" given by the senate still fur
Their reduced the Ifavors extended I'M
der it. Provincial authorities were
Quick to take these circumstances as
a hint that the proclamation really
did not mean what it said, after all.
The result has been an extraordinary
influx of reports from various prisons
and places of exile, of deprivations
and cruelties practiced upon the I'M
fortunate politicals. For instance,
describing conditions in the Batoum
prison, reliable correspondent
writes:
"The chief wardens here are al
lowed to do whatever they like with
the prisoners, whom they torture and
even shoot Women confined at Ba-
toum are subjected to the most un-
printable and frightful indignities.
For women to be confined here is
worse punishment than for them to
be Immediately murdered after I'M
speakable tortures. On their report
the prison wardens and the prison
governor condemn prisoners for al
legged infractions of the rules, without
the slightest inquiry, to flogging, the
punishment cells and all kinds of
fiendish privations.
There is no medical attention
whatever in the institution. For one
whole week recently, the cells were
not heated, and for more than
month broken window panes have
gone unmended, despite the severe
cold. Appropriations were made for
these things but the money went into
private pOChtCS. l1ooAClS ehiC civ"
ed to battle not more than once in six
weeks. The food, always loathesome,
consists now Of less than an ounce of
meat in a cup of warm water, with a
small chunk of under baked bread
for each meal. Prisoners may pur-
chase from the outside only tea, su-
gar and cheese.
Similar reports come from other
places of exile in Siebria. Under the
deportation law, exiies may move
from place to place within the same
district, such liberty of movement
being absolutely necessary If they
are to find employment and not die
of starvation. But this freedom is
not now allowed to politicals in some
places. Numerous instances have oc-
Cured since the manifesto of March
6, of political exi1es who have left
their places of residence Of being
brought back under guard and inn
prisoned. e
- .-H