The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-03-16
Is Assemblies of AriStOcracy
Held in Russia Today.
Vigorously Condemn Former
Rule That Brought Revolt.
SOLDIERS EXECUTE BARON
Seize Former War Minister and
Hanging Intercepted.
Jail Countess as German Spy
Palace Becomes Prison.

Petrograd, March 16, via wireless
to London.-Fifteen assemblies of the
Russian nobility met today and adopt
ed resolutions declaring their partici-
patton in the popular revolution.
The resolutions vigorously assailed
those officials of the old government
responsible for the crisis which re-
suited in the overthrow of the czar.
The populace and the fully sympa@
thetic troops of the city brooked no
opposition to their control.
Baron Stokelberg fired on group
of soldiers from his window. His
house was promptly stormed. The
baron was dragged out He was car
ried to the side of the quay and sum-
marily executed,
imperial Minister to Prison.
Count Fredericks, the aged minister
of the imperial household and aide
de camp to the emperor, was dlscoV-
cred in hiding. HIS life was spared,
but he was sent to prison to join other
notables of the old regime. Mean
while his house had been completely
wrecked.
Countess Klein Michael, long sus-
pected as a German spy. was dlscoV-
cred in hiding at the Chinese legation
Soldiers promptly took her into Gus
tody.
No more dramatic incident occurred
in the last few days of rioting than
that of the arrest of the former MN
lister of war, General Sukhomlinott-
a rroup of soldiers and of hastily
armed people seized him. The soldiers
demanded his instant execution, recall
ing vivid stories of the former MINIS
;ers duplicity and reasonable deal
ings with Germany
Saves Generals Life.
Deputy KerenslNy of Saratoff, one
of the duma leaders in the revolt, ana
minister of Justice in the provisional
government. interviewed. He Appealed
to the mob to spare the minister's life,
declaring justice would be meted OUT
10 him. He declared Sukhomlinoff
desired nothing better than immediate
execution The crowd wavered and
Kerensky won the day.
But then the soldiery demanded
their former chiefs degradation Suk-
honIinoff himself tore his epaulets
from his shoulders and handed them
/ 10 soldiers of the group which guarded
him. He bowed brokenly and sub
mitted himself to their merc1es Tot
tering in his disgrace, and over
whelmed with despair, he was taken
away with difficulty, hardly being able
to walk. He was imprisoned in Taurus
palace. where other notables were
held.
The dispatch says that when the
soldiers guarding the duma learned
of the arrival there, under arrest of
General Soukhomlinoff. former min
lister of war, they loudly demanded
that he be surrendered to them. The
deputies had great difficulty in calm
ing the troops who insisted that at
least the generals epaulettes be torn
off The former minister submitted
quietly to this degradation.
Formally Charged With Treason.
General Soukhomlinoff was min
lister of war from March, 1909 until
June, 1915. when he resigned. Short
" after his resignation sensational
charges were brought against him of
graft, treason and of being in the pay
of the Germans. He was accused of
being responsible for the munition
shortage which was blamed for the
enforced retirement of the Grand
Duke Nicholas from Galicia and Po-
land in the first year of the war. In
March, 1915 the emperor removed
| General Soukhomlinoff from the coun-
Gil of the empire and after an investi-
cation by a special committee into the
charges against him he was impris-
oned in the Fortress of st. Peter and
Paul and formally accused of criminal
negligence and high treason.