The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1918-01-07

Prisoaer Assails Hangman
Before Revolnti0nized
Soldiers.
ESCAPES IN INTERIM
While Executioner Pleads
Case Of Law, Guilty
Man Flees.

fetrograd.--1Ry the Associated
Press).-sThe provincial newspaper.
Priasoysky Krai publishes an amazing
account OF the escape Of a Rtssiop
military prisoner who had been sen.
fenced to be executed for selling mill
.tary secrets to Germany and plottIne
explosions iii two powder factories
Which caused the death or 3.000 pcr
sons.
Smiling contemptuously, tho pris-
oner was led to the scaffold. When
the sentence had been read, he raised
his hands and demanded to be heard,
No" objected the prosecuting at
torney, ut Is too late now. Yon should
have spoken before ut the trial"
One OF the squad of soldiers stepped
out and said in n tone of arnazement:
What? Why too late? IL there not
free speech In Rfssiao Thank God,
there's no czarist regime To Keep our
mouths closed. Speak. comrade,
sneak!" ~
Condemned Man Argues.
The condemned man began: Com.
''s"'s'' Nv Sou hIOW WHO mas COM
demned me? A. court constituted en-
tirely of, lower middle class capital
lists, inspired blythe imperialists or the.
allied countriesJ The prosecutor,fas /
know absolutely. was a kornilovist
Conrades! Shall not democracy itself i
speak? Shall it not say. Hands off
the creators and inspirers OF the inter-
nationale?"
Comrades! Can you possibly rec
ognizc a decision of this counter revo-
lntionary. anti-democratic court as
binding on youe" i.
"Bravo!" shouted a guard Let me
also SPEAK"
The condemned man yielded the
floor to the guard, who began:
| Comrades. Can anything be more
atrocious than for us to permit the
hanging Of this man. who speaks as an
| apostle and champion of the interna
tionale? Comrades, ! propose a vote
OF want Of confidence in the execu-
/ TONER a"a
Corrade Hangman Defends Self.
/ y demand the right 10 speak" said
| the eyeeutioncr
! Comrades soiemnly protest
against this universal condemnation Of
ali eNeentien+rs ~ lam 1iustr as good ~ I.
! rcvointionist as any of you. and il the
revolutionary people have imposed on
| me this sad duty | am bound by nv
conscience. / demand. comrades that
yoti pass a resolution confirming the
t'wfalnsss OF my acts. hope that you
UNDERSTAND that'it il better to deprive
L rrrna SfEavx n .,.aA.
rather than sacrifice thousands of ,iE,-
| fnl lives.
Il move to discontinue your speech.
comrade Haneinan." broke in the con
tiemned man.
"And by what right, Conirade FIX
| rioder OF Powder Magazines, do you
constitute yourself the chairman re
Piled the executioner vehemently.
Chairman! Chairman! Let's elect
! chairman came from several parts
| OF the audience. The election pro- 5
| ceeded fast II took only half an hour.
ana the condemned man had the Of
! flee thnst upon him Of secretary III tho
| meeting
The voting show > two-tldrds ms
jcrity in favor or exeta,rak the SEN
tence. whcreupon the condemned man
| Expressed dissatisfaction as to the nc
| turacy OF the voting and demanded a
formal division of the house. Thus
tho matter was carried TO the prison
/ court yard. and the yeas and nays
I were requested TO line up on opposite
sides OF the gates. The result was still
che same. hut when they looked around
for the secretary. who was also the