, 1923-02-11

under cover, hundreds of thousands
o: persons were put TO death as
Observation-Disclosures. One state
ncnt of the exact number of
deaths. coming from Riga to the
London Times as official Bolshevist
figures, placed them at 1866 I8.
When it is recalled that in the
whole of France during the reVoIu-
tion less than 5000 persons yer
condemned by the Revolutionary
Tribunals ii is possible TO realize
fhe extent of the work of Cheka
TrioS in Russia.
This newspaper begins here
a series of articles on the
actual happenings in the prisons
and shooting garages of the Chekas
written by Russian Socialists who
themselves were prisoners of the
BolShevikj. The Socialists alone of
b victims of the error were able
TO escape the wholesale executions
JrduIged in. This is explained
partly by the strength of their or
ganization in Russia and partly by
the desire of the BolSheviki to win
them over TO BolSheviSn. The first
article deals with the personnel of
the Moscow Cheka and the All
Russian Cheka, their executiouers
n the treatment of ordinary
criminals. Another InStaIIment will
appear next Sunday.
~ NE OF the main streets of Mos
COW, Bolshaia L%ubianka, has
been converted at the COM
mand of the Bolsheviki into one con-
tinuous prison. House after house
harbors one Or another kind OF hi
ka torture chamber. In former times
the offices OF the largest insurance
companies were on
Bolshaia Lubianka street. To-day the
places OF these insurance companies
are occupied by various branches OF
the all Russian and the Moscow Ex-
~traordlnary Commissions. who also
carry on-rather peculiarly. to be sure
the work OF life Insurance"
AL the buildings are fenced OF by
barriers and guarded by sentries. The
windows are protected with iron bars.
Everywhere IN the vicinity sneak in
Vulnerable Bolshevist secret agents.
And it may be easily imagined what
pains the inhabitants OF Moscow take
to avoid going lear these streets and
lanes OF horror and blood"
Bolshaia Lubianka is to-day a street
hated not only in Moscow but through
out Russia Particularly loathsome
becomes this SHAMELESS at night, when
everything is plunged into darkness
and one street only. BOIshaia Lubl-
anka, glitters with the electric lights
Of the entrances to the All Russian
and the Moscow Chekas untiringly
swallowing up u"nfortunatesI from
every corner OF Russia, to be inces-
sanity fed to the various shooting
garages and cellars"
Let me now turn to the immediate
object OF my "reminiscences, /. e.,
house No. II. The better rooms OF
the former insurance company have
been turned over to the investigators
and their assistants. while the very
best ones are occupied by the mem
bers OF the committees C~'collegium")
and reserved for the meetings of the
presiding board. The worst rooms.
of course, together with the cellars.
house the prisoners.
Those who Run the Prisons
And Who the Inmates Are
I have to point out here that al!
that has been said thus far. and all
that follows, applies chiefly to the
year 1920, when ! happened to be a
prisoner at No. IL. The administra-
ton OF the All-RussIan Cheka in that
year consisted OF Commandant Weiss
Ia Lett), Assistant Commandments
Andreiev and Golovkin. and three
chief keepers. Adamson Ia Lett), Ber-
sin and Rybn Calso Lctts). In add
ton to these. there was n superin-
tendent Of the cOmmissary department
OF the prison. a certain Maya Ia Lett).
people:
Commandant weiss-A dapper and
dashing young man OF about 80. salG
10 have studied nee at the Riga Poly
tcchnic School. a great pedant, but
correct in his manners. especially
toward women. whom he often treats
even with gallant courtesy. His out
standing trait-which, however. is
shared by most of tho administration
officials Of the Cheta-is his propCn-
sIty to lie constantly to the prisoners.
An active participant OF those nightly
expeditions to the shooting garage
Weiss may be regarded as the master
Of ceremonies" OF these affairs.
OF the three Lettish chief keepers,
Gyh1 is the most Interesting character.
StilE very young. good looking. but
with a most insolent expression. n
strikingly typical white SLAYER" Vice
and lewdness fairly shout from every
line Of his face. He is one OF the
C~NecuuoncrB Of the All Russian Cheka,
doing his share Of the shootlnEs.
Adamson represents tho type Of a
conscientious official. Indifferent TO
everything mot in Dbl. Inc OF duty. quite
dun. but sa'UoioniIy spIicuI.
bcraIu Is quite fT,n4.y. and once 10