Evening star., 1924-08-29
CORY PAST BRINGS
SAWNK0FF MOOSE
Sentencing of Former Petro-
grad Military Governor
Dramatic Incident.
MENACE TO SOVIET CAUSE
Stay of Death Granted Pending
Pardon Plea for Russian Who
Fought Reds Seven Years.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press
MOSCOW, August 29-The trial
and conviction yesterday of Gen.
Boris Savinkoff constituted probably
the most dramatic case that has come
before the Revolutionary War tribu-
nal. Savinkoff, former military gov
ernor of Petrograd and assistant
minister of war in the kerensky y
cabinet, was sentenced to death on
multitude of charges growing out
of his seven-year struggle against
the Soviet regime. A stay of execu-
ton was ordered. however, to allow
an appeal for pardon to the execu-
tive committee. as Savinkoff ac-
knoWledged his guilt and expressed
a desire to support the Soviet.
The case was regarded by the
government as important to its
safety and prestige. The courtroom
was packed with members Of the
government. the central committee
OF the Communist party, the war
council and the most active mem
bers of the Soviet political admin
lStration. Acting Premier Kameneff,
Premier Klava of the transcau,
casian republic. Commissar Of JUS
tee kursky and NJ. kouybycheff of
the state control board were among
those who forsook their regular
work in order to hear the proceed
inSs. NJ. Ulrich, chairman of the
war council, was present and as
sisted in the trial. and two of the
Jurymen were members of the war
Office.
Organized Assassination.
mere was neither prosecution nor
defense. but every detail was dramatic
and thrilling. Savinkor, himself a
revolutionary, organized the assassi-
nation of Prime Minister Plehve and
Grand Duke Sergius. which gave the
nrSt signal for the Russian revolution.
He was responsible for the advance of
the Russian army in July, 1917. After
the bolshevik revolution he assumed
leadership Of the nti-bolsheyik
FORCES and organized the Yaroslavl
rising, which ended In demolition of
the town. with considerable blood
sned, as well as numerous risings in
Siberia and Ukrania
He raised an army to defend the
constituent assembly in Samara and
directed activities against the boil
sheviki from Poland. All of this
Savinkoff acknowledged. Speaking
with emotion. he said to the court:
Il know your decision beforehand
I don't value my life and I am not
afraid to die. recognize all my
quilts. but they were all involuntary,
as | never sought anything for my
self"
Four Objections to Reds,
His enmity for the Reds was based
on four objections he said, namely,
the breaking up of the constituent
assembly: the Brest-Litovsk treaty.
which was at that time detrimental to
int
the Reds assumed the power for 3
short period, making way for re-eS
tablishment Of the monarchy, and
last that the Russian people were
against the Reds.
He never was convinced, Savinkoff
asserted, that the Reds were right
and that he was wrong in regard to
the support of the Russian people of
the Soviet regime. 1t was not in
Moscow. under escort, that he had
changed his mind. but long ago in
Paris he came to the conclusion that
the bolsheviks were right. and now
he stood Internationally in favor of
the Russian Soviets.
Savinkoff asked the court to re-
member. in delivering sentence, that
he had never been an enemy Of the
people: that he had spent his life as
revolutionary, and that he had had
d
times. He did not return to Russia
with bombs and he had thrown his
revolver away on the other side of
the border.
The general was arrested August
20 after passing the border under the
name of Stepanoff. He apparently
had been watched by Russian agents
abroad. His arrest was kept secret
and his trial was begun secretly.
Question OF Motive.
1t was first alleged that the former
military governor had come to Rus
sia to organize terrorist acts. Com
mlssar kursky and other authorities,
however. repudiated this version, and
it is understood that many RESPONSE
bic Communists have been impressed
with Savinkoff's sincerity during the
trial.
1t is generally believed that the
death sentence will not be carried out.
trial on charges OF counter
revolutionary activities among the
Cossack population of the Kuban
province has ended before the crimi-
nal court of the Kuban district, sit
ting at Armavir, with the sentencing
10 death of IS officers of the czarist
army, the sentencing to various terms
of Imprisonment of 40 other accused
persons and the acquittal Of five per-
sons
Those sentenced to death included
Col. Orlof. Col. Nazaroff, Col Kas.
linin and a number of Cossack off,
GERS
The prosecution, charging that Col,
Orlof and the 50 other accused per-
sons. a number of them civilians, had
carried out counter-revolutiona ac-
tivities, alleged that they had re-
turned in 1923 from Constantinople
and Paris on behalf of various anti
bolshevik organizations in order to
organize uprisings against the soviet
government. 1t was charged that
they blew up railway stations, robbed
the population and killed a number
of communists.