Premise: It's the first case of the kind that I've had under my own personal observation, and I must admit that I've found it of absorbing interest." There was something rather ghoulish in the little man's satisfaction.

Hypothesis: The little man was generally interested in weird cases.
Answer: it is not possible to tell

Premise: Chechnya has been fighting Moscow for 217 years and hasn't surrendered yet.

Hypothesis: Chechnya surrendered in its fight against Moscow two decades ago.
Answer: no

Premise: In three of the principle areas, the level to which practices of leading private versus federal organizations have evolved is significantly different.

Hypothesis: Private and federal organizations have followed the same evolutionary path in practice development.
Answer: no

Premise: had a long criminal record and had been you know a real sleaze bag

Hypothesis: I criminal record has been expunged.
Answer: it is not possible to tell