Year: 1879

the examination OF the witness Tisselmann-a beau
tfu girl of nineteen. and who. 1t seems the be-
trothed wife Of Myrsky and had baby born to her
q few days ago. She tainted away after entering
the hall. and Myrsky addressed the Doctor begging
very poor a. vet" But the witness recovered in a
few moments aud was able to answer the questions
addressed to her AZ the sound OF her voice Myrsky
while The prisoner and his wife exchanged so
many eloquent gances that the President of the
tribunal nterfered and enjoined the prisoner not to
trouble the witness any more.


MYRsKY DEFENDS HIMsKLy.


The chief of the rst day OF the trial con-
sisted in the examination OF the witness Stchetin-
kof. His deposition was eagerly listened to by
Myrsky. After the examination Of General Dren-
fired the occupant Of the carriage driven by him.
many other witnesses were dismissed without being
The second day Of the trial was wholly devoted to
the examination Of witnesses. When the wife OF the
accused Golovine was called in ne cried, in voice
OF intense despair. "Oh Myrsky. wherefore have
you ruined mel" Having uttered these words he
had paroxysm. fell down in swoon and was
obliged to be taken from the court. The trial was
suspended till his recovery. after which the pro-
ceedings were resumed. On the third day
there were the speeches OF the prosecutors
and those for the defence. but the tenor Of
these speeches is as yet unknown To the public
Myrsky delivered long and telling address in his
own defence. He freely acknowledged the justice
of the accusations brought against him. confessed
his crimes, admitting that under the present state
of social order in the Empire ne was bound to be
only consider the fact that he did not attempt this
crime for his personal interests that he acted
solely from conviction. as they (the judges) had
to Judge him according to their own consciences.
He showed that he attempted to shoot General
near the summer Garden, the fashionable and much
frequented walking place in St. Petersburg; that he
never contemplated foul murder. but met the man
face in the middle OF the capial and that no
escaped 30 Unexpectedly DUE he said, to the
speed of his horse. He expressed tho hope that
the judges would not consider his deed in the
light of q common attempt to MURDER nor that they
would call him murderer As lie said, the COM
mon hahgman is obeyipg superior orders in carry
ing out his duties, SO he (Myrsky) Obliged to
carry out the orders OF the executive committee by
the decisions Of which his conscience bound him to
abide.


DRFENpINa HIS FELLOW PRISONERS.


He then entered into long and detailed defence
of the other accused charged with completely in his
crime. He attempted to prove that they had no In
tention Of doing anything wrong. and what they did
was done Ia answer to his own entreaties. He
wisdom and Justice of the Tribunal, admitting that
he deserved capital punishment. but begged his
judges again to consider that he had acted upon his
honest inward conviction. and that they should
therefore spare him the ignominy OF death by hang
ing. He wished to have the execution done in some
other way. The trial was ended on Saturday, and .
verdict Of death by hanging read to the accused
Tarkhof condemned to thirteen years hard labor
In Siberia All the other prisoners were acquitted.
Myrsky appeared the last day in dress coat and
white cravat. He was informed that he would be
allowed twenty-four hours in which to appeal to
General Gourko, the temporary Governor General Of
the district OF st. Petersburg who had the power
mitigate his punishment. The prisoner said that he
would apply to GOurkO, anu DeSBeQ 20 express MS
sinceres thanks to the judges for acqutting his COM
pxnions.


ST. PETERSBURG OPINION ON THE SENTENCE.


Opinions greatly divided here as to the sue
cess Of Myrskys appeal to Gourko. 1t was rumored
during the last days OF the trial that several Of the
prominent men in the administration had received
warnings from the executive committee of the secret
society intimating that they must do their best in
order to prevent Myrsky from being hanged. in
order to make amends for their past offences. In
the letter addressed by the same party to Drenten 1t
was plainly said that he would be hunted down by
the Nihilists and killed soon they could man
age 1t il Myrsky should suffer the extreme punish
ment There is great talk. of course. in town about
all this, and the final decision about Myrsky was
eagerly looked for. Few among the people present
at the trial can deny that Myrsky behaved with
great dignity. Even the prominent military
officials present were quite prepossessed In ia
vor Of the prisoner. and agreed In saying that
Myrsky IL a thorough gentleman. that he had given
proof of great moral courage and that he upon the
whole, presented quite exception to the ordinary
behavior and appearance OF many members OF the
secret party who had been brought to trial before
the Russian courts.


SENTENCE MrTIGATED.


Just a. I am closing the news il published that
General Gourko in consideration of the complete
repentance aud great youth Of Myrsky aud Tarkhofi
their sentences to be greatly mitigated. Myrsky
is condemned to hard labor in the mines without
any prehxed, aud Tarkhof to labor in the for.
tress during u term of ten years. Every one here
agrees in the opinion that Gourkos Anal decision Il
q lust one.