Year: 1878




There is now occupying the Russian GRIM
lnai tribunals tragedy which throws into
the shade the gloomiest imsginings of the
old Greek playwrights. 1t is the murder of
mother by her son. a child nine years old.
Ine story is one OF the most appalling in the
wnoie annals OF human crime, and withal il
Is heart touching as showing the misdirec-
ton of a noble nature. For the motive of
the crime was honor, and the son slew his
mother that her blood might wash out the
stain her lnfidelity had put upon her hus-
Dand name. The case is a most remarkable
one. There seems to be no evidence Of
vicious disposition on the part OF the bow On
the contrary, he seems TO have had lovin
heart, and TO have been tenderly attached
his dead father; but cloud came over hi
young existence when his mother, forgetting
her duty to the living and the dead, con.
tracted an Illicit alliance with a government
employe. The woman seems to have trou-
bled herself little to conceal her amours from
her son, thinking that child of such tender
years would not be likely to pay any atten-
ton to her actions She does not seem to
have ever suspected the precocious sens1bil-
lty of the child.


WOUNDED HONOR.


The boy, however, very soon began to sus-
pect the true relations existing between the
stranger and his mother The functionary
entered frequently before the child's ewes at
unusual hours into the house that had be-
longed to his dead father. The child felt
himself cruelty injured by the dishonor
cast upon his fathers memory which had
remained enshrined in his young heart like
sacred lmsge. For long time he conceal
ed bis anger and his shame; but one dav his
indignation mastered him, and he resolved
to make an effort to win his mother from the
path OF shame.


THE SONS APPEAL


Throwing aside all fear, he reproyed the
widow for her infidelity to her dead husbandt
and besought her to return to her duty by
respect to the memory of the dead and out
respect to her son. The mother treated
these remonstrances lightly, and burst out
laughing at her child. Without even de-
signing to hear him to the end, she advised
HIM to occupy himself with matters more
appropriate 10 his age. Several times he
seem to have renewed his exhortatons, al
ways, however, meeting with the same re-
ception.


POSSESSED By THE FIEND.


Feeling that it was useless to appeal to the
better nature of his mother, the child con-
ceiyed the horrible design of washing out in
her blosd the stain she persisted in putting
on his name, and which be knew was no
longer a secret for the neIghbors Having
once made up his mind his thoughts became
wholly absorbed in plans for carrying his
vengeance INTO execution. Wherever be went
Hc viii MIN LDlS lQc4 OF aVoDG1nR u O
injured honor OF his name. In solitude he
pondered over it. until it became in his eyes
holy duty. Beside this child of nine years
taking upon hisconscience the responsibility
OF judge and executioner, thinking and plan
ming before taking action, Hamlet tormented
by visions and Stimulating madness is only
capable of inspiring pity. The heart is moved
at the thought of the anguish the child must
have suffered. First be dug the grave. This
was for his infant hands long and painful
labor. When he had everything prepared
he resolved to execute his terrible purpose.


ALMOST SAVED.


One night while his mother slept be
armed himself with a hatchet and silently
approached her bed When his eyes rested
on the author of his being his resolution was
shaken. He gszed on the face he had long
loved and respected. The sight was too
much for bis childish heart, and, bursting
into tears, he fell on his knees before his
mothers bed. There the morning light
found him stretched in sIumoer with the
deadly Ratchet still clasped in his tiny hands
When bis mother rose she was terribly
frightened at the sight She awoke the boy,
who explained his presence by a peasant
fable, and then took the opportunity to
once more beseech his mother to dismiss her
lover and return to the path of honor. She,
however, lost her temper. and ordering the
child to hold bis tongue, dismissed him
curtly.


THE FATAL DEED.


This action of the widow decided her son
to carry out his murderous resolution. The
following night be again entered his mothers
bed room, and, finding her asleep. with one
blow of the hatchet he killed her. He then
took the body, which he dragged TO the
grave he bad prepared for it, and there in
tered it,


The trial of this strange parricide is pro-
crossing in the town Of Valox, in the gov
ernment of Kharkow. Seldom have the
Russian people been so interested in a Grim
inal trial, but the sight OF child nine years
old standing in the dock as the assassin of
bis mother is well calculated to excite the
compassionate sympathy among people by
whom the family ties are regarded with
something of the respect OF the patriarchal
times Mr.. Vladimir, professor of criminal
law at the university of Kharkow, has spon-
tapeously undertaken the defense of the un-
for unate child.