A NIHILIST DRAMA.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1648, 29 August 1887, Page 3

A NIHILIST DRAMA.

A St Petersburg correspondent tells the story of the murder In St Petersburg on December 28th, 1883, of Colonel Soudeikin, Chief of the Russian Secret Police, for which blx men and a young girl were reoentty sentenced to death Soudeikin was found dead and horribly mutilated m a room m the Nevsksi, whioh he used as a kind of office foe hiß communications with his spies. By hia side lay his relative M. Sudoffski, who was aleoa member of the secret police He too w»b fearfully wounded, but he was not dead ; he was eventually able to give Information that put justice on the traok of the murderers. Co'onel Soudeikin was alawys open to an arrangement with repetantor Impecunious orlme. He had found a tool, or he thought he had, m one Depaieff, whom he had tracked as a Nihilist but not denounced to the authorities, and to whom he appears to have offered a choice between death and treason to the revolutionary cause. Degaleff sent word of Soudelkin'a offer to the revolutionary oommtttee Bitting In Paris, and he received their permission to accept It, but of course not to accept it m good faith . In bia new capacity he was perhaps equally useful to both parties, for the denunciation of oertain subordinate agents that won him the confidence of Soudeikin may, at the same time, have served to rid the committee of persons suspected of treaohery to themselves. At any rate, Degaleff played his base part basely, for he was, m some instances, the Instigator of the very crimes he denounced. He advanced m the favor of Soudeikin, but he was not equally fortunate m retaining the confidence of his friends In Paris. They began to Buspect him snd they sent out a kind of commissioner with full power to inquire into his fidelity and deal with the case as he thought fit. This commissioner, one Lopatin, contrived to reach St Petersburg Id safety, and he soon broDght matters to an iaaue by ordering Degaleff to murder his patron Soudeikin m proof of hia loyalty to the Paris committee. Degaleff at once prepared to obey the order. He gave the chief of police a rendiavous at the apartment m which they used to meet for business, and he had two assistant murderers hidden In an adjoining roomSoudeikin was accompanied by his nephew Sudoffekl. As soon as the doomed man had taken his seat, Degaleff engaged his attention by showing|bim the proof sheet of a forthcoming number of a revolutionary journal. This sheet contained a I blank space whioh was reserved for the announcement of Soudelkin'a murder, and which afterwards was sotually filled m that way. Soudelkld had hardly taken the proof In his hand when Degaieff slipped behind him and discharged a revolver at his head, Soudeikin rose, badly wounded [as he was, and tried to escape ; but at this moment the ambushed murderers rußhed into the room. One of them dealt him a heavy blow on the skull with an iron bar, while the other felled Sadoffskt m the same way* There was no trouble with Sudoffski ; but the Chief of Police made a most desperate fight for life. He staggered to the door on his way to the ante room where his own revolver lay m the pocket of his cloak, but hit flight was intercepted, and be received blow after blow until he fell dead. The murderers dispersed In different directions. The Rueilan Government, however, seems to have f ollowt d their movements with sleepless vigilance, arresting them ac opportunity served.

Among the regulations of the West Boston Bridge Corporation, drawn up by two lawyers, is a section which was written, accepted, and now stands thus — " And the said proprietors ■ball meet annually on the first Tuesday of June, provided the same does not fall on Sunday.

During the month of July five deaths byviolence were registered m New Zealand, the stated causes, including an arterial wound, concussion of the brain, smothering, a fall from a horse, and luicide. There was also one case m which the reoord was "Found dead m harbor."

That furred tongue, bad tasting mouth and miserable feeling, say you need Amerioan Co.'s Hop Bitters. Bead and believe