TRIAL AND EXECUTION OF SOLOVIEFF.

Kumara Times, Issue 901, 20 August 1879, Page 4

TRIAL AND EXECUTION OF SOLOVIEFF.

The man Solovieff, who fired at the Emperor of Russia, has been tried at St Petersburg, sentenced to death, and almost immediately executed. The Court which tried him assembled at the Commandant’s house in the fortress of St Peter and St Paul. The tribunal was a specially Constituted supreme criminal court, comprising the President, Prince Uiousuff, and seven other members. There was a very small number of spectators admitted by special tickets, which there waff immense difficulty in obtaining. On the members assembling, the President announced the Court open, and the prisoner was produced—a tall, fair young man, carefully dressed in a black frock coat, his hair thick, not patted. The accused stood up stiff, his eyes glaring defiance. He looked pale and haggard, and evidently suffered from anxiety and the confinement. The President asked the prisoner— What is your Christian name, patronymic, and surname 1 Answer Alexander Constantinovich Solovieff, a noble retired collegiate secretary, 33 years of age, baptised in the true Faith, but I do not acknowledge a religion. President—l do not inquire respecting your particular religious views. Where was your permanent residence until your arrest ?

Prisoner—On the JCamney Island with tny relations. I had no definite occupation. I have received a copy of the Act of Ascusation. The Act was then read by the Secretary of the Court, after which the prisoner was asked if he was guilty or not of belonging to an illegal association called the “ Socialist Revolutionary Party,” and of an attempt on the life of the sacred person of his Majesty the Emperor, by firing several shots at him with a revolver. Prisoner—Yes, I did that—l did that which my conscience and a sense of duty dictated to me. President—lnform the Court of the circumstances of your attempt. Prisoner—l ask the Court to excuse me from any declaration. The whole circumstances ate already clearly known, but I will not refuse to answer any questions. The night between April Ist and 2nd (old style) I passed in a house of ill fame, and left at 7 in the morning. About 9 o’clock I was at the corner of tlm Nevsky-prospect and Admiraltyplain. I did not see the Emperor ; but from the movements of the persons always awaiting, I perceived he had come out. I crossed the Palace square, and met the Emperor coming from the opposite direction, near the gate at the office of the general of the staff. Then I drew my revolver and fired, I do not remember how many shots, but I believe five. President—Did you act under the influence of anybody, or had you any accomplices ?

Prisoner—l did not act under anybody’s influence, I had no accomplices, and did not inform anyone of my intention. President-—How long have you belonged to this so-called Russian Socialistic Revolutionary party 1 Answer—lt is difficult to be precise, as there was no formal reception. When I went to the Novgorod Government I then began to take an active part in the proceedings. I never was at revolutionary assemblies, I received printed proclamations, and scattered them in the streets, I received these forbidden publications from a certain feodor whom I used to meet on the Nevsky at a fixed place at appointed hours. The Minister of Justice was then asked if be considered it necessary to produce witnesses: The Minister—Yes. Counsel for the defence said he did not object, but considered it unnecessary, as the prisoner pleaded guilty. The prisoner refused to be defended, and he (counsel) could not assist him. The Minister of Justice declared he had nominated counsel for the prisoner’s defence, which was necessary according to law. °

The Court decided that the counsel nominated should remain. Witnesses were then called, and sentence of death by hanging was passed. Solovieff was executed two days later at ten minutes to ten o’clock, in a field adjoining the Great Prospect, in Yasaili Ostrnff, near the Smolensk Cemetery. On the same spot Karakosoff was hanged thirteen years ago. Solovieff did not present any petition for pardon. He was brought to the place of execution from the fortress in a cart, seated on an elevated position, and pinioned. He mounted the scaffold without assistance, and surveyed the crowds on both sides of him maintaining the same undanted firmness which he exhibited at the trial. On refusing the last religious rites, he was enveloped in a white dress, covering him from head to foot, and then he mounted on a stool, and the execution took place Life appeared to be extinct in four minutes. After remaining half an hour the executioner, assisted by two convicts specially brought from the fortress for that purpose, covered the corpse and A in a Coffin> The d eath was certified by a medical officer, and the corpse was taken away in a cart, escorted by Cossacks and mounted gendarmes. An orderly crowd of perhaps 6000 persons, for the most part drawn together by the signs of preparation, witnessed the execution, the time and place of which were not previously announced, .Sentries were posted round the field, with, Cossacks and mounted gendarmes in the rear. The scaffold was surrounded by a square of infantry four deep: The line of the road was kept by troops and policemen in the immediate neighborhood of the field.