A Brigand Lynched.

Manawatu Herald, 8 October 1904, Page 3

A Brigand Lynched.

Caucasaa has led to the wreaking of a frightful revenge by the longsuffering peasants. A bandid named fichimeradze has been caught by * them and lynched. For about three months past he had terrorised the country around Grosni, carrying off over a dozen young girls into outrage and slavery. It was observed that all these crimes took place on the road between Qrosni and \ iteno, which finally became impassable for women without escort. After several fruitless attempts had been made to capture the brigands, the Russians devised an ingenious trap. Armed to the teeth they set out at night towards the robbers’ haunt, bringing with them a plucky girl, who volunteered to act as decoy. At dawn the “ decoy ” was sitting upon a rock by the roadside > 9in S iu S a national love-song, and behind every tree and hillock was hidden an armed man. The brigand and two followers came gaily along the road, and seeing the defenceless girl went politely up, passed the time pf day, AOd seized her. Taking her terrified

Scream as the signal, the peasants rushed from their hiding places and captured the' brigands. Half an hour later a frightful drama was being enacted. Bound to stakes the brigands writhed in a slow fire, and around them danced their peasant captors, jeering and clapping their hands. Just before the tortured wretches became unconscious the young girl who had been the cause of their undoing, sang ironically the passionate love-song which had lured the robbers upon their fatal enterprise.