HORRORS IN RUSSIA.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 3763, 27 April 1907, Page 3

HORRORS IN RUSSIA.

Terrible Story of Official Iniquity. St Petersburg, April 24. A report of the Commission of the Duma, read yesterday, described the medieval tortures inflicted on political prisoners and suspects-in order to extract confessions. It declared that the Governor of Riga, with the knowledge of the administrative authorities, the Public Prosecutor, and the Colonel ot Gendarmerie, empowered a special committee to kill accused persons without trial. Some parts of the description are unprintable. Among other details it is stated that finger and toe nails and hair were sometimes torn out. One of the prisoners was flailed with india rubber sticks until the flesh was hanging in strips. Salt was then rubbed in. The man died and a plank was laid across his body, on which two policemen sea-sawed until the back broke. After the tortures the maimed wretches were generally shot near Riga prison. The Government, in reply to an interpolation, admitted the truth of must of the statements, but said the allegations against the Public Prosecutor’s department were exaggerated. It was added that M. Stolypin, the Premier, had ordered an inquiry and the prosecution of the guilty persons. Gregus, the chief culprit connected with the Riga horrors, has been promoted to a high position in the political police service at St. Petersburg. M. Stolypin has ordered Governors of Jewish zones to issue proclamations warning the people against “pogroms” (massacres) on May sth, and announcing that the troops will rigorously suppress any disturbance.