AWFUL PRISON TORTURES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 3768, 29 June 1907, Page 4

AWFUL PRISON TORTURES.

The Adimsslons of a Russian Minister. The Deputy Minister of the Interior admitted in the Duma the truth of most of the statements contained in a report read on the tortures of political prisoners and suspects with the object of extracting confessions. He •promised enquiry into the action of a secret police and prosecution of the guilty persons. The report alleges that finger and toe nails and hair were torn out. Prisoners were flailed with indiarubber sticks until the flesh was hanging in strips, and salt was then .rubbed in. One man who was shot after having being tortured had one leg almost cut off and liis bodjr covered with other wounds.

Another man was tied to a bench, a plank was then laid across his body, and two policemen see-sawed on it until the victim’s back broke. The police jumped on the body of a third lad until his chest-bones were smashed in and his internal organs were in such a state that he only could swallow water until he died.

After being tortured the maimed wretches were generally shot near the Riga central prison. Old and young were treated alike. A child of eight, for instance was brutal!} 7 flogged to make him tell where his father was.

Deputies from the Baltic provinces declared that it was impossible to state the number of those who had been tortured, but it was certain that all those who were shot or hanged by verdict of court - martial passed through the “ Museum of Riga.” They added that the prisions were filled to overthrowing with prisoners who had been awaiting trial for months, with only just sufficient bread and water to keep them alive pending their torures.