TERRORIST KING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 136, 30 May 1908, Page 4

TERRORIST KING.

RUSSIA'S ARCII-PIJ>TTER. Oersliuui. the ex-student, pioneer and ruling spirit of the present revolutionary movement in Russin. is reported by the uewspapei- to have died in exile, bul a free man. He c-capvd from a life sentence in the East Siberian political penal settlement two vears ago by getting some fellow-prisoners to conceal him in a coal barrel which, with a load of others, was to be taken further north. The driver was bribed and "lost" the barrel, its occupant escaping after many perils to Japan, and then to America. Among his young comrades he was credited with strong powers of hypnotism. by which he became the real pivot of their movement. Most, of the attempts against, heads of the Russian Government in recent years were of his devising. It was his instruments who assassinated Prince Oboleusky ami M. de Plehve, and since his escape he organised some of the chief attempts of recent months. He never took a personal part ill the actual deeds, but by choosing men among his desperado comrades, fascinating and frightening them, he directed the most daring coups. Once, his friends admitj he was foiled completely. He had instigated an attempt against the life of the late 31. PobiedonoslzelT, Procurator of the Holy Synod, which was to be carried out atthe funeral of M. Lipiaguine, the Minister of the Interior, whose execution ho had decreed. For assassin he had chosen a young subaltern of radical leanings. After four "seances" with Gershuni the oilicer promised to kill the Procurator. On the morning fixed for the deed the chief went to hi ri agent's room aud ban id him terrified from remorse, swearing Hut he could not comm'it

murder. (lershuni upbraided and do- i rided him, finally giving him a bottle ' of strong wine ami telling him to do a?> he was told. The oilicer went out obediently with bis revolver aud poisoued built L». and took his position in the line .if tin. iuneral procession. A-s M. PolHcdonosUeJl" approached on loot the eyes of the two men met, find the uon Id-be assassin, who had. cowered under the of Gershuni, felt himself even more helples* as the aged Procurator's cold, grey, masterful eyes did not release their hold from his. It was as if they met and fought in a life-aud-deatli combat and the Terrorist was vanquished, lie broke down, turned. and tied. They found him in his lodgings in an hysterical state, exhausted with throwing oil' the spell of Gerslmui.