AZEFF, ANARCHIST AND SPY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 115, 12 June 1909, Page 4

AZEFF, ANARCHIST AND SPY.

HIS LIFE-STORY, T0I.1) BY HIMSELF. IA ci»iilrWiirt«r to "Answers," who knew AzelV. the notorious Russian traitor, Nihilist and police spy, whose daring exploits startled the whole of the civilised world, has secured his reminiscences, which cannot fail to he read with the utmost interest. In this instalment A/.cll' continues his startling confessions of duplicily as leader of the Revolutionary Party).

THE STORY OF THE PLOT THAT FAILED. Henceforward I had to fear none in the partv, for .1 had become the leader, after crushing my dangerous rival. My task had now become much easier, and, having all my own way, it only required some ingeuiiitv on my part to render a "reit powerful revolutionary parly the maidservant of their archenemies, the

secret police. . I was probably the busiest man in all Russia, and had, therefore, little lime to spare for reflections. Yet from time to time I had forebodings that sooner or later mv double role would be discovered; and 1 felt particularly uncomfortable during a scene I 'witnessed at "'[•ilE SENTENCE OF DEATH. 1 was present at a revolutionary meeting when one of the comrades raised his accusing voice against a young Jew present in the room. The proofs against the latter were Uvenvhclmin": and no doubt as to his duplicitv could exist when we found ! n the Jew's possession a pocket-book containing notes relating to many revolutionists of the town. As the leader of the party and an emissary of the Central Committee, t was asked to pass sentence, and I had to condemn the man to death. An ominous silence followed my words; then two men rose, and, under threats of torture, compelled the suspect to make a full confession. Trembling in every limb, the Jew, m an almost inaudible voice, admitted that he had caused the arrest of over twenty people, whom he mentioned .by name.

HER BROTHER'S KEEPER. Oiifi of his victims was hanged, and lie happened to have been the -brother of a girl comrade present at the meeting. At last he had finished.

'The girl comrade rose from her scat,! pale but calm, and asked that, as' die j had been most 'wronged of all, it should j be her privilege to execute the mini. A murmur of approval followed her impassioned speech. On the following morning the body of the Jew was found lying on the door-1 steps of the police department. In his j .pocket the .police found a note explaining the cause of the deed, and threatening a similar end to any man or woman guilty of spying. In a way, this proclamation had a salutary effect, and it took mouths hefore the police could again obtain information with regard to the revolutionary movement in Kiel!. The latter profited i'oy these circumstances, and not only killed the governor, but also the prison inspector and a judge. Some spies in Poland and in South I Russian towns were done for in an even j more inhuman way, expiring after agonising torture; while in the Baltic nroi viuccs two spies were burned alive. Successful bomb plots always caused a great stir; but the mere killing off of tvrauts did not help much in the furthering of the cause of liberty. As soon as one official was' killed his place was filled iby a more inhuman brute. For this reason there -was a strong feeling among revolutionists that the time had come for u.orc decisive actio,-!.

and that we were now strong enough for an'armcd rising. Obeying the dictates of the majority, the Central Comanittec entered upon preparations for a revolt which had»for ils purpose to organise armed bawls at Kronstadt and St Petersburg, proclaiming the general strike and state of war. Then, with the assistance of some sections of the arniv, and 1 of our bands, we had to make prisoners of the Ministry and of the whole of the Imperial Family.

ARMING IN SECRET. As we made the eaipital the centre of the rising, we required more weapons there than were at the time available. I took it upon myself to get them. Having firearms and ammunition in Germany. 1 sent them to England, and they were there shipped on board a boat spociallv hired for the journev. Having again to return to St, Peters-

burg, in order lo get all the various sections of the bands into lighting order

1 left the priest Capon in charge of the, cargo. I was duly informed by him that the ship had started, then that it had been sighted offMalmn, and that, therefore, it would he off St. Petersburg in a couple of days. What excitement 1 experienced in the course of those last two days! Every minute was occupied. For rcasovis of greater security and secrecv. the various bands ivere onMniscd unknown to each other, and the leaders of each and every one had to be coached for 1 li-» movements they had lo execute with their men the moment the signal was given. Further, there were interviews with army officers' who had promised us the support of their regiments as soon us the street fighting 'began.

FAILURE! At last everything was complete Wo were now only waiting for our shipload of weapons, the vi>ry entering of the ship into port being 'tire signal for red revolution.

But, alas! the ship never did appear, although, we waited and waited. This delay caused dismay amongst the parly. The hands were getting impatient, and demanded arms. At last rumors of treason were bruited about. The result wa.i a demoralising rout and a dismal fniliirV »f the finest plot that ever was hatched In revolutionary brainsT ~""'-- w^ I was in a terrific fury. For lime in my life f had experienced a terrible, overwhelming disappointment. 1 swore bitter revenge on the rogue who had. put a s poke into my wheel:' and. in order to become even with the secret police, who must have had a hand in the game, I. hurried oil' to Moscow to kill the Tsar's uncle. REVENGE!

A week after my arrival tl|e, Grand Duke Scrgius was blown up Jiy' a bomb on the very spot where for centuries the Tsars had executed tlie criminals. I was an appreciative eve-witness of Sergius'a demise.

This coup brought Ratchkovslty on bis knees. Tie confessed that he had paid Capon L2OOO for running the boat on the rocks, and thus prevented the revolutionary rising. For the consideration of a further large payment. Gapon had even offered to bring me to the gallows—a little plan which cost the priest dear.

I moved bis death-sentence, and decoyed him from St. Petersburg into Finland, whore I promised to meet him, and whore. b v the ■way, Capon had already made preparations to betray me. My emissaries, however, appeared in my stead, and, after a violent struggle, the priest was overpowered and strangled.