RUSSIA.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8410, 26 April 1907, Page 5

RUSSIA.

UNSPEAKABLE OUTRAGES AT RIGA. Received April 25, 11,5 a.m. ST. PETERSBURG, April 24. A report of the Commission of the Duma, r~ad 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 of Gendarmerie, empowered a special committee to kill accused persons without trial. Some parts of the description are unprintable. Finger and toe nails and hair have been torn out. One of the prisoners was flailed with india rubber sticks until the flesh was hanging in strips. Salt was then rubbed in. Thejnan died, and a plank was laid across his body, on which two policemen see-sawed until the back broke. Alter the tortures the maimed wretches were generally shot near Riga prison. The Government, in reply to an interpolation, admitted the truth of most of the statements, but said the allegations against the Public Prosecutor's department were exaggerated. It was added that M. Stolypin, the Premier, has ordered an enquiry and the prosecution of the guilty persons. Gregus, the chief culprit connected with the Riga horrors, has been promoted to a high post in the political police of St. Petersburg. 6( M. Stolypin, Premier, has'ordered the Governors of the Jewish zoiies to issue proclamations warning the peoplej£against "pogroms" (massacres) on May sth, and announcing that the troops will L rigorous!y suppress any disturbance.^