THE EXECUTION OF THE NIHILISTS.

Auckland Star, Volume XII, Issue 3383, 31 May 1881, Page 2

THE EXECUTION OF THE NIHILISTS.

The six persons convicted of the murder of trie Czar were, with the exception of Jessie Helfmann.cxccutcd on April 15 in the Piase Scmonol?, at St. Petersburg. They were brought to the place of execution, fixed face backwards, on a cart, KisakolF and Kibaltschich first, followed by Michaeloff and Jeliabort'. Sophie Perowskaja attempted to harangue the crowd but her voice was drowned by the roll of drums. She seemed to be the calmest of the five. Her extraordinarily high aud broad foiehead was uuahrouded by tbe hood, tier slightly flushed face betokened great mental excitement, but . there was no sign tuber of fear or remorse. The scaffold was a large black erection, with a croas-boara eighteen feet bigh, the live rones being live feet apart. The executioner's name was Jroloff. Troops Were drawn up in the square and entirely surrounded the criminal'l, who were dressed in black, with placards on their breasts bearing the inscription, " MurdertT* of the tzar." When arrived at the place of execution the judgment was read by the At-tomey-Genera'l Murovieff. Five priests then mounted the scall'old and extended the cross, which was kissed by all the prisoners", who afterwards, with the exception o» JcliabofF, embraced the priests. Groy linen caps were then drawn over their faces in the following order: Kibaltschich, Michaeloft", JL'erowskaya, Jeliaboff, and Itisakoff, the drums beating incessantly all thetimo, the whole being over in 17 minutes. The execution of Jessie Hclfcmann, the

sixth prisoner, has been postponed until after her confinement. In the case of Michaelofl, the rope broko twice with tho weight of his body before the hangman completed his task. The spectacle was witnessed in silence by 100,000 ponpl.;. The deposition ot tlje prisoner Reesnkufi, the Act states, exposes the whole plan, circumstance, and execution oi the crime, The assassination was not projected by the terrorists of the workman's party, but was proposed by the Executive Committee of tlie Revolutionary party. Ten days beforo it? consummation Sheliabolf called for volunteers willing to undertake it. The executioner, Frohtaff, received 100 lashes for mismanagement in the han^im; of the Nihilist Michaloff, whose rope broke twice. The manner of execution was peculiar. The rope was drawn tight around one of the supporting beams and thn culprit was left to strangle by tua stool being withdrawn from under. All remained firm and imperturblo until the last moment. Russakol! aloue appeared to faint befure the st'jol was taken away. Tlie formalities and the execution lasted altogether about twenty-live minutes. Previous to the execution, Kibaltschitisch, the maker of the bombs, and, in some respect?, the most remarkable figure among the condemned, devoted his Jast hours tn drawiut; up a memoir o:> the subject of his specific discoveries, which ho addressed to the High Court of Justice. In the document he avowed his desire that his name, should bo immortalized, and he made a gift of his inventions to the State, on the condition that all the profit should go to tho amelioration of the lot of the children of political criminals.