A STRANGE AFFAIR.

Bush Advocate, Volume IX, Issue 811, 29 July 1893, Page 6

A STRANGE AFFAIR.

RUSSIAN SOCIALISTS IN PAEIS. A strange story is exciting muoh interest in Russian circles in Paris. It arises oat of a curious process now before the Court of Appeal, and these are the foots as detailed by the "Telegraph's" representative: — Recently a disaffeoted Russian poisoned himself after a series of unpleawnt experiences, and atill more disagreeable impressions, for whioh his nervous condition alone was responsible. Louis Savitsky was banished to Siberia in 1885 for a period of five years, on suspicion of being a Socialist, while his companions were EITOKR HANCIKD OB liANISIIRD to the mines for life. Savitsky was only 19 years of age at the time, and when he had served his term he emigrated to Franco and studied medicine at the Faculty of Paris. Some time ago one of his former comrades suddenly made his appearance in the Russian colony, but, as he was believed to be an informer, was steered clear of by all. Savitsky openly accused him of having compromised his comrades during the trial in Russia, and the Russian colony in Paris was requested to APPOINT I COUNT OF HO2TOII. and try tbe question. After a time this Court deolared itself incompetent, Bnd the alleged traitor was allowed to go his way in peace. Meeting Suvit^ky, however, in the street, he scoffed at him, insulted him, and excited him to such » pitch that the unfortunate youth went home and poisoned himself, forgetting to burn his papers. During I his agony he remembered that these documents, if tiiey fell into the hands of the Russian authorities would ruin a number of wsll> meaning people in Ruasia with whom he had been in correspondence. Making a I,.\ST ASH TEUUIM.E EFFORT, the dying man rose, seized a pencil and wrote on the documents, " Please bura these papers !" after which his hand dropped to his side, and ho himself breathed his last shortly after. On Mb death becoming known, these letters aud reoords wore the first things discovered, and the official who onmo to look after the worldly possessions of the deceased noticed, the words in pencil, and drew attention to them. On the other hand, the Russian Consul, on hearing of the existenoe of those documents, aud of the suioide's desire to have them destroyed, naturally inferred that they would compromise many rKOPLK in Russia.. I who are perhaps not yet even suspeoted by the police, and as naturally demanded that they should be handed over to him at least for a few hours. Savitaky had a grandmother fitill living 1 , who gave powers of attorney to her representative in Paris, empowering him to demand those papers in the name of .the law, and to rofu-.e to allow tho Russian Conaulto road them. The Judgo of tlio Peaoe noted very correctly, sßCjueßterinjr tlm documents and denying the Consul's right to enter the death ohamber excopt in (lie proonee of tho natural heir. The case has just come up before the Court of Appeal, where tho counsel for Savitsky'a grandmother showed clearly that the Russian Consul had no right to read these private paper*, and that it would 1!K A CMMK AOAISSr HUMANITY to allow Ws odious claim. Strange to say, or rather naturally enough, the Avocat General, who holds a brief for the Republio, and is supposed to take an absolutely impartial view, warmly upheld tho olaim advanced by the Russian Cone ul. The actual deoision i» awaited withgieat interest.