THE EXECUTION OF THE NIHILISTS.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3100, 4 June 1881, Page 4

THE EXECUTION OF THE NIHILISTS.

The six persons convicted of tho murder of the Czar Were, with tho exception of Jessie Helfmann, executed on April 15 in the Place Semenoff at St. Petersburg. They were brought to the placo of execution, fixed face backwards, on a cart, Risakoff and Kibaltschich first, followed by Michaeloff and Jeliaboff. Sophie Perowskaja attempted to harangue tho crowd, but her voice was drowned by tho roll of clrnmij. The scaffold was a large black erection, with a crossbeam eighteen feet high, the five ropes being five feet apart. The executioner's name was Froloff. Troops were drawn up in the square and entirely surrounded the criminals, "who were dressed in black, with placards on their breasts bearing the inscription, " Murderers of the Czar." When arrived at the place of execution the judgment was read by the Attorney-General Muravieff. Five priests then mounted tho scaffold and extended tho cross, which was kissed by all the prisoners, who nfterwards, with the exception of Jeliaboff, embraced the priests. Grey linen caps were then drawn over their faces in the following order: Kibaltschich, Michaeloff, Perowskaya, Jeliaboff and Risakoff, the drums beating incessantly all the aime, the whole being over in seventeen minutes.

The execution of Jessie Helfmann, the sixth prisoner, has been postponed until after her confinement. In the case of Michaeloff, the rope broke twice with the ■weight of his body before the hangman completed his task. A vast crowd assembled in the streets leading to the place of execution and in the Semenoff Square itself. Perfect order prevailed. It is officially announced that Fthe prisoners did not avail themselves of the respite granted to them for the purpose of appealing against their sentence. Risakoff and Michaeloff, however, sued for mercy, but the Court decided that the terrible nature of their crime prevented their request from being taken into consideration. It was, nevertheless, submitted to the Emperor, who replied that the sentence of the Court must be carried out.