"VOLCANO-BORN" PROPHET.

Evening Star, Issue 12606, 11 September 1905, Page 6

"VOLCANO-BORN" PROPHET.

An eEkraonfinary trial, just conctnded in Vologda, sheds a glaring tight on the extraordinary administration of justice in the Czar's dominions. The presiding Judge is reported by the local Press to haw explained that immoraJfty was not a punishable offence, bnt that diskrvafly to the Oar called for the very heaviest pnwshnient. A* a result, Andrei LJesnikoff. mi aged pedlar, was sentenced last week to taaryfive years' imprisonment. His case had lasted nearly a year, and no fewer than 333 female witnesses testified daring the trial. Evidence of the most extraordinary credulity among the Vologda peasantry was given, tie story toW savoring more of the fifteenth than of tho twentieth century. For yeaas. it was proved. Idesnikoff had been in the habit of masquerading among the simple moujiks as a- Heaven-sent prophet. Born, he said, spontaneously of a vokano, he had been sent, into the world to reveal to the women of the village, in wiaeh he happened to be at the time, that one of their number was destined to be the mother of the present Czar's successor on the tiironc. Nicholas 11.. be affirmed, wosM probably never have a son, and if he did, that son would die beloae rw«tve months bad passed. Discredited among his people, the present C«ar would, m the year 1306, adopt a peasant boy. of w&cb he (Ijesnikoffl was farted to bo the father. Keaeiy 200 crednlou* peasnst girls wtc entrapped- -by this--extraordinary criminal.