MARTYRS OF LIBERTY.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue LXXIV, 29 October 1917, Page 7

MARTYRS OF LIBERTY.

SESKA IMED ASSASSINS MAKE MONEY BY GRAFT.

Russian terrorists released from Siberian convict gaols and exile villages are naturally made heroes of. They are given free train accommodation, tree dinners, free clothes, and gifts of money When they reach their native towns they are acclaimed as martyrs ot liberty, and they receive proposals ot marriage from attractive and wealthy young women. As a result of this novel condition many enterprising citizens whose hands are innocent of 'anything grimmer than mud or ink are posing as murderers of despotic ofncials. Women, as well as men, are entering the profession. WOMAN WORKS GAME. In Minsk has been arrested Catherine Smirnoff, who announced that she had murdered M. Ivanoff, Governor of Odessa and described with pathos her sufferings in the Arctic wastes of Yakutsk. Smirnoff levied tribute and was presented with bouquets. An unkindly enquire- discovered that Odessa had never a governor named Ivanoff, and, further, that Catherine Smirnoff had posed in Odessa as a Sister of Mercy, and after swindling seventy chantale citizens had been expelled by the military authorities. In the same city a healthy young man, who described himself as a soldier volunteer, arrested in the street the mvahd ex-governor j General Pilliu. Before a sympathising crowd he denounced the general. "I am the innocent and unhappy man whom you seized," he exclaimed", the peaceful citizen whom you sent to a convict prison without trial Our committee has ordered you to be sent to the front, but in view of your bad health, we shall show some mercy." ALLEGED VICTIM FLEES. In vain General Piiiiu explained that he had never seized any innocent man. iHe was hauled by the mob to the mhtia office. The Odessa Dreyfus meantime collected money and fled. j1 he nnlitia at once released the »en- | eral.