RUSSIA.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 25 April 1907, Page 2

RUSSIA.

(United Peess Association.—Copyuioht.j THE RIGA HORRORS. UNSPEAKABLE ATROCITIES. MEDIEVAL TORTURES. THE DUMA'S REPORT. (Received April 25, 8.42 a.m.* ST. PETERSBURG, Wednes. Tbe Duma Commission's report was read yesterday. It described the medieval tortures inflicted on political prisoners and suspects in order to extract confessions, and declared that the Governor of Riga, with the knowledge of the administrative authorities, the Public Prosecutor, and the colonel of the gendarmerie, empowered a special committee to deal with accused persons without trial. Some of the descriptions of the tortures are unprintable. Finger and toe nails and hair were torn out of prisoners, which were flailed with indiarubber until the flesh was hanging in strips. Salt was then rubbed in. A man died with a bench plank across his body while two policemen see-sawed thereon until the back of the man broke. After the tortures the maimed wretches were officially shot near Riga prison. The Government, in reply to the interpellation .admitted the truth of most o fthe statements, but declare that the allegations against the Public Prosecutor's department are exaggerated* The Government added that M. Stolypin had ordered an inquiry and a prosecution of the guilty persons.