SIDELIGHTS ON SIBERIA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 9271, 5 August 1893, Page 2 (Supplement)

SIDELIGHTS ON SIBERIA.

DEVOTION Ob' A SOCIALIST.

A very curious process i* before the Court of Appeal in Paris touching certain papers left behind by a disaffected Russian, who lately poisoned himself after a series of unplea- experiences, and still more disagreeable impression* for which his nervous condition alone was responsible. Louis Savitsky was banished to Siberia in ISS-") for a period of five years, on suspicion of being a Socialist, while his companions were either hanged or banished to the mines for life. Savitsky was only 19 yeais of age at the time, and when he hud served his term lie emigrated to France, and studied medicine at the Faculty of Paris. Some time ago one of hi-* former comrades suddenly made hi* appearance in the Russian colony in Pari*, but, as he was believed to be the 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 a court of honour, and try the question. After a time this court declared itself incompetent, and the alleged traitor was allowed to go hi* way in peace. Meeting Savitsky, however, in the street he scoffed at him, insulted him, and excited him to such a pitch that the unfortunate youth, who, since his sojourn in Siberia, was exceedingly nervous, went home and poisoned hiin-elf, forgetting to burn his papers. During his agony he remembered that these documents, if they fell into the hands of the Russian authorities, would ruin a number of well-meaning people in Russia with whom he had been in correspondence. Making a last and terrible effort, the dying man rose, seized a pencil, and wrote on the documents, " Please burn these papers ! ' after which his hand dropped to his side, and he himself breathed his last shortly after. On hi* death becoming known these letters and records were the first things discovered, and the oflicial who came to look after the worldly possesions of the deceased noticed the words in pencil, and drew attention to them.

On the other hand, the Rus-ian consul, on hearing of the existence of these documents and of the suicide's desire to have them destroyed, naturally inferred that they would compromise many pco[)lc in Russia who are perhaps not yet even suspected by the police, and as naturally demanded that they should be handed over to him at least for a tew hours. Savitsky had a grandmother still living, who gave powers of attorney to her representative in Paris, empowering him to demand those papers in the name of the law, and to refuse to allow the Russian consul to read them. The Judge of Peace acted very correctly, sequestering the documents and denying the consul's right to enter the death chamber except in the presence of the natural heir. The case has just como up before the Court of Appeal, where the counsel for Savitskv's grandmother showed clearly that the Russian consul had no right to read these private papers, and that it would be a crime against humanity to allow his odious claim. Strange to say, or rather naturally enough, the Advocate General, who holds a brief for tho Republic, and is supposed to take an absolutely impartial view, warmly uphold the claim advanced by the Russian consul. The excitement in the Russian colony is in consequence intense; indeed, at one time it was proposed to use violence in order to seize the mysterious documents and destroy them, but several of the more moderate spirits appealed to the bulk of their compatriots to rely upon the justice, equity, and humanity of French law, which is based upon the eternal rights of man. The representative of that law is now of opinion that the papers ought to bo shown to the Russian consul, and that the question whether that step will not result in the banishment to the mines, and capital |>unishment of several individuals, and the )reaking up of numerous happy families i must bo disregarded.