EXECUTING A SPY.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1726, 29 March 1905, Page 59

EXECUTING A SPY.

HOW A BRAVE! RUSSIAN MET DEATH. One of the most interesting articles on the war in the East appears in “Leslie’s Weekly.” It- tells had a brave Russian spy met liis -death. He was discovered in the Japanese lines, confessed that lie was a spy of Kouropatkin, and was sentenced to death. “There is a pecular fascination, about' the play of a. man’s features,” writes the special correspondent of “Leslie’s Weekly,” “when he knows he is near to death. Every spectator morbidly searches them, attributing this, that, and the other thing to- ©very tremour of nerve or muscle. Although the words of Judge Hamano must have sunk into his heart like knife-thrust®, R-yabo-ff’s countenance gave not the .slightest indication of inward perturbation. When it was over be said very distinctly, ‘I am “A few days later the excution took place. Ryaboff took his stand by a nara tree in a ‘certain’ valley studded with great rocks. Four soldiers—the execution squad—were drawn up facing hun. The judges of the court wer« to see that their sentence wa® properly carried out. There were also a number of curious soldiers and civilians, all intent on seeing a Russian die. The condemned man wajs placed Dy Lieutenant Fugita-, of the gendarmes, m a kneeling position in front of the nara tree. The- ropes binding hia wrists were then unbound, and twq gendarmes tenderly rubbed the chafed parts with a soothing ointment. ‘May I pray to my God?’ asked the kneeling man of Lieutenant Fugita. The latter readily granted the request, and there and then the Russian uttered A BRIEF AND FERVENT PRAYER to the God in whom he believed bo well. ‘Have you a wife?’ asked Judge Hamano. ‘Yes,’ replied the condemned, ‘I have a wife and two little children.? He hesitated, his lips quivered, hi« voice shook, and then great tears burst from his eyes. The thought of big family was too much for his iron nerves. He did not cry, however, as a coward or a woman would cry. Hig tears were unselfish ones. .The bullets of the Osaka rifles had no horror for him,, but at the iast moment his heart went forth to his little home in distant Russia, and he became as gentle as he was bard and cold during his trial. It was a. trying time for all of us. I found it most difficult to keep my own tears back. Even the stony-hearted gendarmes had a way of looking at the toes of their big boots that suggested that they were ashamed of them. “Taking the Russian’s hand Captain Hamano said—Tn my opinion you are one of the bravest and most honourable of Russians. I admire you from the bottom of my heart, and in my unofficial capacity seriously regret the unkind fate that has cut your days so short, although I am at the same time one of its agents. Imperial JAPAN CLAIMS YOUR LIFE - for her own best ini ere-ts, and her word is my law. It may clnmce that you have property to leave. If so, X will he glad to do what I can toward communicating your wishes to your family.’ “These kind words so affected th© prisoner that he was again forced to tears, great sobs shaking his frame. Then, remembering this to be a womanish action, lie gnashed his teeth in a, vain effort to control himself. Finally he said —- ; When I was arrested I was prepared in mind for this fate. I am ashamed of my tears and pray you to laugh at- them. Unfortunately I no property to leave my family, but hope that my Government will care for them. 1 thank you for your sympathy, and now state my readiness xo go before luv Maher.’ "C ?pt:un Unmano -.-hook the prisoner's hand and wit iidrew. A gendarme stepped forward and bound a white cloth over the prisoners eyes. A young officer drew Iti's sword. The Osaka rifles clicked onr-e. twice, three times. The fatal word was spoken. It was all over bo fere any of u > appreciated the fact. The dec Air ran to the side of the pros-Wv.-ro bndv ami pronounced life ox-di.-d Private Ryaboff, of the Twr’b y-Se: : a. Chambers y Regiment,