ALLEGED SEDITION

Southland Times, Issue 17595, 6 March 1914, Page 5

ALLEGED SEDITION

TRIAL OP RI’THENIANS. THIRTY-TWO CONVICTIONS. By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. BUDA PEST IT, March 4. Father Alexium has been sentenced to four and a half years' imprisonment, thirty-one others to terms ranging from one to three years, and the remainder were acquitted. Four of the prisoners are now suffering from religious madness. The trial of fifty-four people, mostly Hungarian Kuthenians, was begun on December 29. Two hundred and seventyfour witnesses wore to be examined. The principal prisoner, is a Russian monk named Father Alexus, of Mount Athos, whose real name is-Alexander Kabalyak. The prisoners were charged with making seditious statements against the Emperor Franz Josef and the dynasty. Hundreds of thousands of books and pamphlets were circulated, inciting a rebellion witli a view to joining Russia. According to the prosecution, the promoters of the propaganda were closely connected with the president of the Russian National Association. Count Vladimar, M. Bobrinsky, a member of the Duma, and also with the priests of various Russian monasteries. The Russian bishops Exodins and Antonins were zealous supporters of the insurrection, and their agents promised the Ruthenian peasants bettor and cheaper religion than the Graeco-Catholic if they joined the Orllibdox Church. Baptisms, marriages. ami funerals were In bp free, and consequently many joined the Russian Church.