THE FATE OF AZEFF.

Colonist, Volume LI, Issue 12476, 1 March 1909, Page 3

THE FATE OF AZEFF.

STATEMENT BY M. STOLYPIN. [Pbess Association— Copyright.] St Petersburg, Feb 26. Conflicting accounts are current of ' .;■ the terrorist Azeff's fate.. Some state that he was murdered in Russia and others declare that heis hidden -.there. A member of the Douma-read a letter from Azeff to a police official lauding himself for founding tlie terrorist ■ organisation, and for acts^ including . the murder of the Grand Duke Sergius. M. ' Stolypin declared that' Azeff was an ordinary police agent to whom the revolutionists ascribed legendary qualities and colossal crimes, and denied the possibility of Azeff- having • participated in the murders of M. de Plehve and. Governor Ufa. M. Stolypin added that after Azeff- ' joined -the central revolutionary committee not a single revolutionary murder /was committed, and there .was nothing but the revolutionists' word to "show that Azeff ever participated in terrorist acts. The Government would relentlessly punish police officials who provoked crimes ; .<but as ' ■ long as the terror lasted the spy ser- . vice, must continue. Loprkhin; who had betrayed Azeff to the revolutionaries, would shortly be tried.. Prisoners who escaped from : the Alexandrovsk prison have been, sentenced to death. They refused to ask for a commutation, and endeavoured to poison themselves. : .