ITHE ASSASSINATION OF GENERAL MEZENTSOF.

Timaru Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 1339, 4 January 1879, Page 3

ITHE ASSASSINATION OF GENERAL MEZENTSOF.

General Nicholas Vladimirowich Mezentsof, whose assassination took place at I St. Petersburgh lately, has just attained his fiftieth year. Originally a simple officer, he took part m the Crimean War of 1856-7, and at the famous seige of Sebastopol was one of the braveßt defenders of Bastion No. 5. He was wounded at the battle of the Tchernaya, and subsequently received, m acknowledgement of his gallant and soldierly conduct, a sabre of honor, inscribed with the words, "For valor." He then returned to Wuuw during the Gorwnor-

ship ..f Gorischak.itf. Poland U the training school of those who aspire to I high office m the bureau of the Russian ; police administration. In 1877 he became I the adjoint of Genei-al Petaf3off, chief of ; the third section of the private police of the Emperor. This officer soon after resigned his appointment, and Mezentsof at once took his place and commenced his functions. The position he now held was neither pleasant nnr enviable, but most important, the authority attached to it being practically illimitable, and based on the Czar's wish or caprice. And here the office he held must not be confounded with that of the late General Trepoff, who was succeeded by Z^uroff. The head of the third section directs the whole of the superior^police of all Russia — not that of St. Petersburg alone — and is also called the chief of the Imperial Gendarmerie. The details of his assassination, according to a correspondent of the Temps, are as follows : — He was m the habit each morning of taking a walk after . performing his religious duties. He generally went m the direction of the Goetinoi Dvor, or bazaar ; at other times he extended his promenade towards the Newsky Prospect. His favorite walk was the Place Michel, near the centre of the town. He as a. rule went out between eight and nine o'clock m the morning, and alone. This habit of Ihe General was evidently w«ll known to the assassins. On the day of his death he rose as usual, dressed himself m uniform, and accompanied by hi 3 friend and companion-in-arms, Colonel Makaroff, m civil costume, went to take his accustomed and favorite promenade. On reaching the corner of the Place Michel two well-dressed men were, observed close to a confectioner's shop which is situated there. They had, according to the Golos, the appearance of civil servants. As soon as they found they were observed they hurriedly made off. The General and his companion paid no attention to this apparently insignificant circumstance. But suddenly a man emerged from a corner behind and drove a poinurd up to the hilt into the abdomen, which it penetrated as far as the peritoneum. Colonel Makaroff threw himself upon the assassin ; but a second person then suddenly came forward and fired a revolver at Makaroff, without, however, hitting him. Profiting by the confusion which then arose, both the assailants entered a droschky, which drove off through the Rue Italianskaya m the direction of Sadovaya. This droschky or cab is said to have been an elegant private vehicle, with an excellent horse. All that is known at present is that one of the two assassins wore a grey coat. So successful a flight would be regarded as incredible, but there were no police near, and at that early hour the Place Alichel is almost deserted. General Mezentsof was taken home severely wounded, but not, it wasbelievcd, dangerously. General Zouroff, the Minister of War and of Justice called afterwards, and the physician Bogdanovski, arrived about twelve o'clock. A dose of morphine was given to the patient, whoso condition was not despaired of. At five o'clock m the afternoon grave symptoms manifested themselves, and at twenty minutes past that hour he died m great agony. A private inquiry has been opened into the affair under the direction of M. Lapoukhine, one of the secret counsellors of the Emperor. Nothing further is permitted to transpire.