RUSSIAN AFFAIRS.

Timaru Herald, Volume XC, Issue 13270, 26 April 1907, Page 5

RUSSIAN AFFAIRS.

DUMA COMMISSION'S REPORT'. . HORRIBLE CRUELTIES. United Press Association —Per Electric Telegraph—Copyright ST. PETERSBURG, April 24. The Duma Commiasion's report was read yesterday. It described the mediaeval tortures inflicted on political prisoners, and suspects, in order to extract confessions. It declared that the Governor of Riga, with the Icnowledge of the administrative authorities, • the Public Prosecutor, and the Colonel of the Gendarmerie, empowered a special meeting to kill accused 'persons without -trial. Some of the description of the tortures is unprintable. Finger and toe-nails, and hair were torn out, and I he prisoners flailed with indiarubber sticks until the flesh was hanging in strips. Salt was then rubbed in. A man died on a bench, and a plank was laid across the body. Two -policemen then seesawed thereon until the dead man's back broke. After the tortures maimed wretches were generally shot near Riga prison. The Government, in reply, admitted the truth of most of the statements, but said the allegations against the Public Prosecutor's department were exaggerated. They added that they had ordered an inquiry, and the prosecution of the guilty persons.