A YOUTHFUL MATRICIDE.

Western Star, Issue 260, 31 August 1878, Page 2 (Supplement)

A YOUTHFUL MATRICIDE.

There is hoav occupying the Russian criminal tribunals a tragedy Avhich throAvs into the shade the gloomiest imaginings of the old Greek playAvrights. It is the murder of a mother by her son, a child nine years old. The story is one of the most appalling in the Avhole annals of human crime, and Avithal it is heart-touching as shoAving the misdirection of a noble nature. For the motive of the crime Avas honor, and the son sIeAV his mother that her blood might Avash out the stain her infidelity had put upon her husband’s name. The case is a most remarkable one. There seems to be no eAfidence of a vicious disposition on the part of the boy. On the contrary, he seems to haA T e had a loving heart, and to have been tenderly attached to his dead father ; but a cloud came over his young existence Avlien his mother, forgetting her duty to the living and the dead, contracted an illicit alliance Avith a Government The Avoman seems to. have troubled herself little to conceal her amours from her son, thinking that a child of such tender years Avould not be likely to pay any attention to her actions. She does not seem to have ever suspected the precocious sensibility of her child. The boy, hoAvever, very soon began to suspect the true relations existing between the stranger and his mother. The functionary entered frequently before the child’s eyes, and at unusual hours, into the house that had belonged to the dead father. The child felt himself cruelly injured by the dishonor cast upon his father’s memory, Avhich had remained enshrined in his young heart like a sacred image. For a long time he concealed his anger and his shame ; but one day his indignation mastered him, and he resolved to make an effort to Avin his mother from the path of shame. ThroAving aside all fear, he reproved the widoAv for her infidelity to her dead husband, and besought her to return to her duty by respect to the memory of the dead and out of respect to her son. The mother treated these remonstrances lightly, and burst out laughing at the child. Without even deigning to hear him to the end, she advised him to occupy himself Avith matters more appropriate to his age. Several times he seems to have renewed his exhortations, always, lioavever, meeting Avith the same reception. Feeling that it was useless to appeal to the better nature of His mother, the child conceived the horrible design of Avashing out in her blood the stain she. persisted in putting on his name, and Avhich he knew Avas no no longer a secret from the neighbors. Having once made up his mind, his thoughts became Avholly absorbed in plans for carrying his vengeance into execution. Wherever he Avent he carried Avith him this idea of avenging the injured honor of his name. In solitude he pondered over it, until it became in his eyes a holy duty. Beside this child of nine years taking upon his conscience the responsibility of judge and executioner, thinking and planning before taking action, Hamlet, tormented by visions and simulating madness, is only capable of inspiring pity. The heart is moved at the thought of the anguish the child must have suffered. First, he dug the giwve. This was for his infant hands a long and painful labor. When he had everything prepared, he resolved to execute his terrible purpose. One night, Avhilst his mother slept, he armed himself Avith a hatchet and silently approached her bed. When his eyes rested on the author of his being his resolution Avas shaken. . He gazed on the face he had long loved and respected. The sight Avas too much for his childish heart, and, bursting into tears, he fell on his knees before his mother’s bed. There the morning light found him stretched in slumber Avith the deadly hatchet still clasped in his tiny hands. When the mother rose she Avas terribly frightened at the sight. the boy, avlio explained his presence by a peasant fable, and then took the opportunity to once more beseech his mother to dismiss her lover and return to the path of honor. She, hoAveA'er, lost her temper, and, ordering the child to hold his tongue, dismissed him curtly. The action of the AvidoAV decided her son to carry out his murderous resolution. The folloAving night he again entered his mother’s bedroom, and, finding her asleep, Avith one Woav of the hatchet he killed her. He then took the body, which he dragged to the grave he had prepared, and there interred it. The trial of this strange matricide is progressing in the toAvn of Valok, in the Government of KharkoAV. Seldom have the Russian people been so interested in a criminal trial, but the sight of a child nine years old standing in the dock as the assassin of his mother is Avell calculated to excite compassionate sympathy among a people by Avhom family ties are regarded Avith something of the respect of the patriarchal times. Mr Vladimir, professor of criminal IaAV at the University of KharkoAV, has spontaneously undertaken the defence of the unfortunate child.