Terms, $2.00 a Year, in Advance
Bellefonte, Pa., February 2i, 1890.
P. GRAY MEEK,
THE LAST OF HOPKINS
“HE EXPIATES HIS DOUBLE
MURDER BY DEATH ON
THE GALLOWS.
Epitor.
INCIDENTS CONNECTED WITH HIS
LAST DAYS ON EARTH.
Scenes on the Gallows—The Rope
Breaks Rendering It Necessary
to Carry Him Back to the
Scaffold and Hang Him
a Second Time.
FORMER EXECUTIONS IN CEN-
TRE COUNTY.
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—
Thursday of this week, the 20th of
February, 1890, will long be remember-
ed as the day on which William Seely
Hopkins, the murderer of his wife and
mother-in-law, was hung in expiation
of kis atrocious and {cowardly offense.
As executions have been rare in this
county, the hanging of this culprit ex-
cited a morbid interest that attracted a
large number of visitors to Bellefonte,
most of whom had no assurance of
being able to witness more of the exe-
cution than could be afforded by look-
ing at tho outside of the walls of the
jail yard.
Most of our readers have become fam-
iliar with the details of the foul offense
for which Hopkins was justly made to
answer with his life. It happened on a
beautiful Sunday morning, September
20th, 1889, in the town of Philipsburg,
this county, about the time the church-
goers of that place were repairing to
their respective places of worship.
Hopkins had been temporarily separated
from his “wife on account of constant
family difficulties. She and her mother
were living together. He, hownver,
turned up in Philipsburg on the night
preceding the murder, impelled to re-
turn to the place by the malicious inten-
tion of avenging what his jealous dispos-
ition had construed to be infidelity on
the part of his wife. He concealed him-
self, in the cellar, and the next morning,
when he heard the family moving above,
he came up steal thily from his place cf
concealment and without warning set
about doing the bloody work of killing
his wife and her mother.
The particulars of this family massa-
cre, and has ne subsequently tried to
killed himself with the same pistol with
which he hadslain the two women, have
already been fully published as have al-
so the particulars of his arrest, incarcer-
ation, trial and conviction. The last
act in the bloody tragedy was the one
performed on the scaffold on Thursday
when the curtain was forever dropped
on the drama of Seely Hopkins’ mis-
guided life.
He was so extraordinary a criminal,
evincing such a reckless indifference to
his impending fate, and deporting him-
gelf with such unvarying bravado, that
something concerning his early life and
his doings antecedent to the crime that
Janded him on the gallows, may be in-
teresting to the reader. He was born at
‘Spencerport, Monroe county, N. Y.,on the
3rd of July, 1860, and lived there until he
was twenty-one years of age. He claims
to have attended Sunday school until
he was thirteen years old, but from
thirteen to nineteen his conduct was
that of a bad and reckless boy. At
nineteen he “experienced religion,” but
soon fell from grace and became worse
than ke was before. On the 23d of Oc-
tober, 1881, he still living at home, his
father wanted him to pay board, and
getting 1nto a quarrel with him about it,
he struck him. He claims in his confes-
sion that he was so ashamed of this con-
duct that ke left home the same night |
and went to Pittsford, N. Y., where he
lived with a man named John Smith
until December, when, after a brief vis-
it to his home, he started for Philips-
burg, in this ecunty, where he arrived
on the 24th of December, 1881 and got
employment in making cars for J. &
F. D. Gowland, in which business he
continued until 1883. He afterwards
worked at Loch Lomond Mill, at Peal
City, and other places, making in the
mean time a visit to his friends in New !
York State. In 1886, having returned
to Philipsburg, he became acquainted
with Maggie Wighaman, his future
wife, and after much opposition from
some of her relatives, married her on
the 22d of March, 1887. It was not
long before family jars arose attended
by the marital infelicity which ended in
the killing of his wife and mother-
in-law.
INCIDENTS PRELIMINARY TO THE EXE-
CUTION.
Mr. Gault and his partner, Mr. Stov-
er, employed most of their time on Mon-
day in setting up the gallows which
Centre county finds necessary to have on
hand for the execution of her murderers.
It had been previously framed and all
its parts adjusted at the workshop of its
constructors,and in that shape was haul-
ed to the jai! on Monday morning.
is of white oak, eighteen feet in height,
with the usual cross timber at the top
from which the rope is suspended, and a
platform about 12 feet square and 10
feet from the ground, in the centre of
which is a double trap-door on which
the prisoner-stands to await his doom.
Its location is in the south east corner of
the jail yard. The solidity of the scaf-
told and strength of the rope were tested
on Tuesday by the sheriff with a 190
pound sand bag, and both stood the test,
but the noose becoming disarranged,
a new one had to be made in the rope.
The gallows is a plain and unattractive
structure, yet hundreds visited it before
the execution and gazed upon it as if it
were the most interesting of objects.
While it was being put together Hop-
kins was watching the operation from
his cell window and was disposed to take
a jocular view of the proceeding. He
call down to the workmen to make the
scaffold strong as he intended to come
down to inspect the work. Instead of his
being dismayed, as would naturally be
the effect of such a sight, he seemed dis-
posed to joke with those who were en-
gaged in erecting the repulsive -struc-
ture. He remarked that from that
scaffold “down would go McGinty.”
Notwithstanding the levity he in-
dulged in he claimed to be repentant
and expected the salvation that is vouch-
safed to those who repent of their sins:
Reve Mr. Sarvis, of Plessant Gap,
was one of his spiritual advisers, and
Rev. Mr. Lautie frequently visited him
in a spiritual capacity. He also had the
attention of members of the Y. M. C. A.
and W. C. T. U. On Monday night
there was a ‘revival’ scene in the
cell where Hopkins and Andrews were
confined. While Andrews was kneel-
ing at his ‘bed-side engaged in prayer,
Hopkins went over to him and, kneel-
ing by his side, they had a lively time
together “wrestling with the Lord.”
After this “season of prayer” An-
drews professed to have experienced a
change of heart, and of course expected
salvation. The incident showed with
what facility criminals of the deepest
dye, who have hurried their victims
iLto the other world without a moment’s
time for preparation, can be fixed up
for angelic existence in the next world.
On Tuesday Hopkins’ well-maintain-
ed bravado received a shock when he
was taken down from his cell to see his
coffin and examine the scaffold. When
his eyes fell on the coffin his face grew
white and his limbs trembled. The sight
of the scaffold did not put him in quite
as jocose a mood as it did the day before,
although he remarked that he thought
it strong enough to hang a bull.
After recovering from his agitation he
examined the coffin with much interest.
It was a handsome affair of the kind,
made in Rochester, N. Y., and for-
warded on by his relatives in care of
undertaker Harris, of this, place. It
was covered with black cloth, with a
silver plate on top on which was en-
graved the name! and age of the per-
son who was to occupy it. Hopkins
questioned Mr. Harris about the em-
balming process, and asked that his body
should be embalmed. Mr. Harris could
give him no assurance that this would
be done, but at Hopkins’ request he ex-
plained how embalming is done, which
was listened to by the condemned man
with apparent interest. He was after-
wards weighed and tipped the beam at
134 pounds, the heaviest weight he ever
had in his life, showing that prison life
promoted his physical condition. He
was such a light weight that in one of
his facetious moods he remarked that
when he was hung the sheriff would
have to attach a sand-bag to
him to break his neck. That his
impending doom did not diminish
his appetite was demonstrated by his
request that his final meal previous to
his execution should be of the most
sumptuous character,including a turkey
and all the side dishes usual at such a
feast, and in compliance with this re-
quest Sheriff Cooke procured a 24 pound
turkey from George Garman with the
object of supplying this singular crimi-
nal with his last taste of the good things
of this world.
On Wednesday morning J. Bert Hop-
kins, brother of the condemned man, and
George Baker, his brother-in-law, arrived
in Bellefonte from their homein Roches-
ter, N. Y., to be with their unfortunate
relative in his last hours. They immedi-
ately proceeded to the jail and an affect-
ing scene ensued between them. Seely
| was particular in inquiring whether his
old mother had been informed of his
conviction and sentence, and upon be-
"ing informed that she had not been and
would not be told anything about it,
Is!
‘he expressed much satisfaction. He
| then presented his brother with a $2.50 !
| gold piece on which was engraved “F.b-
{ ruary 20, 1890,” as a remembrancer
| which was certainly a ghastly one, as it
bore the date of his execution. He re-
quested his attendant, Clel Bamford, to
pass around the cigars, which being
done, the party sat down to smoke and
engaged in conversation on general sub-
jects. He imparted to his brother the
comfortable assurance that he had no
dread of the future and that he should
imform his friends that such was the
fact. He seemed very much gratified
that a representative of the Elmira
Telegram had been to see him, and was
evidently much pleased with the notor-
ity he had acquired. “I am ready to go,”
he said, “and will die game. It is no
more than right that I should hang. I
tried to figbt against it, (meaning the
commission of the crime) but I was
weak and did it. Every one has be-
friended me, and I have nothing against
any one. If I had not killed the old
lady 1 would have stood a bat anc
in court.”
The following are the jurors officiall y
selected by the Sheriff to witness the exe-
cution: Joseph Barton, of Unionville;
J. B. Sebring, of Loveville; William
Houser, of Bellefonte; W. E. Landon,
of Philipsburg; D. B. Kunes, of Eagle-
ville; Cephas Gramley, of Rebersburg;
D. H. Rhule; of Spring Mills; I, N.
Gordon, of Bellefonte; Samuel Aley,
of Jacksonville; W. F. Reynolds, Jr.,
of Bellefonte ; Dr. Dunwiddie, of Phil-
ipsburg, and Samuel Benison,of Marion.
THE FINAL SCENES.
Hopkins spent a comfortable night
immediately preceding his execution,
his spiritual advisers being with him
until 12 o'clock, when he retired and
slept for four hours and woke up ap-
parently refreshed and in good spirits.
He ate his breakfast, which consisted
of a piece of toast and two eggs, at half
after five, with a decided relish. The
death warrant was read to him by De-
paty Sheriff Wilson at 8.15, in presence
of W. F. Reeder, Sheriff Cooke and
special officer Bamford. In reading
the warrant Wilson faltered, at which
Hopkins smiled and encouraged the
officers by telling them to keep up
their courage and make a good job of
it. After the warrant was read the
condemned man shook hands with Mi
Reeder, who had been one of his con-
sel, and said: “You made a noble
fight for my body and I have made
a good fight for my salvation, which I
have gained.” J. C. Meyer, the prose-
cuting attorney, was also present, and
Hopkins shook hands with him, say-
ing: “I have nothing against any one.
I am prepared to die and expect to be
saved.” At 9.30 he gave good-by to
his counsel, Mr. Reeder. The turkey
lunch was taken with a relish short
ly before 10. o'clock.
The procession to the galiows start-
ed from the jail at 10.10, moving to the
callows through a crowd of some 200
spectators. He was attended Ly Sher-
iff Cooke,;Captain Clark, Clel Bamford,
Sheriff Leahey, of Clinton county, Dep-
uty Sherift Wilson, Rev. J. P. Sarvis,
of Pleasant Gap, and Rev. T. A. Long,
of Howard. After the party had
mounted the scaffold Rev. ‘Mr, Long
made an impressive prayer. While
this was in progress Hopkins was sup-
ported on one side by Sheriff Cooke
and on the other by Rev. Sarvis, while
he held his right hand to his forehead,
maintaining his composure with won-
derfui nerve. Sheriff Cooke then ad-
justed the noose about his neck and
placed the black cap on his head pre
paratory to be drawn over his face af-
ter his farewell remarks had been
made. Hopkins then stepped to the
front and said: “Farewell friends, I
leave this world without an enemy. I
have no malice towards any one.’
The with a wave of the hand he said,
“Farewell, friends, farewel.” 1He then
stepped back and the Sheriff said some-
thing to him, whereupon he stepped
front again said: “I want to say that
the reports in circulation about the
two ladies in Bellefonte(naming them)
being intimate with me while in jail is
untrue.” He then noticed Billy
Charles in the audience, and calling
him by name, exclaimed: “Billy, try
to mend your evil ways and meet me
in heaven.” While the Sheriff was
pinioning him he said he was sorry
that he had committed the crime and
believed that he was forgiven for it.
He then gave a personal farewell to
Sheriff Cooke and Deputy Wilson, At
precisely 10.16 the drop fell, but to the
horror of the spectators the rope
broke and the body of the culprit fell
limp and apparently unconscious to
the ground. His body was irnmediate-
ly carried up again on the gallows
by Capt. Clark, and Doctors Belsor,
Harris and Hayes, and the fracture be-
ing repaired and the rope re-adjusted |
around his neck, he was finally
swung off. His neck seemed to be
broken by the first fall as he gave mo
sign of consciousness during the se-
cond operation, but an examination
subsequently showed that this was not
the case, but that he finally died from
strangalation. After hanging for
fifteen minutes he was pronounce dead
by Dr. Dorworth, the prison physi-
cian, and the body was taken down and
placed in the coffin that was waiting
for its reception. The breaking of the
rope, which was cauzed by the parting
of one of the upper strands, was a hor-
rible episode in this revolting tragedy.
This accident, which in a carefully ar-
ranged execution would not have hap-
ened, was brought about hy the strain
to which the rope had been subjected
previous to its being used for its le-
gitimate purpose. From the time the
scaffold was erected on Monday, up un-
til §Thursday, there was a sand.bag
weighing 190 pounds suspended from
that rope, and the Sheriff during that
time intertained the crowd of visitors
that thronged into the jail yard to see
the gallows, by showing them how the
thing worked, using the sand-bagas a
dummy culprit. There can be no
doubt that these repeated strains weak-
ened the rope, and if it had not been
for the circumstance that Hopkins
was shocked into insensibility, there
would in all probability have been
the frightful scene of a half hung
man struggling in agony, as the re-
sult of the Sheriff entertaining his
friends with the sand-bag performance.
Hopkins’ body was taken in charge
by his brother and brother-in-law, who
left with it for Rochester on the 4.20
p. m. train.
CenNTRE County's OLD TIME EXE-
cutionNs.—The execution of Hopkins,
which will be closely followed by
that of Andrews, invests with interest
on account of previous executions in
this county, which were remarkably
limited in number, there being but two,
both occurring at an early period in
the county’s history.
The first was that of a negro named
Daniel Byers, which took place on the
13th of December, 1802, very shortly
after the formation of Centre county.
Byers was found guilty of murdering a
mulatto named James Barrows, who
was in the employ by John Dunlop,
the offense having occurred on the 15th
of October, 1802. The fact that scarce-
ly two months elapsed between the of-
fense and the punishment shows how
speedily justice was meted out to offend-
ers in those early days.
This murder took place in the neigh-
borhood of Bellefonte , near Dunlop's,
afterwards Valentine’s, ironworks.
James Barrows, the victim, was a free:
mulatto, a wagoner of John Dunlop,
proprietor of the iron works. It may be
of interest to our readers to learn that
at that time negro slavery existed to
some extent in Pennsylvama, and that
the murderer Daniel Byers, or Black
Dan, as he was called, was aslave own-
ed by a Mr. Smith, of this neighbor-
hood. A woman was at the bottom of
this murder. Barrows was married to a
white woman by whom he had five
children. Between her and Byers an
illicit attachment sprung up, and about
six weeks before the murder occurred she
left her husband on account ot a quarrel
she had with him about Byers. The
latter then determined to get Barrows
out of the way ou account of this wom-
an, and did not hesitate to tell his asso-
ciates thatsuch was his intention. The
night on which the murder took place
Barrows was engaged in bringing a
load -of charzoal to the works. Byers,
being acquainted with his] movements,
waylaid him about half a mile from the
furnace and shot him with a rifle while
he wus sitting on one of the horses, the
ball penetrating his right breast and
coming out near his right shoulder:
‘When he fell the wagon wheels passed
over the length of his bedy, which was
supposed to have caused his death un-
til the bullet hole in his breas; was dis-
covered by the coroner’s jury.
Byers was tried before Judge James
Riddle, in Bellefonte, at the November
term of Court, 1802. At his execution
on the 13th of the following month,
which was a public one, as was the cus-
tom at that time, a large concourse of
people was present, including many of
the rough characters employed at the
iron works. In orderto preserve order
among this turbulent crowd a company !
of horse, under the command of Cap-
tain James Potter, was drawn up near
the scaffold. When Byers was swung
off the rope broke and he fell to the
ground apparently unhurt. The crowd,
laboring under the mistaken notion
that in such a case the prisoner was ex-
onerated from further punishment,
set up the shout “Dan is free,” and,
headed by two men named MeSwords
and McCamant, made a move to res-
cue him from the officers. Sheriff Dun-
can, however, was prompt in conteract-
ing this movement and struck Mec-
Swords a heavy blow over the head |
with a loaded riding-whip. According
to an ancient chronicler of this occur-
rence, ‘“McSwords scratched his head |
and said: “Mr. Duncan, as you are a
small man you may pass on,” which
was certainly a prudent conclusion for
the boisterous and meddlesome Me-
Swords. Captain Potter's company also
took a hand in restraining the would-be
rescuers. William Irvin, one of the
troop, leveled McCamant with a blow of
his sword, cutting his cap-rim through.
The disturbance being quieted, VVilliam
Petrikin stepped up to the half-hung
culprit and said: “Dan, you have al-
ways been a good boy ; go up now and
be hung like a man.” After this compli-
mentary and encourging advice Dan's
head was again put through the noose
and he was hanged without any further
interruptions.
From our present point of view it is a
curious circumstance connected with
Black Dan’s trial, that, in accordance
with the law at that time, the jury in
the verdict that consigned him to the
gallows fixed his value as a slave at
two hundred and fourteen dollars.
The second execution in this county,
and the last previous to that of Hopkins,
was that of James Monks, which took
place in Bellefonte on January 23rd,
1819, he having been convicted of the
murder of Reuben Guild, at the Novem-
ber term of court, Judge Huston presiding.
The Monks case was a celebrated one
and excited intense interest throughout
central and western Pennsylvania.
The offender was a native of Potter
township, this county. In the confes-
sion which he made after his conviction
he said that when he was returning to
his home on March Creek, Howard
township, on the evening of Sunday,
November 16, 1817, he met Guild, who
was on horseback, ona lonely part of the
road, traveling from his home
in New Jersey to the West.
The two men bid the time of
day, but after they had passed each oth-
er, according to Monk’s statement an
uncontrolable impulse to kill the
stranger overtook him, whereupon he
turned around, raised his gun and shot
him through the body. With a shriek
the assassinated man fell from his
horse, and upon Monk’s approaching
him, said, “My friend, you have killed
me.” Seeing that he was still living,
Monks, who had a hatchet with him,
dispatched his victim by striking him
in the head with that implement. He
then concealed the body, after stripping
it of its clothing, even to the shoes
which he found too small to fit his
feet. He then mounted the dead man’s
horse and with his plunder continued
his journey home. As he was under
the influence ot liquor when he com-
mitted the bloody deed, he was not in
a condition to thoroughly cover the
evidence of his erime. He dropped
a song-book belonging to Guild at the
place where the murder was committed,
and this circumstance eventually led to
his arrest on suspicion. Upon his ar-
riving home and examining the spoils of
his foul ‘crime he found written in his
vietim’s pocket book : “Reuben Guild’s
pocket-book. This pocket-book, jis my
property now, but I know I won’t own
it long.” In addition to the horse and
articles of clothing, the paltry proceeds
of this bloody murder were a watch and
a few dollars in money.
The execution of Monks, which was
public and attracted a large crowd
was conducted by Sheriff John Mitchell.
Probably with the object of imgpartirg
solemnity to the occasion, but which
must have had rather a comical appear-
ance, William Armor, a celebrated
fifer of that period, played ihe Dead
March under the gallows before the
culprit was swung off. Some time after
the execution it was reported, and
many people believed it, that Monks
was seen alive, and for years he served
as a spook with which to frighten child-
ren. His case furnished the subject of
much doggerel verse.
In the trial, which excited intense
interest, Etting, Bradford and Blanch-
ard represented the Common wealth, and
Norris, Burnside and Potter were
Monks’ counsel. Robert McGonegle,
Anthony Klechner, Ephraim Lamborn,
John Johnston, Frederick Shenck, Ab-
solem Ligget, John Sherick, Wiliam
White, George Gramley, Samuel Wil-
son, Henry Barnhart and William
Johnston, were the “twelve good and
lawful men” who composed the jury,
all of whom have long since been as
dead as the prisoner whom their verdict
consigned to the gallows, the last of
them, Samuel Wilson, of P otter town-
ship, having died on the 18th of Sep-
tember, 1880, at the age of ninety
years.
It May BeToo High.
The cost of maintaining prisoners at
the Huntindon reformatory is shown by
the bills rendered to the various counties
to be at the rate of fifty-five cents per
day. This is about three times the cost
of maintaining prisoners in the eastern
penitentiary, and in many of the coun-
ties the officials say this rate is too high.
The high rate is probably due to the fact
that there are not many convicts in the
institution as yet. The larger the num-
ber the less will be the average cost of
keeping, and it is probable that next
year will show a decided reduction in
in the expenses of the difierent counties.
| BRAREMAN KILLED AT WAYNE.—
| D. W. Irvin, a freight brakeman,aged
about 26 years and unmarried, was
instantly killed at Wayne about 8 o'clock
Monday morning. He jumped from the
pilot of the engine and was running for-
ward to open a switch when he tripped
and fell across the rail, the engine pass-
ing over him." The body was brought to
Lock Haven by the train erew and tak-
en to his home at Williamsport on the
day express for burial.
The Flood Tide of Profligacy.
From a Washington Letter of Col. McClure to
the Times.
«tis nolonger a secret that we are on
the eve of a floodtide of national profliga-
cy. Many Republicans deplore it, but
all fear that 1t cannot be restrained.
The new rules break down all the bar-
riers which have held public thieves and
jobbers of every hue at bay, und they
are now beginning to crowd the lobbies
of the hotels and to cast their nets to
hold Congressmen in their meshes. Mr.
Cramp, the big Republican ship builder
of Philadelphia, said to me in this city
several years ago that there had been a
complete revolution wrought in naval
contracts under President Cleveland.
Said he : ¢I bid for vessels to-morrow,
and will get the contracts if I am inti-
tled to them, regardless of politics, and
there is not one of the old naval jobbers
who hindered honest contractors in the
past to be seen now in Washington.”
Mr: Cramp received several important
contracts, although he voted against
Cleveland, but when he now comes to
obtain contracts he will see the jobbing
vermin of the Robeson and Chandler
rings thick around him and ready to ply
their vocation as of old. They regard
it as a restoration, and from Nat Mec-
Kay up or down, they are here or com-
ing and expect a return to the profligate
days when an honest ship builder like
Mr. Cramp could obtain no contracts.
Secretary Tracy and ti.e President doubt-
les: do not mean to invite a restora-
tion of thieves and profligates,but Presi-
dent Arthur did not mean it, and yet it
came.
“It is now in no measure doubtful as
to the tate of the surplus. It will be
appropriated, and more than the sur-
plus, unless the few wiser leaders shall
be much more successful than is now ex-
pected. The new pension bills, which
none of the leaders really favor, but
which all must support, will alone more
than destroy the surplus. Even the most
conservative pension bill that is con-
sidered as likely to pass would require
an increase of fully $100,000,000 the
first year it gets into operation; and
whether the service pension bill, or
the dependent pension bill shall be
adopted, fully $1,000,000,000 will be
required to fulfill the provisions of the
new pension legislation. It is probable,
als) that the door wllagain be opened
for new arrearages in pensions, and if so,
that alone will add $150,000,000 to the
pension expenture in one year. Even
Speaker Reed has taken the alarm at
the pension tide, and clandestinely op-
posed the new rule giving the pension
committee special right to the floor. Un-
der the most economic pension legislation
now possible, not only the entire sur-
plus must go for new pensions, but it
1s probable that pensions alone will
produce a Treasury deficit in 1891 and
that new taxes must be imposed to in-
crease the revenues to the standard of
expenditures.’
“The party in power is committed
to the Southern educational scheme.
The Senate has passed the Blair bill by
a decided vote, only to be defeated in the
House, but now the House dare not
defeat it on a square vote, and under
the new rules a vote cannot be prevented.
It calls for some $70,000,000, and that
profligacy may be accepted as inevitable.
True it does not take the whole sum at
once, but the faith of the government
will be given for $70,000,000, and it
must be paid. Then consider how job-
bers and party leaders are to be pressed
for Rivers and Harbors; for public
buildings in every village of political
importance; for State claims now
amounting to hundreds ot millions which
have accumulated on the records of
the House, and for many scores of mil-
lions wanted for coast fortifications,
the navy, etc., and where is the tide of
jobbing and waste to stop ?”’
‘The Horrors of Siberia.
CHICAGO, Feb, 17.—A communication
has been received here from George
Kennan, addressed to the Associated
ress. It says: “I have received from
two independent sources in Siberia cop-
ies of the order of the Russian prison
administration by virtue of which Ma-
dame Nadezhda Sigida seems to have
been flogged to death at the mines of
Kara last November. It is as follows;
“On the steamer Nizhni Novgorod, of
the volunteer fleet, which is to sail from
the port of Odessa on the 20th of March,
1888, there is a party of 528 convicts
banished to the island of Saghalien.
Among these criminals condemned to
enal servitude are the political oifenders
assili Volnot, Sergo Kunzin, Ivan
Meisner and Stanislaus Khrenofski. In
notifying you of this fuct the chief pri-
son administration has the honor to
respectfully request that you make ar-
rangements to confine these political
offenders not in a separate group by
themselves, but in the cells of other
(common criminal) convicts.
“In making such arrangements it is
desirable not to put more than two poli-
ticals into any one cell containing com-
mon criminals. In making thearrange-
ments for contining these politicals in
prison and employing them in work no
distinction whatever must be made be-
tween them and other criminals except
in the matter of surveillance, which
must be of the strictest possible charac-
ter. Neither must any difference be
made between them and other convicts
in respect to punishments infiicted for
violation of prison discipline.
“You will not fail to inform the Chief
Prison Administration of the manner in
which the above named political offen-
ders are distributed on the Island of
Saghalien and to forward reports with
regard to their behaviour.
M. GALKIN VRASSKOY.
«Director of the Chief Prison Admin-
istration.”
Up to the time when this order was
issued some difference had been made in
Siberian prisons between the treatme tf
politica. offenders and the treatment of
burglars, highway robbers and murder-
ers. Both classes were confined in the
same dress and leg fett-rs, but the poli-
ticals were isolated in cells specially set
apart for them and were virtually ex-
empt from corporal punishment. They
did not enjoy this exemption, however,
by virtue of any law. Theoretically,
and legally they were liable to the
same punsshments that were inflicted
upon common criminals, namely, 20 to
100 blows with the “rods” or the “plet”’
(a heavy whip of hardened rawhide with
a number of lashes.)