V. I. Lenin

1896-1904

Communication on Behalf of the “Stariki” to the Members of the St. Petersburg League of Struggle for the Emancipation of the Working Class {7}

Mikhailovfirst put in an appearance at St. Petersburg in
1891 as a Kharkov student expelled for making trouble. He entered a
student organisation which bore the name of “corporation” {8} even after it fell apart. There was a rumour at the
dental courses about his behaviour during a suspicious acquaintanceship; he
was accused of spending money collect ed for the famine-stricken, but he
made good the loss. At that time, he became intimate with.... {1}

In January 1894, a search was also carried out in the homes of many
former members of the said “corporation”, including Mikhailov himself. At
the interrogations, all heard a detailed reading on the membership of the
society, etc. The gendarmes declared that the case arose on the strength of
information supplied by a former member. Mikhailov was cleared of all
suspicion by the gendarmes saying that importance had been attached to this
trivial case only because an obvious revolutionary was involved in it. At
the same time, a strike took place at the Voronin factory. {9} Mikhailov insinuated himself among them and started to make
collections for their benefit. In February, eight workers who had dealt
with Mikhailov and one student who had collected money on his assignment
(Talalayev) were arrested. After that Mikhailov again started to edge
closer to the ouvriers {2} and managed to penetrate into circles led by
Narodovoltsi. {10} The latter were arrested in the summer of 1894. The
inquiry revealed that the police had been informed of a great deal. At the
inquiry involving our Stariki there was the charge that they were
acquainted with some of these Narodovoltsi, but it happened.... {3}

The first Mikhailov case came to an end soon after:
... {4}

and others were exiled, but he was let off and told everyone that he had
petitioned for clemency and that he had done so with the intention of
continuing to work on the old lines. Unfortunately, some people failed to
regard this fact as being sufficiently disgraceful and gave him their
patronage, so that he who did not command any personal respect among the
workers was given an opportunity to consolidate and extend his ties.

Therefollows a description of his methods, his pressing of money on
workers, his invitations to them to visit him at home, the revelation of
Party names, etc. In this way and because he enjoyed the full confidence of
the said persons, he soon discovered the identity of many members of
various groups. They were all arrested. When a worker
... {5}

said that he had received books from Mikhailov, the latter was detained,
but at once released and is still in St. Petersburg. As one of the accused
at the inquiry, he informed on all his comrades; some of the accused
... {6}

were read his detailed report on the membership of various
groups. (Signatures.)