At last, on July 20th, all is finished. The murderers efface all traces of the fires, and the ashes are thrown into a mine-shaft or scattered about the neighbourhood of the clearing, so that nothing may reveal what has taken place.
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Why did these men take so much trouble to efface all traces of their deed? Why, since they professed to be acting as the servants of justice, did they hide like criminals? And from whom were they hiding?
It is Paul Medvedief who explains this in his evidence. After the crime Yourovsky came up to him and said, “Keep the outside sentries at their posts in case there is trouble with the people!” And during the following days the sentries continued to mount guard round the empty house as if nothing had happened, as if the fences still shut in the prisoners.
M. SOKOLOFF EXAMINING THE ASHES OF THE FIRE NEAREST TO THE MINE-SHAFT.
M. SOKOLOFF EXAMINING THE TRACES OF ONE OF THE FIRES AT THE FOOT OF AN OLD PINE.