Lenka Panteleev: The first successful escape from the “Crosses” in history
Six months before his death, in November 1922, Leonid Panteleev (Panthelkin) appeared before court:
“… neither the appearance, nor the answers and explanations of Panteleev, make a negative impression. The worker of Petrograd printing houses, Panteleev in his entire life (and it began only for him, he was about 20 years old), never sued and led an honest lifestyle.
As soon as the Red Army was formed, Panteleev was volunteered and goes to the Narva Front. Then he is captured, where, however, he does not stay long, as he runs and again enters the ranks of the army. By demobilization, he enters the service in the Cheka, where he works for a long time in responsible positions. In 21, he, on suspicion of participating in the raid, is arrested, but, for unprovenness, they later release. He does not manage to get back to the service, and, in a company with a recidivist Belov, who is notorious to him, he turns step by step from an honest person into a real raider. Within half an hour, Panteleev tells about the raids perfect. Touching the murder of the beginning. The protection of the State Bank of Chmutov, Panteleev speaks of the accident committed during the flight from the chase … Today the meeting of the tribunal was supposed to resume in 1 hour. On the night of today, Gavrikov, Panteleev and two more bandits fled from prison “
(Red Gazeta (evening issue), November 11, 1922).
Two days later, the escape details appeared in Petrograd newspapers:
“… the flight occurred under exceptional circumstances. All cameras were open without damage to the locks. At the time of flight, electricity went out throughout the prison. Despite the fact that in all four galleries they were on duty, the criminals along the screw staircase went down from the 4th floor to the 1st and along the corridor went through the main post. Then, having passed the giving room, not noticed by anyone, they broke the glass in the window in the wall and passing through it into the kitchen, they made their way into the yard through the window. After 2 fathomes, the fence, they safely climbed out into the street and disappeared … ”
(Red Gazeta (evening issue), November 13, 1922).
On December 29, hearings began in the case of the escape of prisoners:
“There are 10 people in the dock, most of them are employees of the 3rd personality … The picture of the escape that was clarified by the investigation emerged those“ orders ”that reigned in the 3rd personality. The overseers were the best friends of the bandits’s prisoners: they went to visit them to “drink a seagull”, allowed gatherings and. T.P. … After the escape, the investigation found that the cameras that contained Panteleev, Gavrikov, etc. were open. There were no traces of damage on the locks. The door to the giving room, through which the bandits, usually closing the key fled, turned out to be open on the day of the escape … The prisoner Ivanov-Rakovsky, who was investigated, told interesting details of the escape. He showed that the escape was preparing for a long time. On November 7, a massive escape from prison was supposed, even then cameras were opened with a key made by the bandit Reinth. Assistance to the escape was to be provided by the overseer of Kondratyev. For the escape he was promised 20 billion. He was supposed to speak Vasiliev (overseer), and this time the bandits had to use. The Rhuntop was supposed to open the chambers of Panteleev and Lisenkov … On November 7, however, the flight did not take place … On November 10, Panteleev returned from the tribunal told Ivanov-Rakovsky that I had to run “to me) (i.e.) and I must run … according to Kondratyev, if if Kondratyev, if The overseer Vasiliev would not have excommunicated from the post, the flight would not have happened. He did not receive money, he did not receive, but hoped to get it after. He explains his crime with a difficult family position “
(Red Gazeta (evening issue), December 29, 1922).
On April 13, 1923, Panteleev was killed during the detention.
“ВЧК ОГПУ”
