Starting the Research Process

Option 1: Peter Verigin

Now that we have learned about the context of the case and about the inquiry process, it is time to sift through the evidence.

Various theories have been offered as to who might have been responsible for the explosion that killed Verigin. The following are the most frequently mentioned suspects:

• the Government of Canada or of British Columbia who might have wanted to be rid of someone they saw to be a troublemaker;
• factions within the Doukhobor community who thought that Verigin had become a problem;
• members of a racist group such as the Ku Klux Klan who wanted to stop the spread of this immigrant group;
• the Soviet government who might have wanted to get back at a person who had embarrassed its regime;
• or Verigin's own son, Peter Petrovich Verigin, who was very bitter towards his father.

You will be investigating each of these suspects in your search for the killer.

While you are reading through the evidence, you will need to do the below GRAPHIC ORGANIZER, which will be submitted for evaluation. There are five organizers in this file - one for each suspect.

Documents that might shed light on the possible guilt of the suspect you have chosen are found in the "Primary documents" section of Evidence of the Case. Select the group or person you wish to investigate and go to the appropriate link on the related Mysteries website. You will find an introduction and a list of primary documents related to your suspect. Read the introduction and select only four of the documents that you will review for evidence.

In reviewing each document, look for three factors:

• Motive: Is there evidence to suggest that the suspect had a strong motive for wanting to kill Verigin? For example, does it seem likely that the suspect's feelings towards Verigin would be sufficiently strong to cause the person or group to risk everything to carry out the killing?
• Opportunity or means: Is there evidence to suggest that the suspect had the ability and resources to arrange the explosion that killed Verigin? For example, is it likely the person had access to the explosives needed, knew how to construct a bomb, and would have been able to place the explosives under the train?
• Reliability of evidence: Is there evidence to suggest whether the information in the documents is trustworthy and believable? For example, perhaps the person providing the information might have wanted to spread false rumours about the suspect.

As you read each of the four documents, record any evidence that is relevant to each of these three factors on the chart provided above. After you have recorded this information, ask yourself whether there is reason to question or doubt whether the evidence points to the suspect. For example, the evidence might indicate that your suspect had access to explosives. You might raise several questions about this evidence. Is there an innocent explanation why the suspect might have had explosives? Perhaps they were miners. Were the explosives the same kind that were used to blow up the train? Is there any evidence that any of the explosives that the suspect had were missing? Record these questions or concerns in the right-hand column of the chart.

Evidence for each of the suspects can be found in the links below. You will want to explore each of the documents that are included on each of the pages so that you can develop a strong grasp of the case and determine who is responsible for the death of Peter Verigin.

The Government of Canada/British Columbia

Doukhobor Factions

Ku Klux Klan

The Soviet Government

Peter P. Verigin

link : Explosion on the Kettle Valley Line: The Death of Peter Verigin (canadianmysteries.ca)

THIS GRAPHIC ORGANIZER: Investigating Suspects in the Death of Peter Verigin - Suspect Investigation

Suspect:

Factors to Consider	Evidence	Potential Questions or Concerns about Evidence
Strong motive for killing Verigin
Ready opportunity or means to kill Verigin
Reliability of sources providing the evidence

example: Investigating Suspects in the Death of Peter Verigin - Suspect Investigation

Suspect: Government of Canada/ B.C.

Factors to Consider	Evidence	Potential Questions or Concerns about Evidence
Strong motive for killing Verigin	Previously the Government had threatened to harm Peter Lordly, the threat was expressed by Judge Morrison in the Court at Nelson on October 8; on October 29, 1924 Peter Lordly was killed. Judge Morrison is quoted "The sooner that it (the community) was-squelched the better." The government was planning to sell the property of the Doukhobors, the Doukhobors community also insist on being exempt from paying taxes; Peter Verigin published a piece in the Press ridiculing the government's actions, educating the public on the government's plans. The case of John Hooliaff: the judge sided with Hooliaff who was persistent in expressing his desire to leave the Doukhobor community. Immediately following Verigin's death the government began to seize chattels of the Doukhobor community, including provisions and kitchen utensils. Members of the government are not Christians themselves, cannot appreciate pure Christianity. The government and the Doukhobor community were in a constant conflict, there were many public scandals that were raised following their settlement. These public scandals were detrimental in the amount of respect paid towards the government and their nation, hence ridiculing the citizens and the government's authority.	Since the settlement of the Doukhobor community in Canada, the government has not been shy about its hostility towards the community. What initially began the conflict between the two parties? Why were legal and governmental officials so obvious with their dislike towards the community? What other public scandals may have played a role in the conflict between the government and the Doukhobor community? The actions of the government are unconstitutional, this occurred in a time when human rights had little protection. Wouldn't the population of Canada be concerned about the prejudice faced by the community? Why were they not questioning the actions of the government? There was a sense of human rights, and they were slowly being defined yet no one questioned the actions of the Canadian and B.C. government. How did the government benefit from their attitude towards the Doukhobor community? Was the murder of Peter Verigin payback for the public humiliation he inflicted on the government?
Ready opportunity or means to kill Verigin	The investigators allowed George Zebroff to leave the hospital, after his denial of all indications that he had seen something. Was Zebroff pressured into lying or did he really not see anything? Canadian Pacific Railway: government owned and operated, they had access to the transportation service which Peter was using. Access to employees and the machinery. The government has influence over the nation, along with unlimited resources and the ability to cover up their possible illegal actions. Financial status, and influential, has control over the legal system and law enforcement. The government had attempted to "break" the community prior to Lordly's death; has rejected the typical obligations of serving society (owes them $150,000 for roadmaking and bridge building which the government has refused to pay), denied eligible Doukhobors the right to vote, forced schools on the community that would not be enforced in the same way with other settlers.	Are the conductors and operators of the train government employees, or is the train government owned by either Canada or British Columbia? Was the government able to doctor the investigation in order to direct evidence away from implementing either the Canadian or B.C. government in the crime? Although the government evidently despises the community by treating them inhumanely, how would Peter Verigin disrupt their goals? Did they really need Verigin gone in order to claim the land from the community? Were the investigators led to believe George Zebroff was untrustworthy as a witness? What kind of character is George and what history does he have with the Doukhobor community that may have caused him to "see" incriminating evidence?
Reliability of sources providing the evidence	George. G. Zebroff: A witness on the train observed odd behaviour from the train conductor; believing the passengers were exposed to chloroform at the hands of the conductor in order to prevent the other passengers from witnessing what they were doing to Peter. The witness recalls the operators searching for something after they escaped the wreck. After observing the conductors locate what they were searching for, and began to strike it, the witness speculates they were looking for Petushka; speculation only Mrs. Astaforoff supports the statements from George as she defends her belief that George was in the train coach with Petushka, Lordly and Maria Khrestova. Mr. McIntosh recalls George repeatedly recalling his story of the train. They are both advocating for the validity of Georges statements. Anastasia F. Holubova and members of Christian Community of Universal Brotherhood letter to the Government of B.C.: proud supporters of Peter Verigin (he was their leader), calls the government "evil-doer", openly detests the government. The two have a previous dark history of conflict, therefore may implicate government with false accusations as "payback" A letter from a correspondent who visited the Doukhobor settlement recalls extreme kindness and hospitality, viewing the community as "good people" who have been wronged, currently living in a corrupt world. Recalls the consistent mistreatment of the Doukhobors by the government. Criticizes the government for their unethical actions, resulting in public scandals that are undermining the respect due to the government.	Were the train conductor and operators searching for other passengers that could be saved? George Zebroff provides only speculation that they were striking something, they may have been moving debris or attempting to save someone. Zebroff is unable to definitely state that he had seen the operators hit Petiushka since he never saw it, only a theory. How is George certain that the train conductor exposed them to chloroform? There may be a possibility that George Zebroff was in such a distressed, unconscious state that he may be attempting to fill in the gaps of his memories with fabricated information. The individuals, Mrs. Astaforoff and Mr. McIntosh openly support the statements from George Zebroff. These individuals are members of the Doukhobor community, supporting Peter Verigin as their "Holy leader". They are likely biased towards the Doukhobor community, expressing animosity towards the Canadian and B.C. governments like many of the other members of the community. Therefore, they are supporting any statement that incriminated the government. The letter from the correspondent who visited the Doukhobor settlement contains very little information on the writer of the piece. The writer may be a Doukhobor, encouraging the good behaviour of the community while ridiculing the government.

please, make sure to do 5 graphic organizers for each suspect in detail