# The Indictment explained — Resurrection

> Chapter companion for Resurrection by Leo Tolstoy.

## What happens

The chapter presents the formal indictment against Katerina Máslova, Euphemia Botchkova, and Simeon Kartinkin for the poisoning and robbery of merchant Smelkóff. The indictment details the events leading to Smelkóff's death, the theft of money, and the accusations among the defendants. Máslova reacts emotionally during the reading, particularly when Botchkova and Kartinkin implicate her.

## Themes in this chapter

### Injustice of the Legal System

The indictment process shows the legal system's reliance on circumstantial evidence and the shifting blame among the accused, highlighting potential miscarriages of justice.

### Sexual Exploitation and Women's Position

Máslova's role as a prostitute ('Lúbka') and her exploitation by Smelkóff and the brothel system are central to the charges against her.

## Character check-ins

### Katerina Maslova

Accused of poisoning and robbery; reacts with shock and attempts to speak when Botchkova and Kartinkin implicate her.

### Euphemia Botchkova

Co-accused; denies involvement and blames Máslova for the theft and poisoning.

### Simeon Kartinkin

Co-accused; initially confesses to theft and supplying powders, then retracts and accuses Máslova.

### Theropont Smelkoff

The deceased merchant; the indictment details his death and the circumstances surrounding it.

### Carolina Albertovna Kitaeva

Brothel-keeper; mentioned as the person to whom Máslova sold the diamond ring.

## Key lines

> blushing scarlet, began to say something, but was stopped by the usher.

Máslova turned bright red and tried to speak, but the court usher silenced her.

_This shows Máslova's emotional reaction to the false accusations being read against her._

> The indictment concluded as follows:⁠— “In consequence of the foregoing, the peasant of the village Bórki, Simeon Kartínkin, thirty-three years of age, the meschánka Euphémia Bótchkova, forty-three years of age, and the meschánka Katerína Máslova, twenty-seven years of age, are accused of having on the 17th day of January, 188‒, jointly stolen from the said merchant, Smelkóff, a ring and money, to the value of 2,500 roubles, and of having given the said merchant, Smelkóff, poison to drink, with intent of depriving him of life, and thereby causing his death.

The indictment formally charges Kartinkin, Botchkova, and Máslova with stealing 2,500 roubles and a ring from Smelkóff and poisoning him to death.

_This summarizes the legal charges against the three defendants._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/resurrection_se/chapters/x
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/resurrection_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/resurrection_se/chapters