The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-03-07
MESRACHKT, THE BEGGAR.
FOR NINE TEARS HEBRETS HAVE sup
PORTED HIM IN IDLENESS.

He Did Not Hesitate 20 Threaten violence,
and Once He Drew His Pistol on n Wo-
man In Rabbi Kohut's Iouse-Not Caught
Yet-Rabbi Mendes Suffering from shock.
jose Mesrachki. the Hebrew beggar who
on Saturday night shot Rabbi Henry p
Mendes Of the Shenri.h Israel Synagogue be-
cause Dr. Mendes would not give him 500. is
creature OF indiscriminate almsRiving.
Mosrachki, though entirely undescrving. has
been supported almost wholly by the charity
OF Hebrews for at least seven years. Once be-
fore he attempted to enforce, with pistol his
demand for money. but that time he did not
shoot. Dr. Mendes spent yesterday in bed.
DR.. A. A. Smith. his physician. said that he
did not think the patient was In any danger
from the wound.
"As TIRE Sun said this morning." said DR..
Smith. "tho wound in itself is not serious. but
there was considerable shock, and that
makes It advisable that tho Doctor should be
quiet for day or two. DR.. Mendes tells mo
that the bcggar was pointing tho pistol straight
at him when he nrod. He attempted to dodge
just as tho beggar fired. and he probably owes
his life to that fact 1t is almost certain that
the bullet first struck the very still rleat OF his
shirt and glanced or and brought up against
rib. The pleat is only an inch wide"
Ono Of Dr. Mcndes's family said:
There is nothing to add to tho story told In
The Sun this morning. Tho man followed Dr.
Mondes into. the house ard suddenly do
manded 500. DR.. Mcndes was STOPPING to
unlock the door to his study. He Strengthened
up and turned to find himself facing the huge
pistol the man had. He thought at once that
tho man was crazy. and ho said. TO humor hin:
Now don't get excited and I'll get 1t for you
Tho man fairly screamed at him: No you
won't: want 1t now or something like that.
DIR. Mendes drew out some bills from his
pocket and told tho man that that was oil the
money he had with him. and then the fellow
only ono or two OF Rabbi Mendes's congre;;
CATION knew OF the shooting before they read
1t in the papers yesterday morning. and then
on his escape. No less than nifty called at the
The jinGling of the front door boil worried the
wounded man. and on DR.. Smiths orders the
Slss Ts s:s 3D. R dsns
was tied to the door knob. 4 discreet District
answered ali SORTS Of questions. but n one got
BY him who was not an intimate friend OF tho
Beggar Mesrachki is well known to charita-
well known to several .rnbbis. lie is 5 feet I
ns s' Hs IS about n" old IS
and s f2 pS
Egypt. and IN tho bombardment Of, that city
~ the, british his store vas destroyeSd
p pSn aaa a al %sIs
out work, and he concluded to get along en-
tirely without work, AS professional beggar
he h 0 % sh E
self. and when the money to start him was
given to him. no sometimes purchased a stock
street iaFir. But he would never keep at it
Tho first act Of violence he IS known to have
Ip the house Of Rabbi Alexander Kohut OF the
East HsSrex W M
ssssston. and RohSs had fS
kohus EhPsh gay ShS s IS @
DOOR i Mesrachki said he came for ' money ess
The maid said that DIR. Kohut was out The
man said he didn't care: no wanted the
then demanded $iOO cash Of one Of the ladies'
OF tho family. Tho young woman was fright
II want a hundred dollars" Mesrachkl
cried second time. and no drew pistol from
his pocket. The noise he made attracted the
faeh again mssh eeeEei lis
pistol and brandlshed IL ABOUT MS head,
Confronted said she had not the money. and
said he would 60 provided no got money
enough to pay his WSy down t0Wn h.d the n 20,
@ ana sezed
The man was locked up in tho East Fifty
Kohut got home and policeman asked him TO
appear In court the next day and make
@sh to He honsht naSt IN the
station house would be sufficient punishment.
The next morning there was no c2mplainant
trouble t lie Dr.. Kohut again ' .''' ''' 0'o NV
In the last three years he has received as.
street coneregation 81 isaaes. the editor Of
Jewish newspaper: Mr.. Weiss. the Treasurer
sa hs Mensss b4GSsr Is p Md9
des, as well as from nifty or more wealthy He
brew laymen. Dr.. Dc Sofa Mondes and DR.:
money. but he was never. satisfied and, he
would often hHm for not giving bin
% @ and them E ey f
and abusive He never thanked them for any.
thing he got.
take him out West. He did not stay long. 4
few few, weeks s &go no said 10 expected package
HSa p ss da an wsse @
than It was expected, Mesr9ehki said that tho
Mdnas sd cost hin ana s No Hs S D Hry
lawyer for him to see i 1t was possible to re.
cover damages. Tho lawyer said that nothing
formed OF this he flow into passion
The beggar has been following DIR. Mendes
persistsntly for nearly n month and demand.
Ing money OF him at every opportunity and
almost always getting something. Ho called
at his house when he was away and got money |
from the family but never any largo amount.
DIR. Mcndea determined last week that he |
would not give any moro money unless 1t WAS |
to keep Mesrachki from starving, and ON |
Saturday night after tho service In the syna. |
eoenSS, when Mesrachki approached him and
you anything. You must 60 to WORK and sup |
port yourself"
Messachki answered that he was sick and
could not find any work to do. and he walked |
along with tho rabbi down Fifth avenue. DR.. |
Mendes relented befor" no got to his home. |
md he haa determined T.. give ono" more.
The, police AT the Mercer street station Say |
that they know Mesrachki and that il i, only |
a matter OF time when he will he cnught flo |
will DO prosecuted for attomuted murder |
whether DIR. Mendes wishes IL or not. Tho |
police say the man is not crank Thoy think |
he is dangerous beggar-one Of the sort who |
hold UP men and women in the street and de- |
mand money from them.
Capt. Ryan and Detectives Sullivan and |
COOney visited all tho SynHpOuues IN the lower |