The San Francisco call., 1896-06-10
Believed to Possess knowledge
of the Butchery Of the
ShahamarianS.
ARMENIANS TAKE ACTION.
Will Offer a Reward for the Asxas'
sins Capture-A Race War
Is Feared.

yestigating the assassination of Stephen
Shahamarian and his son and daughter
are now fully convinced that the MUIR
derer is among the Russians of Russian
town, and they have cleaned information
which is likely to lead to arrests within
the next twenty-four hours. The assertion
has been ventured that nearly every Rus
sian IN Fresno knows who the murderer
is. Every one OF them is showing an in
clination not to talk of the mystery. In
fact, they appear to have no interest in
the case when approached, and have moth
ing to say.
These people are strange people. They
came from province in Russia bordering
on Germany, and speak the German Ian
guage There are three classes of them in
Russiantown, but in time of trouble they
hang together on any kind of a PROPOSE
ton. The class among which it is believed
the murderer can be found is low and ig-
norant. They possess many of the char
acteristics of wild Indians. They would
consider that for the outrages by Benia-
min Shahamarian the murdered youth,
upon their children and wives the whole
family ought to be exterminated. Their
character is such that human life would be
readily taken in expiation of some wrong
done them. Having been wronged by
Benjamin Shahamarian, these people
would not be above the commission of the
tragedy in which three lives were so afro
ciously sacrificed last Friday night.
And with true animal instinct, these
people will do everything in their power
TO assist any of their own number to escape
punishment for wrongs done another class,
with which they are in no way allied
There has always been hard feelings be-
tween the Russian and Armenian colonies,
which adioin each other, and because a
Russian killed an Armenian a Russian is
going to do nothing against his fellow
countryman.
Even some Of the Armenians are afraid
to assist in an investigation of the case.
Before the triple murder two Armenian
families, living neiEhbors to Albert Bran
denberg and Rev. Jacob Legler, told a
number of persons that Mrs. Brandenberg
had told them that her husband would
kill BENJAMIN Shahamarian when he re-
turned home and learned how the Arme-
nian youth had wronged his little girl.
These Armenian families now refuse to
substantiate their statements. From
other Armenians it is gathered that these
two families are fearful of saying anything
against the Russians lest they, too, be
murdered.
Some of the leading Armenians of
Fresno will raise a reward for the capture
of the murderer. They had intended to
do so Immediately after the murder, but
local officers dissuaded them. Last even
ing they met and adopted the following
resolutions:
WHEREAS A terrible crime has been CON-
mitted in our midst, and the victims OF this
tragedy were our neighbors, friends and coun-
trymen; therefore be it
Resolved We hereby pledge our loyalty and
devotion TO the country OF our adoption, hold
ing sacred its laws and customs, and believing
that those laws should, must and shall be pre-
served.
That we, OF Armenian nationality, but OF
American citizenship, do vigorously and unre-
servedly condemn and denounce all attempts
at lawless violence or resistance OF the law OF
the land.
That we as people, are shocked and Mortified
by the recent brutal murder Of Stephen Shaha-
marian and family, and we hereby pledge our
selves that we viii give every assistance within
our power toward helping officers of the law
TO discover the guilty party and to bring such
party to punishment under the law.
That, having left our native land on account
of oppression, coming to America for the pur-
pose of securing blessings of liberty. believing
that human liberty does not mean license, an.
arehy, Nihilism or mob violence, but rather
that liberty means strict observation
of all regulations adopted by major
ity of the people OF this country, we
admonish and implore our friends and
countrymen to take no violent and unlawful
means of wreaking justice or vengeance on
the assassin when he or they may be diseoy-
cred. Let US as people and as loyal American
citizens do nothing that in after years may
stand as a reproach to the general character
and reputation OF the Armenian people OF
Fresno.
That in the death of Stephen shahamarian
and family we have lost some of our best and
kindest OF neighbors and friends; the State has
lost good citizens and the community valuable
members.
That to the surviving relatives we extend
our heartfelt sympathy in this hour of bereaVe
ment. Respectfully submitted,
JOHN NJ. SERoPIAN,
H VARTANIAN,
J. E. AZHDERIAN,
Committee.
These resolutions were passed in view oil
the excitement on the part OF the Armeni-
ans against the Russians. The Armenians
now hate all Russians and trou HE in tha a.