The evening times., 1896-09-04
TAMIN0s|AN IS ATTACKED
Alleged Armenian Minister'S
DealingsWith Congregations.
FIGURED IN POLICE COURT
Had Obtained False Tooth without
Paying for It-Ministers Interceded
for Him and Secured Ills Release.
Pretended to Collect Money for His
Suffering COnpatriOts.

| ENiutuCeS nave ItCeutly Detu uisCoStItu
which would seem to convict the Rev
Ezekiel Tanincsian, the native Armenian
minister and lecturer, who sojourned in
| Washington fol about five weeks this sum
mer, of being a church swindler and oi
gaining money under false pretenses. In
some of the church papers, notably, the
Christian Advocate, warnings have been
issued 10 look out TO the man and not per-
nit him to collect funds for the aid of the
Armenian sufferers.
Taminosian will be remembered rs the
| man who got himself into trouble and the
police court by contracting to have some
dental work done by DIR. Starr Parsons,
aud after the same had been performed re-
fusing to pay forit.
When the doctor demanded his money or
the return OF his property, which consisted
| OF false tooth on IA movable gold bridge,
the reacher swore violently in the dentist IS
office, even in the presence of ladies', and
threatened to shoot DR.. Parsons.
TRIED IN THE POLICE COURT.
For this offense he was tried before
Justice Miller, In the police court, on July
I. On the witness stand he told a very
contradictory story, and it was plain the
| case was against the Armenian, when Dr.
| Powers, of The Christian Church. and Rev.
Dr. Stricken, of HaInliHe Church, were
introduced in his behalf, aud secured his
discharge, after severe rebuke. The
false tooth was returned to the dentist.
As result OF the controversy over the
molar, Ezekiers reputation became known,
and he WAS no longer SO popular as an
Armenian lecturer in the churches. Every
where he applied for admittance to speak
and collect funds, the police court episode
was flashed before him. For this reason
Tammosian shook the DUST of the Capital
City from his feet, and departed for new
pastures. He did not go, however. with
out first taking with him a goodly sunr
donated by sympathetic Christian people,
who supposed their money was 10 be sent
TO Armenia. Yet none of il ever reached
that destination.
Even after Dr. Parsons had had swon,
out a warrant for the arrest OF the Ar
menian, the latter went to DR.. Powers and
SO told his long and pitful tale of woe,
that the Clergyman was impressed with his
sincerity, and permitted him to lecture
in his church Here he aroused the emo
tions OF his hearers to such an extent that
over $40 WAS raised. On the strength OF
his appeal, DR.. Powers also vouehed for
his good character TO Judge Miller, which
secured his release. Now Or. Powers is
sorry he did SO. and the members OF his
congregation mourn the loss of $50.
vICTIMIZED OTHER CHURCHES.
The members OF Rev DR.. G. v. Leecb's
church We're also victinized by the clever
swindler in the same manner as was also
the Union Methodist Church. on Twentieth
street over which Rev DIR. Alexander
Bieiaski, the secretary OF the Methodist
Clergynen's Association, presides Nu-
herous other pastors and congregations
We're also duped. ~ q
Dr. Bielaski became suspicious OF the
man, aud when he applied for leave TO
preach in his church he was informed by
uie Clergyman that his assistance was not
hecded. Taninosian persisted so strcnU-
uusly that finally Dr. Bieiaski consented
that be should deliver u talk on the Ar
n'enian question after the regular Sunday
SCI vice was over II was expressly stipu-
lated, however, that no collection should
be taken up.
Scarcely had the Armenian been intro
duced before he made an urgent plea for
iinancial aid. and started the contribJ,-
iion baskets in Circulation II was an
awkward position, as the pastor of the
church could not well refuse to allow
the collection to proceed without creating
a scene
Tannosian took advantage of the cir
cnnlstance and succeeded in collecting
$500. When called TO account by the
pastor he became very impertinent and
even called the clergyman vile names
This was about the last OF the ArInenian's
operations here. Things began to get warm
for iiim and he took his departure about six
weeks ago.
Taminosianis fluen: talker, speaks good
English. His method is to go TO u pastor
and introduce himself as an Armenian lee
turer and representative OF The Pres
byterian Board of Missions of Foston. He
carries with him many forged letters and
Recommendation from Dr. Fisk, OF the
Northwestern University of Evanston, Ill.
where he was student for about eight
months; from the Board of Missions and
from Brown Brothers & Co. of New York
Through tbs latterhe purportsto ma kehis re-
mittances to Armenia, He is very profuse
with his Recommendations and introduces
himself with much assumed Importance
BAD RECORD.
When suspicion had been thoroughly
aroused d umber of pastors who had been
victimized and apprehended that the Ar
menian was not altogether honest placed
themselves in communication with those
10 whom he had referred as to his char
acteI. From Dr. Fisk, of the Northwestern
University. as well as DR.. Cummings and
Prof. Ridge way, 1t was learned that Tam
inosian had only been at the institution
from January to November, l $50, whereas
he represented himself as a graduate He
had gained the confidence of the faculty, bat
later they had been compelled by his dis.
honest transactions TO withdra their rec
otnmendations DR.. Parsons Communicated
with the officials at the Tennessee Uni
yersity at Nashville, where the swindler
also claimed to have been student, and
learned that his reputation was very un-
savory.N
Convincing proof of his dishonesty was
shown by the disavowal of any kno wledge
of The man by Brown Bros & Co. This firm,
through whom he purported 10 have sent
money to aid the suffering Arinenians,
has never known the man and made 40
remittances for him. 1t has also been