The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-05-22
DAMAGES FROM RUSSIA
Uncle Sam Is Asked to Collect the
Sum of $4,000.
UNJUST PERSECUTION CLAIMED.

John Gizberg Dared to Revisit His Native
Land without First Asking Permission
of the Czar-His citizenship Was Ig-
nored. He Was stripped of His Passport
and Thrown into Prison, Where He Lin
gered for Two Years.
New York, May 22.-John Ginzbere
has asked the secretary of state to col
lect $4,000 for him from Russia to re-
compense him for unjustifable impris-
onment and i'll treatment by the czar's
servants. Ginzberg tells a story which
is supported by official papers. He was
born in Loheshin, Minsk Pinsk, Poland
He came TO America when he was IA
years old, and Aug. 10. 1886, took out
naturalization papers before the Unit
ed States circuit court in Wilmington,
Del. He saved a little money and in
October. 1894. made up his mind to pay
a visit to his parents. He secured a
passport good for two years, signed by
Secretary Gresham. He entered Rus
sia at Schuchin, frontier town oppo-
site Prostken. in Prussia. He went at
once to the custom house to present his
papers and was Immediately arrested.
A charge of treapassing on government
property was made against him and he
was fined 8 rubles, which he paid. The
police, instead of releasing him, how
ever. proceeded to strip him of his
money and clothing, which they sold.
Locked Him Up Again.
Then they locked him up once more,
without his passports or his citizenship
papers, and without telling him why
From Schuchin they sent him by short
stages from one prison to another TO
Pinsk. He was often confined for weeks
in the prisons by the way, where, he
says, he was flogged and subjected to
other i'll usage. At Pinsk he was in
formed that he would be held for trial
on the charge of having become a citi-
zen of the United States without ask
ing leave of the czar His sister and
some friends secured bail for him and
he was released, but without his pass
port he could neither get employment
nor leave Loheshin. He says that he
was often without sufficient food and
that he was in constant fear of being
sent to Siberia. Ginzberg laid his case
before the United States minister, Cliff
ton r.. Breckenridge, who took live
ly interest in it, Consul General Car
rol interceded for him, and Ginzberg
managed to get word to Robert NJ.
Lewis, banker in Glasgow, Mont.
who owed him a debt of gratitude for
having warned him of an attempt to
| rob his bank. Mr. Lewis sent him
money. and Minister Breckiuridge also
helped 10 relieve his distress.
Petitioned the Czar.
In spite of the assistance Of his friends
Ginzberg found that there was nc
| change I'm the case, and he determined
to send a petition TO the ear. After
saying that he had heard of the cars
goodness and calling upon heaven tc
J preserve him, he explained that he had
come to Russia only to satisfy fila
desire to see his parents once more
and that he had intended to do nc
wrong, having left home when boy
and being ignorant of the Russian law
| He humbly prayed the cZar to let hin
go. Ginzberg thinks that he owed what
he calls his speedy release to this peti
! ton The czar's secretary sent wore
] that he received it, and a year after
ward he was brought TO trial. HI
| was found guilty and was sentenced
| last January, two years and a hal
after his arrest, to perpetual Danish
ment from Russia. He left gladly 10y
I the aid of the money sent to him from
| Montana He lives in this city anC
( found work this week for the first time
! since his return.