The record-union., 1897-05-22
For Becoming Citizen of This Country
Without the Cars Consent.
Not Tried Until Two and a Half Years
After His Arrival in the Country,
and Then Sentenced to Perpetual
Banishment-AskS the Secretary
OF State to Collect Fifty Thousand
Dollars Damages From Russia.

NEW YORK. May 21.-The Herald
says: John Ginzberg has asked the Sec
retary of State to collect $4,000 for him
from Russia to recompense him for un-
Justlnaple Imprisonment and ill-treat-
ment by the Cars servants.
Ginzberg tells a story which is sup
ported by official papers. He was born
in Loheshin, Minsk Opinsk, Poland He
came TO America when he was II years
of age and on August 10, 1856. took
out naturalization papers before the
United States Circuit Court at Will
mington, Del. He saved a little money,
and in October, 1894, made up his mind
TO pay visit to his parents.
tie secured passport good for two
years, signed by Secretary Gresham.
When he reached Hamburg his pass
port was examined and was approved
by Charles H. Burke, the American
Nice-Consul and he passed through
Germany without trouble. He entered
Russia a Schuichin, a frontier town
opposite Prostken, in Prussia. He went
at once to the custom house TO present
his passport and was Immediately ar
rested. \ charge of trespassing on
Government property was made against
him and he was fined 8 roubles which
he paid. The police. instead of releas-
ing him, however, proceeded to strip
him of his money and clothing, which
they sold. Then they locked him up
once more, without his passport or his
citizenship papers. and without telling
him why.
From Schuichin 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 ill-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 asking
leave of the Car. His sister and some
friends secured bail for him and he
was released, but without his passport
he could not get employment nor leave
the place. He says he was often with
out sufficient food and that he was in
constant fear of being sent to Siberia.
He laid his case before the United
States Minister. Clifton r. Brecken-
ridge. who took a lively interest in it,
Consul-General Carroll also interceded
for him, and Ginzberg managed to get
word to Robert NJ. Leads, a banker IN
Glasgow. Mont, who owed him debt
of gratitude for having warned him OF
an attempt to rob his bank. Mr.. Leads
sent him money and Minister Brecken-
ridge also helped to relieve his dis
tress.
In spite of the assistance of his
friends, Ginzberg found that there was
no change in his case and he deter
mined to send a petition to the car.
After saying that he heard of the Cars
goodness and calling upon heaven TO
preserve him, he explained that he had
come to Russia only to satisfy a hllal
desire to see his parents once more,
and that he had intended to do no
wrong. having left home when boy
and being ignorant of the Russian law.
He humbly prayed the CZar to let him
go.
Ginzberg thinks that he owed what
ne calls his speedy release to this pet-
ton. The Cars Secretary sent word
that he received it. and 81 year after
ward he was brought 10 trial. He was
found guilty and was sentenced last
January. TWO and a half years after n's
arrival. to perpetual banishment from
Russia. He left gladly by the aid OF
the money sent to him from Montana.
He lives in this city and found work
this week for the first time since his re-
turn.
His counsel. Charles Schwick. has
sent his application for damages to the
State Department Mr.. Schwick said
that he hoped the case would brlng
about arrangements with Russia for
the protection OF natural!zed citizens
He has the certificate of citizenship
and the passport which were carried
bv Ginzberg and returned to him after
his trial. They are worn and soled
with much handling, and bear transla-
tions in Russian on their backs for
the information of the Cars officials
who were charged with the prosecution
of the exile.