Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-10-28
POLITICAL MURDER.
Armenian RevolutionaryParty's
Chief Shot Down
Said to Be But Beginning Of a Terrible
Blood Feud.
A Condition Of Affairs Which Will Soon
Kill All Sympathy.

London, Oct. 27.-Sagatei Sagouni
president of the Armenian Revolution
AIRY Society, was murdered at the door
, step of his lodgings in Nunhead, q
suburb of London, last night. The MUIR
der presumably was committed by a
fellow Armenian recently from the
/ United States. The assassination had a
political motive and was characterized
by boldness to which London has sell
dom been treated. 1t created an I'M
usual sensation, since it appears to
have been only an incident in a long
and bitter vendetta between factions
of Armenian revolutionists
The attempted murder of Peter Kur-
uSian, in Boston, the recent killing in
Switzerland, and the assassination Of
most prominent Armenian in London,
are SO far achievements credited to the
Armenian Radicals here. 1t is said that
two members of the opposition party
have already been killed in Russia,
though the London Armenian revou-
tlorary committee denies both knowl-
edge of and responsibility for the Grim
es
1t is generally expected that Sagouni's
death is only the prelude to other chap
ters in the story OF a bitter blood feud
The murderer who has not vet been APP
pretended, left in the hands of the
police two clGes-a soft felt hat bearing
the name of an American clothing firm
end an automatic pistol of a recent
American make.
Members Of the Armenian committee
here express themselves as certain that
tn murder is the work of an Alfarist
member of the radical minority. The
police are following up all clues sug-
gested by Sagouni's associates. What
may be possible coincidence is sug-
gested by the fact that the Alfarist
Headquarters in London were recently
closed, the members scattering to
Egypt, Smyrna, and the United States.
The Macedonian committee attempted
to cooperate with the Armenian COM
mittee in anti-Turlish revolution in
1895, but subsequently withdrew be-
cause of the internecene strife of the
Armenians.
1t is stated that Sagouni's life had
been threatened on account of his parti-
cipation in the exposure, by the editor
If q Boston newspaper, Young Arnle-
MIA. CT the n1isapplication of funds, by
Il faction of the Armenian revolution
:sts. These men are alleged to have
collected $4,000 in America in 1902, and
to have put the money in their own
pockets instead of pushing the propa-
ganda for the emancipation if the Ar
menian for which the money was sub
scribed.
Sagouni, who only returned to Lon
don, Monday, after settling III the
affairs of an associate in Switzerland,
who was recently assassinated by
stabbing, was entering his residence
when a man rushed across the road and
fired four shots at Sagouni in quick sue
cesson, the last bullet entering the re
gion of the heart. The murderer who
appeared to be foreigner fled. The
only clues to the man in possession of
the authorities are felt hat and a sill
yer plated revolver, both made in New
York, which he dropped in his flight.
The murdered man. who was q min
ing engineer, became wealthy in the
Caucasus and devoted his money to the
Armenian cause. His society was en-
tirely passive and opposed to violence.
and it is thought this attitude inspired
the advanced section OF the Armenians
with the desire for vengeance. the lat
ter claiming that Sagouni's society de-
voted funds TO- charity which would
have been better applied to violent rem
edics for the Armenian grievances.
Sagouni is said to nave moved to
England from New York, early in 1902
The hat left by SaSounfs assassin is
a black derby with the name Of the ven
dor stamped inside, showing it to have
been sold by THE Bell Clothing Co,
1872 Columbus avenue, ard 81 to SO
Terrynack street" The name of the
town is partly erased. Its first two let
.ers are MO and the last two are 81. :"
The murderers pistol is an automatic.
ma gizine 10-shot weapon. The place of
the Peckhanl Railway district, who
have charge of the investigation into
the murder have informed The Associa
ted Press that two men were with the
assassin at the time of the shooting and
that they appeared almost to force the
latter to fire.
1t is said that other persons connect
CONTINUED on page a.