The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-05-22
JEWS B. AIMED
 WITH MASSACRE Condemned by Russians for
 Defending Themselves OFFICIAL REPORT IS MADE 
Count Tolstol, in Discussing the Hor- rIble Affair, Says He Loves the Jews Because They Are the
 Sons of the Just Father.

St. Petersburg Wednesday, May 2o.- The circular of Interior Minister yon Plehwe. issued. on May IL. ascribed the massacre of the Jews of Klshineff largely to acts of self-defense on the part of the Jews, and continued:
 "The events at Kishineff have alarmed the Jewish portion of the population in many regions of the empire, and have occasioned rumors among the Christians about intended Jewish prosecutions. In some of the clues the Jews began form ing self-defense associations. After l re- ported to his majesty about the disorders, his majesty commanded me to impress on the commanders In the province to take all the necessary measures to pre- vent violence and calm the populace In order to remove the occasion of fears for life and property in any portion
 Tn informing your excellency of the monarchs will, I feel obliged to state for yoar guidance that no sort of asso- citations for self-defense can be toler- ated."
 Jews Arm Themselves.
 The Jews are not inclined to depend solely on the police and have armed them- selves, in spite of the circular through out the Jewish belt. Und iubtedly their action prevented a repetition of the mas sacre at Kiev, Odessa, Minsk and else- where. The Mnsk Jews are so alarmed that the slightest outbreak causes gen. eral closing and barricading of their shops.
 Answering private letter asking for his opinion of the Kishinef massacre, Count Tolstoi writes:
 My relation to the Jews and the terri ble Kishneff thus far must be clear to everybody interested in my belief My re- lation to the Jews can or 'sr be as that to brothers whom 1 love, not because they are Jews, but because they and every body are the sons of one father, God. That love does me no violence, because I have met and know Jews who are very good people My relation to the Kishineff crime is also defined in my religious be- liefs.
 Felt Intense Pity.
 Before knowing all the frightful de- tails, I understood the horror and felt intense pity for the innocent victims of mob savagery, mingled with perplexity at the beastiality of the so-called Chris tians, and aversion and disgust for the so-called educated people who instigats1 the mob and sympathized with It's deeds. Above all, 1 was mortified at the real culprit, namely, the government with foolish fanatical priesthood and gangs of robber officials.
 The Kishineff crime was a crime of preaching lies and of violence, which the government carries on with such stub born energy. The governments relation to the affair Is new proof of its rude ego tsm, hesitating at no atroclty when 1t Is a question of crushing movements re garded as dangerous and is proof of It's complete equanimity which Is like that of the Turkish government towards the Armenian massacres and most horrible atrocities, if only its interests remain un- touched"
 Man and Wife Hid In Cellar.
 Atlanta, Ga, May 21.--N. Weilmann, a Hebrew resident of Atlanta today received a letter from his brother, Abraham We'll mann, dated Kishineff, Russia, in which the writer tells of the massacres and re- lates the murder of their uncle and aunt. A translation of the letter follows:
 "I am not able to write much, because I am so excited. as the massacre occurred only four days ago, in which our uncle, rene tlSaaC) ana AunL fteeNe tfteDeCch)t were murdered with over 100 other Rus sian Jews. If I wrote too much about 1t, the government might get my letter and l would be murdered. It was on Easter, April 19 that mob of 200 started the massacre. I and my wife hid three days in a cellar without food or water. and when we went back into our house we found everything in 1t demolished. Be- sides killing over 100 men, women and children, the barbarians who call them selves Christians broke up everything they found in the houses. Klshineff is desolate. Please, for Gods sake, send me enough money for my wife and to go to your great country where a man can live in peace and worship God as he chooses. I know you will regret to hear that our uncle and aunt were among the victims. But for the cellar under our house I and my wife would have also been murdered"