Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-01
ANTI-JEWIsH RIOTS
TRIAL AT GoMEL ATTRACTING
IMMENSE INTEREST.
Government Introducing Evidence That
Jews Were Thoroughly Or
ganized and Armed.

GOMEL, Russia, November 1.-The trial
of the persons charged with being respon-
slble for the antf-Jewish riots here In Sep
TENDER, 1903, is proceeding slowly and with
open doors and is attracting immense in
terest. There are eleven defendants, and
sxty-nine other persons who are under the
same charges are being held under bail.
Nine hundred and seventy-five of the 1,1O1
witnesses are present The government wit
nesses are attempting to prove that the
disorders of September II, 1903. were in the
nature of anti-Christian riots and not of an
anti-Jewish character.
1t is claimed that the first riot was or
ganized by Jews to take vengeance for the
kishineH affair, while the rioting two days
after was a retaliation upon the Jews.
The government produced evidence to
prove that the Jews were thoroughly organ
lied and armed and had prearranged sig
nails. regular leaders, adopted a provocative
attitude toward the Christians and acted
overbearingiy, insulting peasants in the
streets and jOstling them off the side walks
The affair of September II, it is added,
grew out of trifing quarrel between a
purchase of a herring
The Jewess spat in the forester's face,
fight followed and Jews ran up and be-
labOred the forester. Some Christians from
the bazaar hurried to the rescue of the
forester. the free fight then became general,
the Jewish signal was given and the whole
Jewish population assembled, attacking the
Christians regardless of sex or age, a girl
being dragged along the road by her hair.
The peasants abandoned their goods in
the bazaar and fed One of them was
stabbed in the neck and killed. The police
and a lieutenant and four soldiers tried to
restore order. but stones were showered
upon them and they were fired at from
windows of neighboring houses, the Jews
shouting:
I'VE are going to be avenged. This is not
kiShineff."
The police and soldiers finally escaped,
owing to the interposition of a rabbi. Two
days later some railroad workmen who had
announced that they intended to take ven
geance came into town at noon. The police
had been warned and company of soldiers
was brought in apd halted the workmen at
the bridge.
The Jews assembled behind the soldiers,
the two sides matchmaking each other,
and finally hurting stones. Appeals of the
police chief to the rioters to dispense were
in vain.
At last policeman was struck by brick
bat. and the workmen, shouting. THE Jews
have killed a policeman" surged across the
bridge. Then there were revolver shots
from the Jews, whereupon the captain COM
handing the soldiers placed his company
between the opposing forces and the work
men finally were dispersed in the direction
of the suburbs. But the Jews would not
the soldiers finally charged them with bay
onets and access to the wealthy Jewish
quarter was closed.
Jewish Papers Gratifed.
ST. PETERSBURG, November 1.-The
Russian papers are devoting much space to
the trial at Gomel of those alleged to be
responsible for the anti-Jewish riots there
in September of last year. a thing almost
unprecedented. The Novosti, the Jewish or
gam is especially gratified at the trial being
conducted with open doors, declaring that
this marks q new the part of the
government toward the Jewish question.
The thlrty-four representatives of provin-
cial ZemstVoS summoned to st. Petersburg
by Prince Sviatopolk Mirsky, minister of
the in terror, to participate in the considera-
ton of the peasant reforms will assemble
here November IA. The program is not yet
announced except in a general way that
there will be exchange of views on the
necessities of the local governments in mat
tiers affecting peasant land reforms The
papers display the greatest qualification,
some saying they had waited over twenty
five years for this moment contending that
the calling into a conference of representa-
tives of the Zemstvos in connection with
land and peasant legislation is in effect the
beginning of a land parliament.
In the meantime the workmen were re-
assembling on the outskirts of the town
and began pillaging, and a detachment OF
soldiers was continually engaged in dispers-
ing them, while the Jews elsewhere were
attacking every Christian they could find.
The first vOlley fired by the soldiers was in
the quarter of Gomel known as America"
where two workmen were killed.
In all the troops fired three volleys, Kill
ing two more Workmen and one Jew. The
total result of the riotng three nom
commissioned officers, two soldiers, two
Jews and two Christians killed and four
Christians and four Jews wounded.
number of policemen were also killed
wounded. About $50 houses and shops of
Jews were pillaged.
The rioting continued all the afternoon
and only ceased at nightfall.