The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1906-09-27
MAY DEPORT FAMILY
Kenosha Armenian and His Family
Held by Government Officials
at Philadelphia, Pa.
FEAR THE TRACH0MA DISEASE

Llorien Scharmian an Armenian re-
siding on Rowland avenue in this
city is held prisoner in Philadel-
phia by the United States Govern
nent officials on charge of violating
the immigration laws Of the country.
Love of his wife and children was the
cause of the man getting into the
hands Of the United States officials.
Scharmian has been a resident of
Kenosha for more than a year while
his wife and two children have re-
NAMED IN Armenia. A month and
half ago the Kenosha man was noti-
fed that his wife and children had
arrived at Philadelphia and he at once
hurried to that city with the inten-
ton of bringing them to Kenosha
When he reached the eastern city he
found that the wife had been held by
the officials on account of the fact
that she was suffering from trachoma,
disease of the eyes which is re-
garded as very contagious and under
the laws of the immigration bureau
she could not come into this country.
After day of attempts to secure the
release of the woman Scharmian
seemed to be reconciled to her deport-
alton and it is alleged that he accom-
panied her to New York where she
was placed aboard steamer and sent
back to Armenia.
However she never reached Armenia
as the steamer touched at a Canadian
point and the Kenosha man and his
wife and children left the steamer.
Later they started for Kenosha. but
were nahOed at the port of ! Buffalo
and sent at once to philadelphia
where they were accused Of making
an effort to get into the country in
violation Of the immigration laws.
There is scarcely any chance for the
woman to remain in this country and
it IS possible that the husband will be
forced to spend term IN prison for
his connection with the case.
Friends Of Scharmian1in Kenosha
have been asked to appeal to Con-
gresham Cooper and Senators
Spooner and La Toilette to use their
influence to secure the release of
Scharmian and his family, but it is
hardly possible that the government
would permit their release after the
alleged violation of the law.
The case is very similar to the case
Of the Conforti girl, who was brought
to Kenosha several years ago, and
who was finally allowed to remain in
this city after long squabble with
the government officials.
Just at present the officials are MAX
ing determined fight against the en-
trance Of any one to this country who
is suffering from trachoma.
Six expert examiners now stand at
the entrance Of the big citizen grind
ing machine and open the eyelids of
every immigrant for signs of the dis
ease. If there is the slightest irrita-
ton of the lids or any other suspicious
signs, the alien is Immediately placed
under observation. Commissioner
Murray declares that the disease is so
contagious that he has record of cases
contracted en- route by persons aboard
the steamer from afflicted persons the
steamship agents passed over their
gangplanks.
There are many hundreds of cases
of the disease now il New York city.
A few years ago it was unheard of
here. It passed through the gates of
Ellis island in the days when the ex-
animation was not as perfect as to-
day and the danger was not under
stood.