Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-19
AN EPIDEMIC OF CRIME
RESULT OF THE LONG SERIES OF
STRIKES AND RIOTS.

Special Cablegram to The Star
ST. PETERSBURG, March 10. Local
newspapers are complaining that the long
series of strikes and riots has had the effect
of creating a nation of criminals" In other
words, there appears to be an; epidemic
OF crime Independent of the political and
economic conditions prevalent throughout
Russia. or perhaps it should be stated that
failure to secure work and the destruction
of the farms Of the lower classes and in
some instances the destruction OF the
homes and the property of the rich has
had the effect of driving men to criminal
acts of desperation. And in cases where
these condition made criminals have gone
to surrounding countries they have at times
committed deeds Of desperation which have
had tendency to reflect upon the Russian
character, which in reality is nothing If
not law abiding
A typical case has just been reported
from Helsfngfors. -Four men entered the
local branch office OF the Russian Govern
ment Bank on the Esplanade at o'clock
IN Russian. While the money was being
counted out five other men, all fairly well
dressed, entered the bank.
The nine men suddenly produced revolvers
and shouted to the bank employees, Hands
np? The employees, four in number were
unarmed and were pushed into small adj
Joining room. Empty preserve tins were
placed outside the door and We're intended
to pass bombs.
Seized and Imprisoned.
A lady client who entered at this inoppor-
tune moment was seized and imprisoned
but was not robbed, though she had a
number of checks and small amount Of
cash with her The bank porter hurried
up and was killed by bullet In the right
temple. A second bullet smashed his silver
watch.
The bandits then coolly used the teIe-
phone asking for No. $500, the last two
figures OF the call. however being indis-
tfnct.
A conversation In German which the
Imprisoned men did not understand, was
carried on for ten fifteen minutes, after
which the robbers left the building with
$40 COO
The sensation created by this daring theft
has naturally been enormous The police
are doing everything, in their power to
capture the bank robbers. but so far the
clues are slight. About the only clue Is
round In the fact that one of the robbers.
judging from his dialect. is Esthonian-
The most significant thing just at the
present time appears 10 be the propaganda
providing for the extermina ton of the Jews
In certain sections of the empire. Circulars
are openly prepared here declaring that the
Jew money lenders are responsible for all
OF the troubles which have arisen: that
Hebrew money financed the Japanese and
made possible their success In the recent
war. and that Hebrew money is also be-
hind the recent strikes and riots, the prin-
cipaf agftators being In the direct pay
OF the Shyiocks and the money lenders of
Europe" Detailed circumstances are given
or money loaned, including the amounts SO
cir cumstantial, In fact. that the circulars are
calculated to deceive the very elect. The
trouble is that these hundreds Of thousands
OF pamphlets are being distributed among
the more ignorant classes Of society, people
who are accustomed to believe the printed
words as gospel without nauiring into their
origin.
Financial Situation.
The financial situation has been the sole
topic OF conversation since the pessimistic
articles have appeared In the Russkoe |
Gosudarstvo. Other newspapers are now
following the lead Of that journal. supposed |
to represent the ideas OF Count WItte. and |
are specializing regarding the financial out |
look of Russia and Russian investments. |
Some publish rumorB of the sale or mort |
gage of the railways and monopolies and |
even announce that state territory Is to /
be leased. There are rumors OF the lease |
OF Turkestan to a big American company. |
Bankers gravely discuss the prospects Of q
suspension OF gold payments as the cole I
means of preventing the exhaustion OF the 1
gold reserve and unanimously agree that /
q loan In present circumstances is apparent /
ly impossible.
An imperial charter conferred upon the I
CossRcks. reaf1rming all their ancient rights 1
and privileges in recognition Of their signal |