Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1907-08-08
A BAD PRIEST THIS
1t Is Alleged That in Addition to
His Usual Duties He Lev
led Blackmail.
ALSO COMspIRED TO MURDER
He 10 Asserted to Have Been the
Head OF an Armenian Society
Which Killed Those who n
Failed to Contribute.

New York, Aug. -Four indict-
ments now lie against Father Levont
Martoogessian. the Armenian who, 1t
Is alleged, some times laid aside his
priestly robes to practice extortion
Ind blackmail. The priest is Just now
the central figure in the conspiracy
which the district attorney seeks to
prove had for its object the robbery
Of wealthy Armenions and led to the
murder Of the rug merchant, Tav-
shanjian, and others who refused to
be financially bled.
From the slayer Of Tavshan1ian,
Bedros Hampartzoomian, as he Is
known here, the police hope to secure
a confession establishing that the
youth unwittingly was the agent OF
Matchmaking terrorists. A trunk
which Hampartzoomian had tn Lowell,
Mass, has been, brought here and its
contents may throw some light on the
Investigation. Once the assassin is
convinced that he was more of tool
than patriot the police expect him
to make disclosures that will make
easy the wiptng out Of dangerous
gang.
OF the three additional indictments
against Martoogessian brought In by
the grand jury Wednesday, two
charges that the priest was RESPONSE
BILE for at least one Of the blackmail-
ing letters which quickly followed the
death Of the rug merchant.
The letter was mailed in New York
on the afternoon Of July 20, the day
that Tavshanjian was shot. 1t was
written in red ink in the Armenian
language and was signed by the sym
Dol Of the terrorists, three hands with
daggers uplifted, poised above red
heart.
The sense Of the indictment is that
the priest either sent the letter or
caused 1t to be sent.
Also it is alleged that in September,
1905, Father Martoogessian threaten
ed to kill or cause to be killed Bedros
Hazanjian, merchant Of 20 Union
Square, unless the latter gave up $15t.
900 to the Armenian revolutionists.
Further, 1t is charged that Father
Martoogessian represented or caused
to be represented to Miriam G. Kara
eensian, an Armenian, that he would
meet death unless he gave 100000 to
the Armenian revolutionary fund.
Karagensian, It is said, received
this communication In the form OF q
letter on August 20, 1905. The letter
added:
"The list is not finally closed yet.
There may be several others and you
may DO the next"
The late afternoon developed an
important witness when Magderich
AUSTRIAN, blacksmith, was examined
by Assistant District Attorney Hanley.
According to information later given
out at the district attorneys office,
the witness said that he had often, at
tended meetings Of the Hunchakist
society, at which Martoogessian pre-
sided. Continuing, he h alleged to
have stated that he knew Of five DIFF
ferent cases where men had been sent
from this country to Europe at the In
stigation of man to murder persons.
On two occasions. Lustrian said, he
had been chosen to do murder, but
managed in various ways to shift the
responsibility.
Some time ago he was told that he
would have to kill Nikolat Milack, be
cause at that time 1t was believed that
Milack was Turkish spy. According
| TO Mr., Hanley, the blacksmith made
further startling admissions aRd furn
ished cOTroborative evidence Of great
Importance against the prisoner, who
Is declared by other Armenians "a
have been the moving spirit In the
blaekmailinG band.