The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-07-26
Armen P. AleOn, Rich Ar
menian, Fears lie Will
Meet TayShanjian's S Fate.
SlO,OOO DEMANDED OF HIN
Wealthy Rug Dealer Is Guarded
by Special POIice--Iiis Father
Was Kidnapped and So
Mistreated That
lie Died.

Fearing he is about to be murdered
for not giving up $4,000 to the Uuncha-
kist Armenian Society, as was H. S.
Tavshanjian, the millionaire New
Yorker, last Monday, Armen P. Aleon,
e wel-to-do rug man, of SO North Ar
lington avenue, East Orange, has ap-
pealed to Police Chief James Bell, of
that city, for protection, and Bell has
granted the request
From the time Mr.. Aleon leaves the
East Orange depot of the Lackawanna
Railroad to go to his home shortly be-
fore o'clock each night until he again
boards train for New York the next
morning, he and his home are now
fully guarded.
District Attorney Jerome, of New
York city, has also detailed two detec-
tives to guard the rich Armenian While
in Manhattan.
Three years ago Aleon's father was
the recipient of letters demanding
money, but he refused. In fact. he took
no notice whatever of them. He made
trip to Persia to purchase some goods
for the firm which he founded, and
while In Tifis, Russia was visited by
six men, who demanded a large sum of
money from him. He refused to give
up and was then kidnapped. Several
months later he returned to New York
city and appeared to be in a dazed con-
dition and was unable to tell much of
his experiences except that he had
been subjected to terrible tortures.
Shortly afterward he went out of his
mind and died.
The East Orange man is the head of
a big rug arm witch has Offices at
903-905 Broadway, New York, and also
in Boston. His home in North Arling-
ton avenue is a picturesque place, and
he is well known in the vicinity. His
oldest children attended the East
Orange High School. and his son was
president of the class which graduated
from the school two years ago.
Mr.. Aleon, with his wife and other
members of his family, are now in fear
that the father will be killed for not
giving up the money. and anyone who
goes near the house is watched closely.
Mr.. Aleon is almost afraid to speak.
and does not stop to converse with
anyone while travelling over Arlington
avenue. He was a happy man when
Chief Bell agreed to furnish him with
protection.
The letter he received, which was
sent several months ago, but kept
quiet, reads:
"Dear Sir:-The Hunchakist Society
begs you to donate to the above-named
society the sum of $4,000 So as to en-
able them to aid our needy patriots
who are dependent upon us. We sim
cerely trust that you will comply with
our request without notifying the po-
lice. Remember that old times past,
and act accordingly. Your father is
dead.
"HUNCHAKIST SOCIETY OF NEW
YORK.
'P. S.-You can give this sum either
In New York or Boston,"
Mr.. Aleon said today that messages
have been sent to rich Armenians during
the past few days telling them that If
they care for their life to keep away
from the police and the District Attor-
ney's office. Many of them have been
marked for assassination and the East
Orange man is among the number. They
are marked, it is believed, to be killed
like Tavshanjian, who was shot and killed
In Union square, New York for refusing
to pay any money to the society
Mr. Aleon is convinced that an effort.
will be made to take his life within the
next two weeks, and has so notified the
New York and East Orange police, In his
office in Manhattan he keeps revolver
handy. and he said he has been afraid
of the society agents ever since his father
died and is apparently convinced that
nothing can prevent the wealthy Armeni-
ans from the agents. over S50.0O0 he says
has been obtained in this way during the
past few years,
Mr. Aleon said that the society is worse
in character than the Black Hand or
Malta and exerts a greater influence. In
the United States he said, that there We're
thirty-three branches. the members of
them being supported entirely by the
money received through the rich Armen-
ians whom they threaten to kill unless
large sums of money are given
The marked men. he said, have deter
mined, however. not to give any money up
to the society, and will work in connec-
tion with the police to secure arrests.
District Attorney Jerome, it Is said, has
given up an intended vacation for the
week to run down the agents,
Mr.. Aleon had lengthy talk with Chief
Bell last night regarding his protection.
and announced his willingness 10 assist
the police IN every turn.