The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-08-01
Father MartOOg8ssians Actions
 to Be Probsd
SUSPICIOUS LETTER SENT
An Important Witness Has Been &c., cured by District Attorney Jerome, Whose Testimony Tends to
 duplicate the Priest.


 New York, July 31.-Distriet Attor- ney Jerome is seeking every possible bit of informa ton concerning Father Levont Martoogessian. tue Armenian priest who is now held in the Tombs under s25.000 bail for attempted rob bery. A trunk is reported 10 have been found in Lowell, Mass, where Bedros Hampartzoomian lived, which is said to contain papers revealing the plots of the blackmailers. Handwrit- ing experts examined today several letters which were sent to rich Armen- fans demanding money. The district attorney will obtain the handwritings of the Armenians now under arrest. The blackmaillng letters demanded sums ranging from $1o.0o0 10 $25,OoO. The police have discovered that certain Armenians not only eXtorted money. but ran a fence" wh ere stolen goods were disposed of. The police believe that the blackmailers not only have been giulty of extortion but have been 
 Priest Is Indicted Four indictments today lie against Father Martoogessian. the Armeian, who 1t is allgeed sometimes laid aside his priestly robes to practice extor- ton and blackmail The priest is just now a central figure in the conspiracy which the district attorney seeks to
  of wealthy Armenians and led to the murder of the rug merchant. Tavshan- jan, and others who refused to be financially bled.
 From the slayer of Aavshanjian, Bedros Hampartzoomlan, as he is known here. the police hope to secure a confession establishing that the youth unwitfng1y was tpe igent of black mailing terrorists. A trunk which Hampartzoomian had in Lowell, Mass, has been brought here and It's contents Once the assassion is convinced that he was more of a tool than a patriot the police expect him to make disclos- ures that will make easy the whipping out of a dangerous gang. Of the three additional indictments against the priest brought in by the grand Jury today two charged at tempted robbery did the original indictment and one alleges extortion. The latter charges that the priest was responsible for at least one of the blackmailing letters which quickly fol- lowed the death of the rug merchant.
 Suspicious Letter.
 letter was mailed in New York
 
 gshanjian was shot. It was
 red ink in the Armenian
 and was signed with the
 he terrorists-three hands
 upifted, poised above q
 letter is as follows:
 ian X Co.,. New York.
 The executives of
 Armenian ReVolu-
 organization con q Ian Gulbenkian, G1 Patrick Gull l be1 CTS who en- tire all appeals for eNecutlVe boaI ecision 10 Haro enqian in Amer TT hours time T. " and death. "Con. olu- tionary The lea le, June 27, FollowiI f, | also in re,
 "Altboug can prevent to the end sh ould know letter or eau the heads of whole family
 Ano
 Before this Gulbenkian, wh ness against tn blackmailing 900, but had not mand
 The sense of tn the priest either SC or caused 1t to be
 Also 1t Is alleged 1905, Father Martot to kill or cause to Hazanjian, a mereha Square, unless the la 900 to the Armenian ciety.
 Further it Is charl Martoogessian represe to be represented to Mil sian, an Armeian that death unless he gave Armenian revolutionary
 Important Witt The late afternoon deye portant witness when Lustrian a blacksmith, W by Assistant District Att. ley.
 According to information at the district attorneys witness said he had often meetings of the >-unchaklst which Martoogessian presided uing. he Is alleged to ha that he knew of five differ where men had been sent country to Europe at the 1 of A man to murder persons occasions, Lustrian said he chosen to do murder but mt various ways to shift the re. ity
 Some time ago he was told would have to kill 4,lkolat Mi cause at that time 1t was belle Milack was Turkish spy to MT. Manley, the blacksmi. further startling admissions a nished corroborative evidence 0 importance against the prisone is declared by other Armenians