New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-07-25
TO CALL In P. @. AGENTS
AGAINST HUNTCHAGIST
BINGHAM and Jerome Want Help an
Hounding armenian Criminals.

The boIdness of the Huntchagst League has so
completely bafied the Police Department and the
District Attorneys Office that 1t was decided yes
terday call IN the Secret Service agents of the
Postoffice Department
Several wealthy Armenans whose refusal 70 pay
$4,000 each was followed by the murder Of
Hovhannes s. Tavshanjian. have received letters
since the crime calling attention 10 the wealthy
rug merchants fate and warning them that IN
less they handed the money over promptly they
and their families would be disposed Of in a similar
manner.
The District Attorneys Office has obtained num-
Der Of these letters. which show that for several
months communications have been sent 70 prom!-
nent Armenians demanding that sums of money
be sent to the Huntchagist society on pain OF
death. These letters. the authorities think demon
strate widespread conspiracy 10 blackma1 we'll
TODD Compatriots.
Many Of these threatening letters were received
within four hours after the shooting of Tavshan-
tian Monday. They all worded alike. written
in a scVawling hand IN Armenian. and not signed.
Among those who received such letters were Bed
ros kazanjIan 18TH street and Union square A.
karageusian. 18th street and Fourth avenue. and
II Gulbenkian. 9th street and Fifth avenue. They
constituted, with Tavshanj!an. what was known
as the Big Four All are thoroughly frightened,
and at least one Of them has left town for a few
days
The dead man was the only one OF the quartet
who openly opposed compromise OF any
kind. and the society got him as II said II would
specimen letter translated, reads as follows;
Just we have killed Tavshanjan, who would
not agree TO meet our demands and who advised
him. Take warning and be prepared to give US the
money We have asked for when we call II you
do pay you will have only two weeks 10 live
LETTERS SENT AFTER SLAYERS CAPTURE.
These letters are all pOstmarked station d, July
o. o. 2:3O p. m The station IS at No. l0S East
18th street Detective Well Is positive his watch
said 1888 .. m. when he captured the slayer.
Taking into consideration the fact that the post
Office stamping machines change time every mar
before 259 or within about an hour and a ha4'
after the killing. -, .,
This is considered positive proof that the accused
nan Is lying when he says he has no friends In
this city. The authorities sure his accomplces
were In Union Square Park and acted as QUICK as
they saw Tavshaniian fan
one of the : rrnenians turned over 10 Assistant
District Attorney Manley package OF threatening
letters covering a long period OF time He Is Ar
men p Aeon O rug importer, IN business az No.
qO7 Broadway, under the firm name OF n r
AIeon's Sons. Among the letters is the one which
all the marked men received last March and whlch
IN translation reads as follows:
Dear Sir: The Hunchagist Society begs you TO
donate 10 the above named society the sum OF
$4,000 as 10 enable them 10 aid our needy
PATRIOTS who dependent upon us. We sincerely
trust that you will comply with our request with
out notifying the police. Remember that old times
past and act accordingly Your father Is dead
p. S.-You can pay this sum either IN New York
or BOSTON
Ny AIeon's father about three years ago took
trip TO Persia. his route lying through Russia On
tho tourney he was held UP The does not
know whether the brisGnds got any money from
his father. for when he returned he was raviaS
maniac and died within a month without being
able 10 tell anything about h!s experiences
Mr. Aeon when seen yesterday. quietly opened
q drawer IN his office desk ana drew forth
volver OF large Calibre. fully loaded
I have kept this with me ever since received
that letter. he said. "as I expect be attacked
any day. l afraid Of this society. aud I
convinced there is nothing that can protect
! wealthy Armenians from it.
assured his would not he published. said:
Yes, IT IS true we are frightened and going
about armed. More than that, several Of us have
hired armed guards to protect There are those
OF us who think the easiest way out OF ii Is 10
stand and deliver, II not for our own sake for the
sake Of wives and children. My wife is
on the verge of nervous prostrutiOn for she does
not know what minute shall be brought homo 70
her a stretcher.
There is one thing you can emphatically assert
and that is. die live. pay not. are deter
mined to stamp out these bIackmailers As IT
that the Police Department and the District
Attorneys office are unable 10 land the criminals
have decided 10 fight fire with fire. and. II
necessary. will raise fund of 100000 and hire
| our assassins to kill these fellows who are
bounding US"
Commissioner Bingham said yesterday that the
situation grave aud Showed tho need OF a Sc
cret service branch TO work among the foreigners
and ferret out their plots This. he said. could not
be done without money, and he thought the Board
Of Estimate should allow him $1,000 20 organize
this brunch
PRIEST MAY HAVE IMPORTANT KNOWL-
EDGE
The name OF n priest has been freely used In the
District Attorneys office the in New
York who could throw light the working Of
the Huntchagist. He is said to be able even to
tell the name OF the local leader. When yes
terday In cafe. at Lexington avenue and 9th
street this priest admitted that he had been treas
of the HuntchaGists in 1905 and 1896. dn these
years the first baCkmail letters reOeive6D. and
that he had collected between $50 600 and SOS and
had sent il to Armenia But he declared he was no
! longer a member of the organization.
| When he told that OF tho big Four
had said that he called him the time OF
| Onian's murder In sonstantinope. about n year
| and half ago and: demanded $4,000 the priest
| denied the accusation saying Il have not seen
| that for year. In the course OF my
! duties I called him at Christmas time but he
| would not told he was fraId of me -
! Then he went To say that he had called on
Mr. Gulbenkian at his office 9th street and Fifth
! from the merchant "for the good of the cause in
! Armenia
| 1t Is known. however. that Detective Sergeant
! PetrosinO watched him for months in 1905. apd
that he is the man who called each OF the four
merchants who received the HWtchagist letters
| from ConstantinoDlc in that wear. These letters
said that man would call for the SIS 900 contribu-
| ton demanded.
The priest in his visits that time would ask IL
/ letter had been received from abroad but did
not disclose his knowledge. If he had any. of the
J principals engaged in the matchmaking scheme.
! The District Attorney was told that this priest
was seen walking In Central Park last sunday In
! company with Bedros Hamportzooman. the slayer.
/ yesterday forenoon the ease of Hamportzoomian.
! who shot TavshanjiGn The coroner had announced
] that he would try the July So but as yes
: terday the last day the present grand jury
would sit and because Assistant District Attorney
Manley wished to present the to this jury and