The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-07-24
NAY KILL Us AT DISCRETION
ARMENIAN COLLECTORS ANSWER
ONLY no THE "ASSEMBLH."
r~a,shanJian Murder Brings This statement
From . Clergyman. VINO says He Got
out OF The hunchskIst -sOmebody Gets
aIAwysr for '~'FrieudIess'' Prisoner.

FEUtu y NICtH ny tuwNs WV '@S" h'V WV
out Of the Hunchsklst -sOmebody Gets
aIAwyer for ''~FriendIess'' Prisoner.
In a cafe in Twenty seventh street. be-
tween Third and Lexington avenues. a
SUN reporter was introduced early Last
evening TO a man in a clerical coat who
said he was Father Levopt Martoogessian
and that the directory spelled his name
wrong as Martousessian. He was rector
Of the Armenian Church In New York, he
said. and pastor OF the congregation OF
the Apostolic Armenian Church that holds
its services in st. Chrysostom's Protestant
Episcopal Chapel. Seventh avenue and
Thirty-ninth street
In answer to questions prompted by the
assassination Of T~avshanjisn in Union
Square on Monday this man said that
murder might be resorted to by the OK
ecutive committee OF an Armenian revoln-
tionary society when demands for money
were not complied with and II the necessity
was considered great.
The three societies. he said. are the two
Hunchakists--that society split-and the
Federal Society He had been a member
Of one Hunchakist until two years ago
He declared that he 10 not now a member
of any revolutionary society.
Collection OF money by force. be said.
10 not the part or the rule OF the society
as a whole. The raising Of money TO meet
the needs OF the Armenians at nome j.
---.G-.l "a .xaopNtua ,npofntffoaa and the
means is left to them. They answer only
TO the assembly. the general meeting OF
Representatives Of the society from all
over the world. held regularly once in
two years with special meetings in be-
tween. Justification Of the past acts OF
the executive committee is measured by
the assembly according to the greatness
Of the need which existed for the acts. or
punishment is fixed IL private vengeance
or greed appears, or IL the acts were other
wise unjustitied.
M~artoogessisn said he had been In this
country for seven years and is an American
citizen. He comes from Mezireh. the same
town that Hampartsoomian. the murderer
Of Tsvshsnjisn. comes from. but says he
does not know him. He did know Tav-
shanjian.
The Hunchakist was organized In 1888.
he said -snd exists all over the world. Its
centre was first in Egypt. then moved to
Greece, then to London. I cannot tell where
the centre 10 now. but it 10 not in London.
The object Of the society is to secure the
life and property Of the Armenians in their
own country and 10 secure them equal
rights before the law. We do not want a
kingdom, but we do not want them TO be
massacred or their property torn away
at the will OF the Turks without the right 20
protest. II Ia the duty of the Hunchakist TO
send the orphans. the poor and the pris-
oners money and clothes to relieve them.
The active work is lone in Armenia.
The Armenians here are assistants and
send the money. From Armenia are sent
once or twice a year managers who preach
OF the conditions and work They stay
one or two years
Did I know Tavshanjian? Yes. he was
president Of the board OF trustees OF my
church when l first came. Good feeling
did not exist between him and the Cullen
kians. a prominent family. and others when
came. He was not in favor OF the revo-
Mtionary movement and l was. He left
about four years ago | cannot say any
thing more about him. He is dead, Moth
ing but rood must be said Of the dead"
II was pretty clear from the conversation
OF the priest. who spoke in general terms
later, that T~avshanjisn had not contributed
to the funds OF the societies. He was very
wealthy aud in his success in this country
had forgotten the straits and hardships Of
his people in their own land to help provide
for them
Suppose a man does good for the or
phans. IL charitable. suppose he isp We
are very thankful. But ne has another
duty, toward his country. The churches
in this country pray for the morality and
right living OF their people in time OF peace;
in war they change their prayer to one for
the protection OF the country. But this
kind. this class of rich Armenian here and
in Europe are very stingy in giving for the
millions OF starving prisoners and relatives
Of the massacred."
DO You believe that T~avshanjian was
murdered through a plot of a revolutionist
society and that Hsmpsrtzoomian was
instigated to it?"
Of any society. All the members OF the
society would not know. IL would be kept
very secret. 1t would be known only by
n IbW. lDtIV 10 bo IhlV ih 'pp HoNhV'y w
collect money by force except the execu-
tive committee thinks il necessary. The
executive committee must collect themoney.
II 10 responsible for its works. II Il thought
the necessity existed it might adopt this
means. Then the assembly would hold IL
responsible with moral and other punish
ment." He would not say what his other
punishment was except that il was secret.
The assembly would ask. What was
the necessity 10 killp' The executive CON-
mittse would have to justify their action,
II they had killed because they liked to
they would be guilty, II any action Of
theirs had been taken because Of some
great necessity they would be justified"
The Armenian said that in the practice
of the collectorss letter asking for a certain
sum might be followed by another threaten
ing that something might happen TO the
receiver IL tho money was not forth
coming He said that he did not approve
OF such methods OF collecting money even
for patriotism. but he did not know whether
the general body did or not.
The revolutionist is obliged to resort
v - ~ - a -