The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-07-30
More ArmenianS Taken Into
Custody With Their
Reputed Leader.
PRIEST HELD IN BIG BAIL
Father Martosgessian Indicted
on Charge of Robbery--Conn-
trymen of Murdered Men Tell
Public SIayers Are Not
Patriots, but Criminals.


NEW YORK, July S0.-The police and
the district attorneys office promise
new and startling developments in their
investigation of blackmail and extor-
tion upon prosperous Armenians in this
city by other Armenians, and the MUIR
der recently of II. S. Tavshanjian, the
rug merchant.
1t is said today that Dedros Ham
partsoomian, who killed Tavshanjian
and is now in the Tombs under indict-
ment for murder in the first degree,
lived at Lowell, Mass, at the home of
an uncle for several years. His real
name is said to be Bedros Khachado-
rian. He is an ardent adherent Of the
Hunchakist, the Armenian society, one
faction of which is credited with threat
ening merchants with death If they did
not contribute to revolutionary funds.
Khachadorian is said also to have
always been devoted to Father Levonr
Martoogessian, the Armenian priest
who has been placed under arrest In
connection with the case. The priest, IL
is said, visited him in Lowell.
Following searching examination of
Father Martoogessian by an assistant
district attorney early today several
other Armenians were taken into GUS
tody by the police. They were held
as witnesses.
Father Martoogessian was indicted
by the Grand Jury today on a charge
of attempted robbery in the second
degere. He had been arraigned in the
police court earlier in the day and held
In $4,000 on an attempted robbery
charge. but in view of the Indictment
he was rearraigned in the Court of
General Sessions and bail increased to
$25,
The murder of Tavshanjian, who was
reputed to be one of the wealthiest Ar
menians in the country, was laid at the
door of Armenian revolutionists. 1t has
been the theory of the police that he
was killed after ne had repeatedly re-
fused to supply money to one Of the
revolutionary societies.
In formal statement issued through
its executive committee in America to-
day, the Armenian Revolutionary
Hunchakist party disclaims all con-
nection with the assassination of Tav-
shanjian. The statement declares that
the men concerned in the assassination
were expelled from the Hunchakist
party for treachery and heinous crimes
Of blackmail, and that since their ex-
pulsion they have done much to de
grade the honored name of a great pa
triotic party" The statement says:
Like all patriotic and law-abiding
Armenians the members of the Arme-
II. 4. Ix1o a..kw
have been shocked and filled with hor-
ror and CONSERVATION by the cowardly
assassination of their honored coun-
tryman, the late H. S. Tavshanjian.
They are especially indignant because
the disreputable leaders of the small
gang of blackmailing murderers pre-
sumo to call themselves 'Hunchakists,'
degrading thus the honored name of a
great patriotic party.
For various acts of treachery and
heinous crimes of blackmail they were
finally expelled from the Hunchakist
party. Yet they have always endeav-
ored to call themselves 'Reorganized
Hunchalxists,' exploiting thus the great
name of our old party-so loved and
honored by all patriotic Armenians.
"These 'Alfarists' during their decade
Armenia, but bring disgrace to her
fair name by their heinous crimes of
blackmail and murder. The scandal Of
their misdeeds reached such a point
that even their own followers protested
and rebelled lately.
Therefore, the executive committee
of America of the Armenian Revolu-
tionary Hunchakist party earnestly
requests the impartial press and the
people of America not to confound this
gang of blackmailers with the old
mother party, and hold her responsible
for it's shameful and loathsome mis-
deeds.
"The Hunchalxist party during its
twenty years of existence has raised
funds for her heroic struggle against
Turkish tyranny only through abso-
lutely voluntary contributions from
patriotic Armenians"
This statement is called an official
declaration" and is signed by the COM
mittee.
A big crowd gathered around police
headquarters when Father Martooges-
sian and the other prisoners were being
held there. By the time the prisoners
were taken out of the building on the
way to court fully 500 persons were
crowded around the Mott street en-
trance. AS the police and their pris-
oner came out the crowd began to hoot
and jeer. A big gang of men at work
on two new buildings across the street
from headquarters quit work tempor-
arily and Joined In the demonstration
against the prisoners.
FATHER ROBBED; SON LOCKED UP.