The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1907-07-24
For Slaughter BY a Gang
Of BIacknIaiIers.
RICH ARMfNIANS
Ia This Country are Said 10 be VIC
Tins Of a Band Of Cutthroats,
Thugs and Robbers.

New York, July 24.--Seeklng a mo
tive for the murder Of II. s. Tavshan
jan. the Armenian rug merchant, ths
district attorneys once was led Tues
day to an investigation OF a repor,
that Tavshanjian was one of ter
wealthy Armenians who had beer
marked for slaughter II they failed te
give up $4,000 each to a blackmailins
band OF their own countrymen.
No color was given to this theory
by Bedros Hampartzoomian, who
Killed the rug man, when the prisoner
was arraigned Tuesday. In court he
maintained stolid indifference
waived examination and was remand
ed to the coroner's Jury.
He made statement to a repre.
sentative Of the district attorney. In
this he declared that he had come
here from Chicago for the express
purpose of killing Tavshanjan; but
the crime was instigated by no one
and no other person or society was
involved.
From other sources carefully pro.
tected by the authorities came infor-
nation OF startling character and
said to be accurate. This is that a
secret society OF Armenians origin
ally organized for what the members
held to be patriotic though revolutions
airy purposes, had degenerated into
an instrument for blackmail. The or
ganization had branches in other
cities, but recently many of these
branches had disbanded, while the
better element withdrew from all con.
nection with the society.
The killing of Tavshanjlan and the
others, IL was stated, was planned
more than year ago. They received
letters which they interpreted as
meaning that they must pay or take
the consequences. The threatened
men discussed the matter at a meet
Ing arranged to decide what they
should do. Tavshanjlan was present.
A number OF the merchants were in
favor of acceding to the demand.
Better give them money and live,"
they said
NO. said Tavshanjian. "As a mat.
ter OF principle we should not nay.
You can do as you will. They will get
nothing from me-"
Mr. Cambere. TavshAnjian's secre.
tary, visited the district attorneys OF.
fice Tuesday and there declared that
the death OF his employer grew out OF
attempted blackmail.
Cambere gave Assistant District
Attorney Smythe list Of wealthy Ar
menians who he said had been forced
to pay blackmail to this band
This Is the work of an Armenian
In this city who Is the worst man in
the world said prominent Armeni.
an. He has been responsible for
many murders and lesser crimes and,
too cowardly to commit them himself,
he gets men OF small intellect to do
the work for him by making them be.
lieve they are working for their coun-
try"
Chicago. July 24.-Chicago Ia the
headquarters Of the secret organiza-
tiop which was responsible for the
death OF ,Hovhanes s. Tavshanjian,
the wealthy Armenian rug man OF
New York, according to Joe Bjishk-
lam. prominent countryman OF the
dead merchant. Bjishkiam said last
night that a Chicago Armenian was
the leader and directed all the pro-
ceedings OF the society. The Chicago
society Is an offshoot of the original
Hunchakiat, which was formed in
London In 1887 for the purpose OF car
rying out the ideas OF the revolution.
lists OF Armenia. Bjishkiam declares
the seceeders formed the new Hunch-
akiat for the purpose OF blackmailing.