New-York tribune., 1907-07-30

BLACKM1IL THE CHARGE.
Police Raid alleged Headquarters
of Huntchakist.

under the direction of Deputy Commissioner
Arthur Woods and Assistant District Attorneys
Manley and Smyth. The specific charge against
the priest is that in the months of June. July
and August, 1905 he attempted 10 backTail
various Armenian merchants of this city OUT
Of sums varying from 1000 TO $4,000 and
threatened them with death if they did not
ply with his demands. The cOmpIainants
three prominent Armenians whose names the
police refused to divuge last night. The three
afraid that the publication of their
names would mean that they would be marked
for death at the hands of the society The priest
Will be arraigned in the Tombs this morning.
Martoogessian was at dinner when the de-
tectves appeared When told that he want
ed at Police Headquarters he accepted the situa-
tion philOsOphically. saying. Il will be right with
you if you Will allow TO finish my meal"
Once at Headquarters Mr.. Manley began
amning him The priest denied all the charges
against him and maintained an easy cOmposure
until he was arraigned before the desk and his
pedigree taken. II was then that he lost color
and with trembling voice gave his name AMI
the other details. The police also arrested
Souran Souranjian. another reputed leader of the
Huntchakist; Tatgos Pappassian. Nicholas Mi
lack Atick Ashjian and Sarkis Afsazepian-
They were held as suspicious persons. the police
believing that they had been associated with the
priest in his alleged Matchmaking schemes
Pusant Varazbad, Garabad TaritchOudian and
Kosant Pogosian were also arrested, but after
an examination by the District Attorney were
they appear before him in the Criminal Courts
Building this morning.
While the examinations were going a squad
OF detectives raided several places in the Ar
nenian quarter bringing in wagonload OF stuff,
consisting Of trunks, boxes paper wrapped pack
ages books and several letter files Inspector
McCafferty said that his men would be busy all
night trying 10 round up some more reputrd
leaders and members Of the Huntchakist.
Harold Spielberg, a lawyer, speaking for the
priest. he a he Was
il he wanted bail:
II have any number Of rich Armenian friends
who under ordinary circumstances would be
only too glad to come forward, but owing TO
the agitation and excitement worked up In the
newspapers they might be afraid TO help me.
For that reason. I would rather stay in Jail
tonight
He also told his lawyer that the police had
evidence connecting him with any wrong
doing. and that Mr.. Manley had learned nothing
from him more than when he talked with him a
day ago.
MANLEY PLEASED WITH ARREST.
Mr. Manley. on leaving headquarters. ex-
pressed himself particularly pleased with ths
arrests and intimated that although the present
charge was extortion and blackmail a more seri-
Gus charge would be entered against the pris-
oner before long
One of the interesting trophies of the raid was
calendar found in the restaurant at No. 154
East 9th street. Surrounded by a wreath OF
men. one Mike. killed in April 1903: Crarakian
Cutjian. killed IN January, 1893. and Murad
Sbiramian. who was murdered in 1894
1t said that these men had been members
of the original Huntchakist. and at the time OF
the split had Joined hands with the ''reformers''
and that they had been traitors TO the cause.
and their death had been the result Directly
under the three pictures were three interviewer
hearts. into of which had been sunk dag
ger held IN a bloody fist, the death sign OF the
Huntchakst. according 10 Father MatOogeS-
SLAMS statements. These calendars were printed
and distributed 10 the members. IL said.
as a warning OF their fate should they turn
traitors
we'll defined rurnor at the District Attor-
neys office had it that the identity OF the pris-
oner the sO-called BedrOs Hamportzoomian.
had become known: that the he had
given and stuck TO was assumed. The identi-
fcation made by son OF Karakian Cut
Jian, who the 'reformers'' murdered in January.
1905 after dogging his footsteps from this city
TO Odessa. where-he was brutally slain
II is also said that the prisoner was fast losing
heart and breaking down Miatad Try
akian. nephew of the murdered Tavshaniian-
had a specially arranged meeting with the prts-
oner.
NEPHEW SEES PRISONER
why did you kill my uncle?" he asked the
prisoner after some desultory conversation "hs
was the best friend had in the world He was
one of the best friends that stricken Armenia
ever had. Whenever there was one IN trouble
nv uncle had his hand in his pocket ready TO
help. Don't you know that you were duped?'
When he saw the grief of the nephew the nur-
derer broke down and cried: My GodI My
Godl If what you tell me is true what have I
done?''
Then for the second time within twenty-four
hours the prisoner weakened and seemed on the
point of telling all he knew. He exclaimed:
why did they pick me? did not know he was
good They told me he was wicked; that he was
a miser and that he had never helped Armenia
They told me that he was our enemy and the
friend OF the Turks"
Then the Armenian stopped Pressed tell
more he said he would wait for another day and
If he found that he had been duped, he would
tell something which the Huntchakist would not
want known.
Among the respectable Armenians there was
great joy last night over the arrests. One OF
the men who took leading part at the indigna-
ton meeting of last Saturday night said:
This is great 1t is the best thing that could
possibly have happened for US. Now that this
priest is behind the bars the District Attorney
will have no trouble in procuring evidence-for
many of the Armeuians. who know about the
actions of these men. have been in mortal fear
TO come forward. Now that they see that these
scoundrels are behind the bars they
tell all they know"
ARMENIANS FEAR REVOLT
At an early hour this morning nearly score
OF ArmenIans gathered at 27th street and Lex
ington avenue They were talking in their na-
tive tongue but 1t learned that they We're
discussing the arrests. Ii said that mem-
bers OF the Huntchakist feared an internal re-
volt. There was report that when Father
MantOogessian arrested, several members
of the society were about to accompany him and
throw some light the murder. but were
strained The crowd grew excited and for