The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-08-01
ACCUSE PRIEST
OF INCITING
MURDERS
Four indictments Against
Father MartOOgessian,
the Armenian.

NEW YORK. Aug. 1.-After four indct-
ments. three for attempting robbery and
one for blackmail, had been filed yesterday
against Levont Martoogessian, the Ar
menian preacher, who is implicated in the
Armenian murder and blackmail investiga-
tion, the district attorneys office piled up
additional evidence against the priest. 1t
is the most important evidence obtained so
far, In the opinion of Assistant District
Attorney Manley.
Martoogessian is accused directly of in
stigating murders and of having had in
his possession letters blackmailing rich
Armenian merchants. The information was
furnished by Mugerdich Calustian, a black
smith, who lives at 299 West Thirty-sev-
enth street He was known as the strong
arm of the Hunchakist before 1t was split
because of the extravaganza of Martooges-
sian, who was then its treasurer.
Calustian was questioned by Mr.. Manley
for over two hours. At the same time
Bedros Kaprielian, who was secretary of
the Hunchaktst before 1t split, WAS
ssrought in. As to certain parts of the
story told by Calustian. the two men
agreed Mr.. Manley was jubi1ant when
they left. Speaking of Calustian, lie said:
His testimony is the most important we
have received. He will be valuable wit
ness His testimony bears out what was
set forth in the indictment fled against
Martoogessian."
Beyond that Mr.. Manley declined to say
what Calustian told, but in general way
this was his story. He had known Mar
toogessian for a long time. Whenever
Martoogessian wanted a meeting broken up
he was the man for the job.
One indictment directly accuses the priest
of being responsible for at least one OF
the blackmailing letters which quickly
followed the death of the wealthy rug
merchant, Tavshanjian. The letter was
mailed in New York on the afternoon of
July %, the day that Tavshanjlan was
shot. 1t was written in red ink In the
Armenian language and bore the seal or
death, dagger in an uplifted hand with
blood dropping from It, This letter was
headed Death Warrant" Translated 1t
reads:
Gulabi Gulbenkian & Co.,
Brunswick Building New York
DEATH WARRANT.
The executives of the Constantinople
ganization condemn to death Haroutian
Gulbenkian. Gulabi Gulbenkian and Pat
rick Gulbenkian, the three brothers. who
entirely have deaf ears to all appeals for
national freedom. Our executive board,
having given its decision to Haroutian
and Gulabi Gulbenkian. in america, gives gives
between their duty and death.
STANTINOPLE ARMENIAN REV
OLUTIONARY TERRORISTS' OR
GANIZATION.
Beneath the signature OF the organization
Is the symbol of the terrorists printed
with a rubber stamp and red ink. The
letter is dated at the bottom, "Constan-
tinople. June q. 1907, but the District
Attorneys office is inclined TO believe that
the letter was written in this city Fol-
lowing the letter is a postscript in red
ink, which reads as follows:
Although neither prison nor hanging can
prevent us from fulfilling our duty to the
end, 1t is necessary that you should know
If you betray this letter or cause harm
to one hair on the heads of one of US
against that consider your whole family
wiped out