Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-06

men in his shed: that he is against MUIR
ders and strikes, and refuses to join the
socialists. One Of his comrades denounces
him to the BLACK Band" His case is not
considered bad enough for death, so a dele
cation perhaps a letter Is sent to the
foreman, demanding that he be dismissed
at once and replaced by socialist, whose
name Is given. Suppose the foreman re-
fuses to comply with the request either be-
cause "A" is a good workman or because
the foreman objects to interference. Then
"A's' days are numbered. His name comes
once more before the committee and he is
sentenced to death "for daring to rebel
against the Black Band
The BLACK Band is worked in connec-
ton with a 'kantor," or office. where those
who know the ropes can hire ruff1ans to
murder their enemies, at prices ranging
from 81 to $40. according to the social status
of the victims and the time 1t takes to
entrap them to a suitable spot for murder.
This "kantor' supplies the men to kill
poor "A Being workman, he is easy to
get at He must walk to and from his
work every day, and the docks of his
wretched lodging are none too secure. It
is an open secret that the murder of such a
man does not cost more than couple of
dollars. while doctor or a lawyer can be
removed for $40.
X
If "a" has armed friends to guard him
on his way to and from work, the ruffians
will go to his lodging. He is at his dinner
or supper. surrounded by his wife and fam
lily; loud knock is heard at the door. He
asks who is there. A voice cries In Rus
sian, open! It's the police!' He obeys.
Two or three birelings of the Black Band
fall upon him, shoot at him till they are
satisfied that he IS dead, and, after firing
the rest of their bullets into the walls, make
off again.
Nobody in the building dares go to see
why such screams are coming from AS
room, for the fear of the terrorists exceeds
any feeling of humanity. The ruffians walk
down the common staircase in broad day.
light and coolly dispense in the street, to
meet again later in the day and get their
bood-money from the Black Hand. "A's"
case is that of hundreds of honest working
men who have persisted in Lodz during the
last year or so and are still perishing daily.
Even when he is dead the Black Band has
not vented all it's hatred upon him. If he
has been an ardent anti-socialist they will
uOl even let uouy lSSS ALI pSdSS. IL Is
torn out of its grave and thrown on the
ground hard by. Bodies in the LODI ceme-
teries have been thus desecrated three
times, till a military guard has been set
by the grave to prevent repetition of such
hdeous scenes. Sometimes the bodies dis
appear altogether, and only the Black Band
knows what has become of them.
Often it happens that man whom they
have shot at and wounded in the street is
taken to the hospital by an intrepid police
man or passing patrol. and in that case
the Black Band sends its ruffians to finish
their work at his bedside; IL is not OFTEN
that such a victim gets off as easily as one
Michal Michta did the other day, for only
a lucky chance saved his life while In the
hospital.
He and his friend, Andrew Blacha-both
strong anti-socialists-were shot at by or
der of the Black Band, because they voted
against a strike at a workmens meeting.
They were both wounded Blacha seriously,
and Michta lightly, and taken by patrol
to the hospital Blacha had to be chloro-
formed, and after the operation was car
ried into ward No. 0. Michta had been put
into ward No. Z, and feeling fairly we'll one
evening. put on a hospital dressing gown
and went to see how his friend Blacha was
getting on.
X
They were chatting together when band
of men rushed into the ward went straight
up to Blacha's bed and killed him with six
or seven revolver shots. Michta, who stood
by petrified with fear, heard them say:
Now let's go to ward No. and polish off
that rogue Michta." Happily they did not
recognize him in his bandage and dressing
gown and ran off to his ward, while he hid
under his dead friends bed till the hospital
was rid of his would-be murderers. They
expressed great surprise at not finding
Michta in ward No. I, and looked under all
the beds in the room. Then they left,
promising to come another time. And they
did not fail to crack few jokes with the
other patients. as if they had come on
natural and praiseworthy errand.
Their conduct was the more daring be-
cause the hoSpital stands between he Cos