Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-24
TAVSHANJ|AN KILLED
TO BRIGHTEN OTHERS.
Armenians Say His Slayer Was
Dupe of BIackmailerS.
ONE SUSPECT AT LARGE
Friend of Murdered Man Says He
Doesn't Dare to Divulge Name.
WAS ONCE A REVOLUTIONIST
Blu That Was a Number of Years Ago.
Left Them Because They Were
Not Patriotic.
WAS ONCE A REVOLUTIONIST
spccial pIsratrh TO The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK. July a4.-Out of the murder
of IL. ). Tayshanjidu. the wealthy AIme-
nian rug importer. who WIS shot down be-
fore his place of buSness in the Century
building. at the head of Union Square. Mon
day afternoon. there has come the determi-
nation on the part OF the district attorneys
office and the police TO get to the bottom Of
Armenian secret societies. With this end
in view number OF Armenians of the bet
ter class were questioned in the district
attorney office yesterday by Assistant Dis
tricI Attorney Marley. in charge of the
homicide bureau, and Assistant District At
torney Smythe.
These Armenians gave the information
that those who protested to be acting for
the Hunchakist, or revolutionary society,"
had in reality no patriotic motives in max
ing the demands that they had made upon
at least ten rich ArmeEians in the city.
On the contrary. they were a gang of
blackmalers
After the letters had been sent to the
merchants from COnstantinoole an Arme-
nian in his city. whom Petrosino's men
Swallowed unsuccessfuly some time ago for
period of months without being able to
fix the crime of Dlackmailng upon him,
would call and say:
II under stand that YOU received a letter
What are you going to do about it,
closely with the business interests of the
murdered importer. had a talk with AS
sistant District Attorney Manley yesterday,
and said:
Letters From Turkey Written Here.
There Is no doubt in my mind that the
letters which were received here from
Constantinople were first written here and
then sent there to be mailed back. l was
In Constantinople year and half ago on
hnSippSS Ani lin
Ounjin was wealthy Armenian merchant
and manufacturer. who sold lumber and
grain to the Turkish government. Agents
or the protested revolutionary society went
to him demanding that he contribute to the
cause on the alternative of meeting vio-
lence.
THAT he had contributed to the cause of
the revolution reached the ears of the gov
eminent Ounjin was put in prison at once
by the government to which he had sold
supplies. He spent a fortune getting out.
After he had succeeded in freeing himself
once more the agents came to him demand
Ing money | think that he refused to
pay. and even went so far to inform the
authorities of the demand made upon him.
Then he was murdered
Immediately after that letters were
mailed from ConstantinOple to about ten
ArmenianS here, among them the murdered
TaVShanJian, saying to each that his time
might come next. The reason that we know
the letters We're first written here is that
Immediately after their receipt an Armenian
in New York, whose name ] do not dare
mention. called upon each of the recipients
He too clever to demand any money
but Ee showed in subtle way that he knew
all about the affair. He also gave the i'm
preston that he was empowered to collect
contributions.
Murdered to Warn Others.
''Mr. Tavshanjian killed that he
might be warning to others.
such thing as happened in New York
shows that there is government here.
lice know. who this Armenian is who called
on the murdered man. yet they do rot ar
rest him. In Turkey they would have had
everybody in Jail long before this
1t learned yesterday that six de-
tectves attached to the Italian staff of
Detective Petrosino back in 1905 had been
sent out to follow the man who called upon
the Armenians after demand for money
had been made. complaint of blackmail
had been made against him. For several
months he led the detectives chase from
one restaurant to another without their
being able to fasten anything upon him.
Bedros Hampartzoom:an of Al Orchard
avenue. Chicago, the slayer of the importer
after trip to police headquarters and JEFF
ferson Market. was taken befor, Coroner
Hamburger yesterday. who held him with
out bail to await the inquest set down for
July 30. The official interpreter OF the
Tombs court, Marc Moustaki, Greek. be-
kish.
Before he had begun to answer. Jacob
II. Jordan of the law office of Charles II.
Barber interposed saying that the prison.
or was his client. and that he wished to
have him instructed that he need not an
swer questions Mr. Manley wanted to
know at once who had retained him. The
lawyer said friends of the prisoner"
Barred as Prisoners Counsel.
Who are these friends. That's just what
we are trying to find out" said Mr. Manley
The lawyer did not answer the question.
and the prisoner said through the interpre-
ter that he had engaged no counsel, so tho
lawyer told that he could not represent
the prisoner.
THE prisoner wants TO make a state
ment.' said the interpreter. He says: L
am reaCy and willing to do and receive
what is due to me. I mt to say that
whatever have done has been done for the
good OF my country. l am ready to die for
my country. That is all shall ever say"
The commitment papers had been made
out. and the prisoner had arisen with his
guards for the journey across to the Tombs
wien the young Armenian said something
TO the interpreter.
He wants to say something more" said
The Interpreter. He says. L have had
nothing 10 eat l have not eaten since yes
terday morning. 1t is not necessary to
starve me-"
Get tho man something to eat said
Coroner Hamburger
Hampartzoomian made at least one Inn
portant addition TO the story that he had |
told Immediately after his arrest He said
that he had been in the city four DAYS and
that Friday he met Tavshanjian in front
of the Century building and demanded a |
contribution in aid OF the revolution ard
that II had been refused. He could have
killed the importer then. but waited
He also said that instead OF having come
here direct from Chicago that he had come
from Worcester. Mass, where he had saved
$40. He had % cents in his pockets when
he was arrested.
Was Once a Revolutionist
lie admitted that he had belonged TO the
HuncEakist and other Armenian revolu-