The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1907-08-01
LAYS TROUBLE ALE
TO TURKISH SPIES
ARMENIAN PRIEST GIVES NEW
TWIST TO HuNcHAKisT ss
BLAckMAIL PLOT.
To Discredit Patrlots-shows New
York District Attorney Anonymous
Letter In Which His Own Life ls
Threatened.


New York, July 27.-Rev. Levont
Martogessian, once treasurer of the
Hunchakist, the Armenian society
which outsiders say has fallen from
its high estate Of patriotism to the
practice of blackmail. gave Friday q
twist to the district attorneys
investigation of the organization
The priest had been subpoenaed to
tell what he knew. This was to the
effect that the present agitation, os-
tensibly directed by reputable Armeni-
ans against a band of assassins, was
In fact inspired by the Turkish gov
eminent whose hired. spies systemat-
ically sought to discredit the patriotic
Armenians In this country. The pas
tor Of the Armenian Apostolic church
had, he admitted, formerly been a
member and the treasurer of the
Hunchakist, but some time ago with
drew. He knew nothing Of the muir
der of the rug merchant, Tavshanjian,
who had refused to pay $4,000 forrhis
life, and If extortion had been prac-
ticed he knew nothing Of 1t. On the
contrary, he told the district attorney
that he. himself, was the object Of per
secution on the part of the Turkish
government. Pressed to throw, If pos
sible. light upon the workings Of the
conspirators, the priest replied:
you are a rich and powerful ma
ton, and you can find out more than
/ can"
His Own Life Treatened.
The priest brought with him a let
ter, not signed, in which a threat to
take his life was made. He turned it
over to the district attorney.
After leaving Mr.. Smyth's Office Fa-
Their Martogessian said:
1T am entirely innocent of these in
situations which have been cast
against me. All my troubles have
been brought on by Turkish spies.
There are SO of them in this city and
they are constantly bounding me.
Il never demanded money from any
body and have never gone to any
wealthy Armenian for any.
"The Turkish government is be-
hind it ALL" he added. II am in dan
ger of my own life. 1 have been
threatened many times and I intend
to go to Police Commissioner Bing-
ham and ask him for a permit to
carry a revolver"
Authorities Are Active.
New York, July 25.-Acting District
Attorney Smyth and an assistant are
doing their best to probe deeply into
the terroristic methods employed
against wealthy Armenians to force
them to contribute to the anti Turkish
movement being worked up by GER
tain Of their fellow c%ountrymen.
That these revolutionist Armenians,
who, it appears. constitute the society
called Hunchakist, do not stop at
murder was proved by the shooting to
death on Monday of H. S. T%avshanjian,
the rich rug importer, in Union
square.
Messrs. Smyth and Marley have had
several Armenians before them and
expect to examine others Friday.
HvSAy WAIuSSo ~ AdI 4uS6IlOueu las
besought the district attorneys Of
fee to keep his name and the fact of
his presence in that officials office
secret, so great is the fear among Ar
menians Of the Hunchakist. The in
curry is, therefore, not a public one.
Plan Defensive Death Society.
The rich Armenians here are in
great fear of their lives. Several have
fled from the country. Conversant
with eastern methods Of justice; they
do not understand why the district at
torney does not throw into prison a
number Of Armenians whose names
they have given the authorities.
Some of the threatened men are
even said to be considering a project
to raise a defense fund, hire a rival
society and exterminate all the black
mailers and murderers. Others are
much less aggressive, and counsel
yielding to the blackmailers for the
time. being, and trusting to the dis.
trict attorneys Office to break up the
system.
QUIET IN IRON RANGE COUNTRY.
Gov. johnson Sees No Necessity for
State interference.
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