Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1907-08-02
ARM ENlAN PROBE
Results In Tax ng Int Custody
of Prize s. In N w Y TX
FIVE OTHERS ARREST D
Merchants Who Gave Police lntor-
nation Agree to Appear Agar st
Alleged observation-disclosures to
Murder of Wealthy Rug Merchant

Alleged OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES to
Murder of Wealthy Rug Merchant
New York, July 30.-tather Levont
Martgoossian, the Armenian priest
whose name has been associated with
the Hunchakist society, was arrested
last night.
Father Martgoossian is charged with
attempted robbery, it being alleged that
a year ago he attempted to blackmail
several Armenian merchants of New
York out Of sums ranging from $1,000 to
$4,000. Others arrested last night and
held are Nicholas Malick, Souran Sou
ranian, Tapgoos Tappasian, Aotiak
Ashjian and Sarkis Asseppian. These
five were charged with being suspicious
characters. TappaSian is the proprie-
tor of the Ararat cafe, where Mart
goossian made his headquarters. Sou
ranian is the editor of an Armenian
newspaper
The arrests were made following
lengthy investigation into the shooting
of Tavshaniian by HampartZoomian il
Union square, following the merchants
refusal to contribute to Armenian revo-
lutionary funds.
After considerable trouble the au
thorties succeeded in securing from
several well known Armenian mer-
chants the names of men who, the mer-
chants say, have attempted to black
mail them. The merchants at first re-
fused to divulge the facts. fearing
that they would suffer the same fate
as overlook Tavshaniian, but when
they were promised full protection by
the police they finally told the names
Of the alleged blackmailers, it being
agreed that the men wanted should be
arrested before the names Of the COM
planauts were made known. 1t is said
that the Armcnians who gave the police
the Information have agreed to appear
against the alleged blackmalers.
The men, rs soon as arrested. were
taken to police headquarters. where
they were closely questioned by Deputy
Police Commissioner Wood and AS
siStant District Attorney Manley. AT
this time three other Armenians who
We're arrested were discharged. Mart
gooSsian was represented by an attor-
ney. who stated that the arrest of the
priest was absurd. y search of the
priests room was made by the police.
The police still have several other
names Oh their list and expect to make
more arrests soon In the meantime
neither the police nor the district attOr-
ney's office will state what evidence
they have against the men arrested.
Several parties of detectives were
sent through the Armenian quarter
last night with orders to search all Ar
menanS for arms and to find all posi-
Bile about the HunchakSt society. 1t
Is said that these detectives also have
orders to arrest certain other Armenians
who are suspected of knowing more
than they have told regarding the
plots to kill wea lthy Armenians who
have refused to contribute to the revo-
lutionary committee.
Father Martgoossian was examined
in the district attorneys office last
Friday, and at hat time said he knew
nothing of Bedros HampartZOOmian,
the man who killed Tavshanjian. The
priest said that he was once a member
of the Hunchakist society. but that he
retired from it SOme time ago and OF
late has had nothing to do with it.
The police believe that there is a
widespread plot among Armenian,
here to use the patriotic society as q
means of blackmailing and that Ham
partzoOmian was induced to kill Iav
shaniian by being told that the mer
chant was a traitor to his country and
his people.
vi. I'll -, v,u,.,. 49,.
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