The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-01-04

| has invariably resulted in the pcrma-
nent disappearance of the kidnapped
children or else their more dreadful
return in mutlatcd condition. At
times dead bodies Of children are re-
turned 10y way Of warning to other
parents not to he remss in the raising
If the sums Of money demanded within
| the allotted time. one unhappy
| mother was unable To- gather together
! tn" entire sum demanded but sent
what she had on the day set for pay
ment. As the sum was twenty rubles
| less than was required the child was
returned with its right hand cut III.
These and similar atrocities have
/ reused throughout Russian Poland and
within the Jewish pale a supreme ter
| rur Of the name Of Black Hundreds.
The trial Of Mendel BELLS on the old
trumped up charge Of ritual murder has
turned these Black Hundred furies loose
| and every day witnesses outrages
which would receive wide publicity in
! the more liberal Russian press were 1t
not for the strict censorship imposed
on the printing Of accounts of such
crimes. which are naturally very Of
| fensive To the Government. The Rus
| sian bureaucracy does not like to ac-
| knowledge that IL is unable 10 cope with
| the wave Of lawlossness that Is sweep
| ing over the country and which has
| received added impetus from the ritual
murder trial in Kef. This was the sig
nal for all sorts of dcpredations and the
commission of crimes of revenge which
have nothing whatever to do with po-
litical or religious questions. The Black
Hundreds to-day in Russia are simply
roaming bands of gunner. well organ
iy.I tInv, .1xE..s hall
| gcther by the sole motive of loot.
While the principal Black Hundred
groups work in collaboration with poo
iitical organizations, many independent
| bands prey ola all grades of the popu-
| lation. Irrespective Of political opinion
or religious belief. The fact that many
uf these robbers work in open day
| light shows the extent Ia which the
industry Of looting has grown.
In the larger Russian towns most of
the residences and many business Of
fees ar" situated within courtyards, the
gates Of which are closed after 10
o'clock at night These "brami,' or
gateways. form at night an impede
mcnt To the smooth workings of the
bands and, consequently. they must
conduct their affairs in the day time
When the rufiians ring AT the doors
in the day time the police are seldom
called: but the citizen opens the door
and usually submits to be robbed with
out resistance II any resistance what
ever Is offered the bands collect in
overwhelming numbers and often run
amuck through district, terrorizlng
every one.
one Of the favortc lodges Of the
. leaders Of these bands is to disguis,
themselves as lahorers and ask fol
: work on the streets. Ii the person ad,
, dressed canlot provide work. money i.
: demanded. Upon its refusal the band.
are called and the pedestrian Is helC
up. when kind hearted people pro-
vide work the supposed artisan obtains
, inside information concerning the place
Of his employment and imparts hi
knowledge tn his accompliccs, who rol
, the place under the most favorable
conditions.
Killings in the streets are now com
u monplace in many parts of Russian
Poland and elsewhere. Numbers ri
these crimes are attributed to tn,
dreaded Black Hundreds. as mat
y ter of fact they are oft, & the outcor,,
of fcuds between different bands %
= gunner. In many instances they arr
= the result of black hand or black
| NAMING bptfatl'nS'
One of the favoritc methods of shoot
: ing down people in the streets is 10
y the assassin To seize the first woman
y he meets and. linking his right arm il
% her left. shoot his victim from thi
y position of vantage. The woma
- usually raises an cutlery or falls in
~ faint The crowds are attracted I
y the woman and diverted from the nun
dcrcr who. in the confusion. effects hi
escape. The lassitude and indifference
If the police on these occasions give
y rise to the suspicion that they al
u either parties to the shootings or hay
u been terrified into inactivity.
II Naturally, where life is 80 insecur
10 the opportunity to obtain revenge q
II ones enemies IL often taken advar
re tagc of. Bands may easily be er
ar gagged at fairly reasonable prices
l. remove persons who have hecon
l. obnoxious to others. In the low drinl
IN ing places Of the cities leaders of the,
r bands of murdercrs may he found ar
* bargains for deeds Of violence are soc
struck. These bands may also be eI
H. gagged for purposes Of framing III
charges against innocent persons.
The testimony Of members of sue
organizations fiIurcd largely in Il
Bells trial 1t will be remember,
that the woman who accused Bells
the crime of ritual murder was a men
Der Of gang Of thieves who wou
not refrain from murder to achie'