The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-01-04
Victims of'raid Of the BLACK Hundred"
Victims of raid Of the BLACK Hundred"
Inspired by Ritual Murder Trial Lawless
Bands of Ruffians Have Begun Sys-
tematic Pillaging and Numbering

can Consulate at Hamburg for advice
and informa ton preparatory To- visiting
the Jewish Pale. ii was plainly intimated
that the protection of the American Gov
ernment-despite the possession of Il
pa ssport-could not be extended To any
| one who attempted to journey through
the dlsaffected districts.
1T Is positively not safe for any
stranger to go through these districts"
| said consular official. and any one
seen taking photographs II likely 10 be
shot. The shooting Of people On the
| streets of the larger towns has now he
come 50 common that it fails to attract
| attention"
Strangely enough. To- such pitch of
| excitement had the populaCc risen at
| this time that even the Jews Were
| likely to resent the taking Of photo
graphs in the streets. fearing the pic
lures We're intended for use in anti
| Semitic journals. Several friendly Eu-
| ropean journalists and PHOTOGRAPHERS
wcie attacked and driven from the
| Jcwisi; quarters. one or two were shot
| and their bodies left lying in the street
| as an example to other ovcrCurious in
| IuIrcrs.
| As the Russian minor officials and the
police are addicted to systematic brig
andage and graft II naturally follows
that free rein is given to holdup men Of
| every other description. The organiZa-
| tion Of these bands and their ingenious
| methods Of doing business are almost
| unknown outside of Russia.
| So much terror has the name Of the
Black Hundreds created in Russia that
the entire population Of many large dis
n
faith in police protection has been aban.
| doned and no citizen is safe from their
attack. Most of their crimes are COM
| United in open daylight and in the bold
est manner imaginable.
One section of the Black Hundreds has
Ieven developed what is known as a So
lciety for the Collection of Debt" Men,
bers Of this organization prey upon
small shopkeepers, whom they terrify
into turning over to them the names Of
their debtors. With these names they
make systematic calls on individuals
land demand payment in the name Of
the creditors. Violence and even muir
der follow the refusal of payment on
the part of the debtor. Inability to pay
is not accepted as an excuse. Needless
to say, debts So collected never reach
the legitimate owners of the claim.
1t is not unusual for members of the
Black Hundreds 10 terrorize in broad
daylight several blocks of city. And
this without the least Interference on
the part of the police.
| one or two members of a gang will
approach the residence of some fairly
Well to do Jewish tradesman and de-
mand an interview. Upon the trades
| ~. ttr,, al
will be thrust into his face and the
keys of the safe demanded The least
hesitation or refusal results in imme-
date attack. Sometimes in attempting
to hold up a somewhat alert trades
man they will In met at the door by
him with a revolver in his hand. \
fusllade is the result. The Black Hun
dreds seldom fall victims in these en-
counters. owing to the fact that they
are ready to shoot instantly, whereas
the average citizen pauscs before using
> a deadly weapon.
II the Black Hundreds know that
they will meet with resistance on one
!. Of these debt collecting" errands they
! i..mediately despatch their victim. So
many oltrages Of this character have
been committed that most people i'm
' medately open their doors at the
. | Ibld'k IHfSf bdHu'
boldly go from house To house and ter
e roriZc an entire district in few
$ hours.
a They frequently leave in their tral
n murders and other atrocities OF cole
blooded and wanton character. 1t l.
seldom they are caught or even mo
G Tested by the police. 1t Is this immu
& nifty that has led the citizens of tn
= larger cities to believe that the polio
= are actually in the pay of the princi
= pal bands.
= One of the favorite moves on tn
n part OF these bands Is to watch wome
h returning from banks The leader wi
offer to accompany woman to he
j. home. lowing to the risk Of being o
If the streets In times of such danger,
l. a refusal on the part OF the woma
= If the so called assistance" imme
IS diately results In an open attack.
ii At times women so mOlested wi
IN attempt to rid themselves of thei
3 would-b be escorts. and this always lead
q tn n vicious and often murderOus attac
X in the open streets. Pedestrians Away
d flee from the scene Of such crimes
T. fearing to be shot down or knitted them
IN selves. An appeal to the police ofte
ie results in the arrest Of innocent by
* ISLANDERS or in charges being brOugi
ly against the victims OF the Outrages.
Old people and children are not sal
IN from the murderOus d, ,igns OF thes
in roaming bands. The writer Ii PERSONAL