Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-03-08
Chapter 3---Torture in a
Russian Prison
By Mende[ Bells
Copyrieht 1914 by the Star Company Great Britain
Rights Reserved.


,,XvTON'r you allow me to dress?" l asked.
w They gave me permission While
putting on my clothes noticed that
all the money | had was seventy-five kopecs.
81, DO you want to give the money TO your
wife. | asked.
She had no money-that knew. | glanced
at her. She was still lying on the floor in
faint | went up TO her and put the coin IN
her hand
They would not let me kiss her or the chill
dren or bid them farewell dragged into
the street. and under a guard of soldiers with
. drawn swords. We went on foot to the police
~ station.
wen had gone my rooms were searched
but the only thing the police found We're jew
ish books, my passport, and my soldiers GER
tifcate.
My head was full of sorrowful thoughts as
] walked to the station, and was nearly
heartbroken. could not walk very rapidly.
A knock on my back from one of the soldiers
brought me back to the terrible reality of my
position. In a rough voice | was ordered to
walk in the road, and not on the pavement
On the way met Christian who was EN-
q ployed at the brick works. He began to cry
when he saw what had happened to me.
Don't lose courage Mendel" | remember
him saying. we know you are innocent, and
will pray to God for you.'
II was quite two hours before we reached
the police station. l at once put into
/ dark cell without even seat IN it. ! touched
one of the walls; 1t was cold and damp.
SILVER ran through me- / could not sleep, and
spent the night pacing up and down my cell.
] shall never forget those hours. AT last the
morning came, and l was summoned to the
office Of the Chief of Police. He spoke TO me
3, very kindly. gave me cup Of tea, and In
very gentle voice said to me-
Come Mendel tell me what you know
about this affair"
OF course | did not touch the tea. l cried
bitterly, until the floor became wet with my
tears. At last l pulled myself together and
answered:
81 do not know why have been arrested"
II was then / learned, for the first time,
that ! was suspected of numbering the boy
Yuschinsky and l called on God to witness my
F. innocence.
At this he got into very bad temper and
shouted: You to Siberia, where you will learn
not to lie. Tell me the truth, or you will be
sorry"
your Excelency," replied, 81 am in your
hands. l shall not lie. You can do what you
want with me. You can hang me, kin me,
send me 10 Siberia. But | will not tell lie.
l cannot tell you anything about this murder.
/ know nothing of tt swear it,"
Disappointed in his attempt to obtain CON
fesson from me he went out slamming the
door and swearing hard l was led back TO my
cell, and, TO my horror. ! heard the voice of
my poor son David.
/ could hear him weeping bitterly, and shout
ing at the top of his voice. Let me go home;
let me 90 to my father"
against the walls until the blood began TO flow
went nearly mad in my desperation.
Soon after the Chief of Police came again
TO my cell. / became more terrified than ever
you see, Bells" he said, "how your little
boy lies. Vera Cheberiak's son says that your
children and he were playing with Yuschinsky
in the brick works, and your boy says this is not
true. He is a big liar, That is why we have
arrested him."
could not reply to this lie My only an.
swer was tears for my poor little son. /
was threatened again, and then left alone
Later dinner was brought to my cell, but
could not touch it. only implored the woman
who brought it to do favor to poor down
trodden father and give the food to my hoy,
and tell him that his father had sent il to him.
Eat it yourself" was her reply. Don't
worry. The boy has had something TO eat"
She must have been touched by my words for
she added, Although / am a Christian swear
pity You. ] am sorry for your poor ntus
boy
During the morning ! had found in my
pocket-a twenty kopeck piece. l took it out