THE JEWS IN RUSSIA.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XIII, Issue 16, 7 August 1885, Page 19

THE JEWS IN RUSSIA.

Our Odessa correspondent write* May 14 : — A trial has just taken place at Kovno. Government of Volbynia, before a military tribunal, of 38 persons for taking part in anti-Jewish rioting at the small town of Dombrovitz in the Rovno district, on Sunday, the 22nd Jnly, last year. The disturbance began, as usual, bitween a Russian peasant and a Jew trader respecting an insignificant parchaas— in this instance of a few cherries. Most of the aggressors, principally strangers in the district, were labourers employed on the railway then in course of construction from Vilno to Rovno, and on the above named day entered Dombrovitz with the avowed purpose of baiting the Jew--. They first attacked the spirit shop of one Perelstein, to the cry o^ •• tLurrah," and destroyed all his furniture, wares, doors, and windows. Having served a second shop the same way, they showed an inclination to listen to the advice of the Police Commissary of the district to go home. That functionary waa unable to do more than attempt persuasion because be had with him on ly two policemen— the whole force of the town. Notwithstanding a Russian bawled out " Let us go on destroying," tbe majority of the rioters were about to leave, when' all at once a mob of Jewa, armed with staves and choppers, appeared upon the scene, and in turn attacked the Christians. Thereupon ensued a general and: despeiate melee, daring which 21 residences of Jews and 15 of their shops were totally gutted, and two persons — Stephen Belski, arioter, and Mariyasa Spin, a Jewess, 60 years of age — A-ere fo badlytreated tbat they died a few days afterwards of their wounds. Thevalue of property destroyed was 11,349 roubles (over £1,100). Most of tbe accused were found guilty. Tue ringleaders were sentenced to hard labour, and the other accused found guilty to various terms of imprisonment. It may be mentioned that two Russian pries' » used most praiseworthy efforts to get the rioters to desiet from their barbarous work, but without avail. — Timts.