French Judge in Schwartzbard Trial, Unable to Hear Gruesome Pogrom Details, Stops Witness

(Jewish Telegraphic Agency)

Further evidence of the culpability of Semion Petlura, leader of the Ukrainian pogrom bands who was slain by Sholom Schwartzbard, was presented yesterday at a hearing before Magistrate Peyre of the Paris Court.

Vladimir Tiomkin and A. Tcherikover, who collected much data on the pogroms in the Ukraine, were heard. In their testimony they confirmed the details of the atrocities committed by Petlura’s bands. Mlle. Greenberg, who served in the hospital in Proskurov during the pogrom period, submitted such horrible details that the magistrate refused to listen, declaring that he finds it impossible to stand such descriptions. Mlle. Greenberg further testified that Attaman Samosemko asked the Jews of Proskurov to furnish a contribution, threatening new pogroms if the money would not be paid. Petlura, who was approached by a Jewish delegation, to plead with him to avert the calamity, refused to receive the representatives of the Jewish population.

The counsel representing the Petlura group at the trial insisted that Attaman Samosemko was executed on Petlura’s order. Sholom Schwartzbard, the accused, and Mlle. Greenberg proved in their testimony that Samosemko was executed fifteen months later and for an entirely different reason.