News Brief

While the official Lithuanian government organ admits that innocent Jews suffered in the outbreak at Slobodka, suburb of Kovno, the “Yiddishe Stimme.” Kovno Yiddish daily, was forbidden to publish anything regarding the occurrences, which were officially denied. The Jewish Telegraphic Agency has, however, secured the following report, which was deleted from the “Yiddishe Stimme” by the censor.

“On Thursday night the streets of Slobodka witnessed an organized hooligan attack. Jews were murderously beaten with sticks and fists by individuals in civilian clothes who threatened the Jews with revolvers and rifles. Organized hooligan groups suddenly appeared from the gateways and stopped passers, beating them mercilessly. Several were elderly people, some seventy years and more. The cries of the victims resounded through the streets, and shops were hastily closed. A Jew who appeared at his door was immediately cudgelled by the hooligans. (Continued on Page 4)

“A real pogrom atmosphere prevailed.”

The unpublished item continues to give the names and addresses of the victims, namely: “Salamon Isaac Fling, shoemaker, who, when he attempted to close his shop, was beaten about the head and face, crushed against the wall and his clothing torn. His two sons who ran to assist their father were also beaten. A third son ran to call a policeman who was on duty at the corner, but the policeman was not there.

“Schapiro, aged 70 and ill, was attacked by hooligans near a policeman’s box. When he appealed to the policeman, he was told to go home, but when he tried to go, the hooligans beat him.

“M. Cohen, aged 32, and Moses Minz, 33, were brutally beaten. Policemen watched without interfering. Samuel Matz, a student, aged 22, was attacked while returning home from Kovno. The hooligans asked him what day it was. Matz replied ‘Thursday.’ ‘No, it is Red Day,’ was the hooligans’ answer, whereupon they set upon him. Samuel Pelerewitch, aged 23, and Channan Friedman, were beaten by hooligans with their own canes. Eli Herzowiz, 16, a Yeshiva student was stopped by three hooligans who, without a word, beat him, told to run home. When he started running, he was beaten again. Two students, Laznik and Bloch, were cudgelled while the police looked on. The same afternoon, two policemen detained the aged Chevra Kadisha, sexton, Jalobezki, in the suburb Shanz, while he was in a cab proceeding to arrange for a funeral. He was taken to the police station, where policeman No. 104 hit him over the head with his club. Another policeman abused and threatened him and it was only after he proved that he was proceeding to a funeral that he was released.”