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Hotel Man Swears He Saw Stavsky and Achimeir Together on Murder Night

October 11, 1933
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Evidence that Abraham Stavsky, 38-year-old Revisonist, and Aba Achimeir, both being held in connection with the assassination of Dr. Chaim Arlosoroff, Zionist labor leader, were seen talking with two other men in a Tel Aviv hotel room on the night of June 16 was presented before the court here today by Asher Hazan, Caucasian landlord. The evidence contradicts the alibi that Stavsky was in Jerusalem at the time, which was the night of the murder. Hazan owns the house in Tel Aviv where Stavsky and Achimeir stopped during the week of the assassination.

The court was aroused when Stavsky shouted “liar” and “bandit” at Hazan. The presiding magistrate warned that statements made at the hearing would endanger the lives of the three accused of the murder.

Hazan contradicted himself, however, when he was cross-examined by Stavsky about the time he first communicated with the police. Hazan denied that he had bought a revolver from Stavsky. Stavsky admitted in a voluntary police statement that he possessed a revolver which he had brought from Poland and had sold it to Hazan many months ago.

Eliahu Tessler contradicted Stavsky’s explanation as to how the wounds on his thumb occurred. In a police statement the Revisionist had said that several days before the murder he had pricked his finger in a bookshop and that the shop assistant had directed him to a druggist for a bandage and dressing.

The shop assistant now claims that he doesn’t remember Stavsky having cut his finger, or directing him, to a pharmacy.

Stavsky’s claim that he had dined in a Jerusalem restaurant Friday evening, the night of the murder, was contradicted by two constables, Zemel and Fuch, who presented evidence that they had dined in the same restaurant that evening but they had not seen Stavsky.

Prosecutor Shitrit exhibited to the court a bullet extracted from the body of Arlosoroff. He also disclosed a blood-stained silk shirt which Dr. Arlosoroff had worn on the evening of his death, and a hole in its right side.

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