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Peasants Put Jewish Farms to Torch; Aged Man Killed in Attack

March 25, 1936
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Bands of peasants roved through Sery, in the Lwow district, today, burning down Jewish farms and houses as anti-Semitic excesses continued throughout the country resulting in the death of an aged Jew, serious injuries to many others and heavy property damage.

In Sery, anti-Semites carrying torches went from farm to farm setting fire to Jewish possessions. A number of buildings were burned to the ground.

An aged Jew, Reuben Weissbard, was shot and killed in the town of Michalowska, Bialystok district, after his house had been defaced with anti-Semitic slogans, The assailants were unknown.

A short but bitter attack occurred in the heart of Wilno in which several Jews were injured. Anti-Semites damaged many Jewish houses, a home for the aged and a yeshiva. Ten persons were arrested.

The city Governor of Wilno and the chief of police promised Jewish leaders tonight to adopt the strictest measures to maintain order. Augmented police patrols were deployed on the principal streets. The disorders followed the spreading of the “ritual murder libel” that Jews use the blood of Christian children in connection with Passover observances.

In Warsaw, Stanislas Galler was sentenced to four years in prison on a charge of bombing Jewish shops. Seven other persons were acquitted.

POLES USE STRIKE DEATHS TO STIR ATTACKS ON CRACOW JEWS

Jews in Cracow barricaded their homes last night and Jewish merchants closed their shops when anti-Semitic Nationalists utilized the slaying of several persons in a labor clash to launch a campaign of incitement against the Jews.

The anti-Semites blamed the Jews for the clash between police and Polish strikers, although no Jews were involved. The agitation succeeded in stirring up considerable feeling against the Jews. In the evening, the police confiscated newspapers featuring the accusation, relieving the tension somewhat.

Meanwhile, in Warsaw, the Government prohibited Jewish newspapers from continuing appeals for funds to aid Jews in Przytyk who were the victims of violent disorders two weeks ago. A Radom district court sentenced M. Korczak, leader of the mob which carried on the disorders, to eight months in prison for agitation.

Newspapers were ordered today not to publish stories containing the “ritual blood libel” that Jews use the blood of Christian children for their Passover rites. Anti-Semitic newspapers had revived the charge in connection with the Passover observance next month.

NEW DISORDERS IN TWO TOWNS

The newspapers reported anti-Jewish disorders in Minsk-Mazowieck yesterday in which Jewish shops were looted, marketmen attacked and Jewish homes bombarded with cobblestones. A Jew, Morris

The Jewish Community of Czenstochow appealed today for relief of the Jews of the district, where about 100 Jews had been attacked and considerable damage to property done, pointing out that as a result of the economic boycott of Jews and the refusal to sell them food, hundreds of families are facing starvation.

A Jewish cemetery in Seidle was desecrated and ten gravestones demolished.

An attempt to hurl two Jews from a railroad train speeding from Warsaw to Minsk-Mazowieck was thwarted by the train’s crew. Just as anti-Semites had forced the Jews to the door, members of the crew appeared and halted them. The anti-Semites escaped by leaping from the train.

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