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3 Seized As Members of Jewish Secret Society in Palestine

September 29, 1937
See Original Daily Bulletin From This Date
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EXISTENCE OF A SECRET SOCIETY PLEDGED TO “RID ISRAEL OF THOSE SEEKING TO SELL IT FOR A MESS OF POTTAGE” WAS REVEALED TODAY WITH THE ARREST OF THREE YOUNG JEWS FOR THE ATTEMPTED THEFT OF £5,400 (ABOUT $22,000), THE HAVAS NEWS AGENCY REPORTED.

IT WAS BELIEVED THE SECRET SOCIETY WAS IMPLICATED IN THE MURDER OF THE JEWISH POET, ZVI FRANKEL, WHO WROTE UNDER THE NAME OF BEN AMRAM. THE LATTER’S BODY, BOUND AND WEIGHTED WITH A HEAVY STONE, WAS RECENTLY FOUND IN THE YARKON RIVER NEAR TEL AVIV.

THE PRISONERS, WHO ALLEGEDLY ATTACKED A CASHIER, APPARENTLY WERE MEMBERS OF AN ORGANIZATION WHOSE ACTIVITIES TO DATE HAD CENTERED AROUND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A “WAR CHEST.” FUNDS FOR THIS WERE GATHERED EITHER BY FORCE OR THROUGH INTIMIDATING LETTERS SENT TO PROMINENT JEWS, IT WAS SAID.

THE THREATENING LETTERS REPORTEDLY WERE SENT TO JEWISH LEADERS KNOWN FOR THEIR EFFORTS TO REACH AN AMICABLE SETTLEMENT OF ARAB-JEWISH DIFFERENCES, INCLUDING VISCOUNT SAMUEL AND DR. JUDAH MAGNES, PRESIDENT OF THE HEBREW UNIVERSITY.

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