Tremendous disappointment was expressed today by the Jewish community and in democratic circles over the verdict of the court in the city of Satu Mare, completely vindicating all hooligans who participated in the anti-Jewish pogroms in Borscha and in burning the Jewish quarters of that city.
Among the vindicated are the two anti-Semitic leaders, Fathers Berindei and Dumitrescu, who were directly responsible for inciting the peasants against the Jews. Berindei and Dumitrescu were also charged with having assembled the peasants in the Pienna church in the neighborhood of Borscha and with refusing to release the agitators, “Prince” Danila and others, after they had barricaded themselves in the church, defying the authorities.
A fine of only five thousand lei was imposed upon Danila, which is considered farcical in view of the evidence against him. Seventeen Jews, who were among the accused on charges of having combatted the anti-Semites, were also freed.
Before the verdict was issued the prosecutor demanded the strict application of the laws of Hungary to the Jewish defendants and the milder laws of Roumania against the anti-Semites, which was not granted.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
