(Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
Another step in the development of the case of Sholom Schwartzbard, who killed Semion Petlura, was taken by the investigating authorities when a number of witnesses called by the accusation were heard. The witnesses included M. Bezpalko, Labor Minister in Petlura’s cabinet, M. Schulgin, foreign minister in the same cabinet, and Messrs. Dvolchenko and Tchumitzky, personal friends of Petlura, and a Frenchman, M. Boudri. All of them defended Petlura.
Henry Sliosberg, well known Russian Jewish lawyer, was also called. He declared that Petlura did not personally assist in the pogroms, but he was responsible for not taking preventative measures.
At the hearing Schwartzbard insisted on Petlura’s culpability. When told that Petlura was a friend of France, he declared that it was Petlura who called the Germans to the Ukraine during the war.
Petlura’s brother has associated himself with the group which is conducting the case against Schwartzbard.
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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.
