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Spread Libel of Ritual Death in Polish City

January 7, 1935
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Alarmed by widespread anti-Semitic agitation among the White Russian population, Polish authorities have taken energetic measures to guard against an outbreak.

Anti-Semites here have utilized the death of a Christian boy from the village of Kobilniki to spread stories that he had been killed by Jews for “ritual purposes.” The story has aroused the local peasantry, despite the fact an autopsy performed by state physicians at the order of the courts determined that the lad had died of starvation.

Anonymous peasants previously had sent a letter to Chief Rabbi Rubenstein of Wilno, threatening him with “the fate of Mendel Beilis” if he “fails to return the Christian boy who vanished recently.” A few days later the body of the boy was discovered by police.

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