The chance homecoming of a farm hand to his native village, following a short absence, saved the seven Jewish families of the village, Pluk, district of Siedlce, from the dire consequences of a ritual murder agitation.
A public meeting had already been held in the village in the presence of the local sheriff and the aged Catholic priest, where peasants swore that they had witnessed the transaction whereby Abraham Dwosz, a Jewish farmer who had employed a Christian farmhand, sold the farmhand to the “city Jews for ritual purposes.” Twenty Zlotys was alleged to have been the price paid. The farmhand was previously employed by the local large landowner, Pugowski, a Pole, who dismissed him. The farmhand found employment with local Jewish farmers. He then suddenly disappeared from the village. When his absence was noted the Polish peasants started the rumor which culminated in the public meeting.
Soon after the meeting the farmhand returned to the village. The “witnesses” lost no time in withdrawing their “testimony” indulging in mutual recriminations. Abraham Dwosz, whose life was placed in jeopardy because of the rumor, has now instituted libel proceedings against his false accusers.
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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.
