(Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
A second Mendel Bellis case was prevented by a prompt investigation made by the Polish police in Zaklikow disproving a ritual murder tale which spread among the villagers.
The peasants who assembled in the village on market day suddenly discovered that a three year old son of one of the villagers named Smolach was missing. Immediately, witnesses were found who swore that they saw a Jew named Mendel, the son of Beily, kidnap the boy. The tale spread among the mob causing wide excitement and instilling fear in the hearts of the Jewish population. A search of Mendel’s house was immediately undertaken by the police. Later, the child was found wandering near the railway station several miles from the village. No action was taken against the witnesses who swore falsely.
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.
