Second Examination of Sholom Schwartzbard Takes Place in Paris

(Jewish Telegraphic Agency)

Two witnesses were questioned today during the second examination of Sholom Schwartzbard, which took place before Magistrate Peyre.

The first witness, an English teacher, Reginald Smith, aged 66, who was the first to hold Schwartzbard after Petlura was shot, described the scene of the assassination. He declared that when arrested, Schwartzbard exclaimed, pointing at Petlura: “This is the real assassin!” Smith said that he was convinced by the expression and behavior of Schwartzbard at the scene of the assassination, that it was a political crime.

Mr. Smith further stated that he himself sympathizes with Schwartzbard, adding that he regretted that he himself had not killed Kaiser Wilhelm and that he would have killed Edith Cavell’s murderer if he had found him.

The second witness, a Ukrainian named Illarion Kossenko, who is editor of Petlura’s paper “Trezub” (Trident), published in Paris, said he was convinced Schwartzbard is an agent of the Bolsheviks. The witness contended that Petlura was not guilty of the pogroms in the Ukraine. Admitting that the pogroms took place under Petlura’s regime, Kossenko said they were perpetrated by the armies of the Bolsheviks and Denikin.

In the course of Kossenko’s examination he was confronted with Schwartzbard. In reply to questions, Schwartzbard declared that he never belonged to any political party, and asserted that Petlura’s paper “Trezub” published pogrom articles. In attempting to deny Schawartzbard’s assertions, Kossenko charged that Schwartzbard could not read Ukrainian. “I lived in Ukrainia up to the age of 19, and understand Ukrainian very well,” Schwartzbard answered.

A striking scene took place when Schwartzbard, as he was leaving the room, exclaimed in Yiddish to the Jewish reporters: “Jewish blood cannot be shed without punishment!”

After the examination, Schwartzbard was allowed to see his wife.