Detectives of the Twenty-fourth Police Precinct reported yesterday that they had not as yet identified the culprits who committed acts of vandalism and threatened to burn down the Temple Ansched Chesed, West End avenue and West 100th street, early last Saturday morning. The police said they would continue the search for the vandals. Commissioner O’Ryan has promised his fullest cooperation in the case.
In an office on the second floor of the building, the detectives found two desks and several typewriters smashed. There was a note on one desk which said:
“Listen, you damn Jews. If you don’t get more money in this place, I’ll burn it down. The Mechal.”
The vandalism, which took place between two and nine o’clock in the morning, was committed, the police believe, by “religious maniacs or just a gang of hoodlums.” The damage was estimated at several hundred dollars. The synagogue officials were mostly concerned over the ruthlessness of those who tore the prayer books and scattered the pages over the floor. Praying shawls were also badly damaged and several pews were mutilated through the use of knives and saws.
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.
