THE JEWS IN RUSSIA.

Thames Star, Volume XVII, Issue 5173, 15 August 1885, Page 2

THE JEWS IN RUSSIA.

The Odessa correspondent of the Times writes ,00 May 14:—A. trial has just taken place at Rovno, Government of Volhynia, before a military tribunal, of 38 persons for taking part in anti-Jewish rioting at the small town of Borabrovitz in the Rovno district, tn Sunday the 22nd July, last year. The disturbance began, as usual, between a Russian peasant and a Jew trader respecting an insignificant purchase—in this instance a few cherries. Most of tbe aggressors, principally strangers in the district, were laborers employed on the railway then in coarse of construction from Vilno to Rovho, and on the above-named day entered Dombrovitz with the avowed purpose of baiting the Jews. They first attacked the spirit shop of one Perelstein, to tbe cry of " Hurrah," and destroyed all his furniture, wares, doors, and windows. Having served a second shop the same way, they jshowed an inclination to listen to the advice of the Police Commissary of the district to go home. That functionary was uoable to do more than attempt persuasion because he had with him only two i policemen—the whole force of the town. .Notwithstanding a Russian bawled out " Let us go.on destroying," the majority of the rioters were about to leave, when all at once a mob of Jews, armed with staves and choppers, appeared upon the scene, and in turn attacked the Christians. Thereupon ensued a general and desperate melee, during which 21 residences of Jews and 15 of their shops were totally gutted, and two persona—Stephen Belski, a rioter, and Mariyasa Spin, a Jewess, 60 years of age—were so badly treated that they died a few days afterwards of their wounds. The value of property destroyed was 11,349 roubles (over £1100). Most of th» accused were found guilty. The ringleaders were sentenced to hard labor, and the other accused found guilty to various terms of imprisonment. It may be men* tioned that two Russian priests used moit praiseworthy efforts to get the rioters to desist from their barbarous work, bnt without avail.