A Child of Christian Blood: Murder and Conspiracy in Tsarist Russia: The Beilis Blood Libel (56 page)

1.
     culture of professionalism: Zuckerman,
The Tsarist Secret Police,
pp. 58–80.

2.
     The officer escorting: Beilis, “Mayn Lebn in Turme,”
Haynt,
November 26, 1913, p. 4; Beilis,
My Sufferings,
pp. 49–50.

3.
     In the waiting area:
Beilis,
My Sufferings,
p. 50.

4.
     Moments after he entered: Beilis,
My Sufferings,
p. 51; Beilis, “Mayn Lebn in Turme,”
Haynt,
November 26, 1913, p. 4.

5.
     piece of a mouse: Beilis,
My Sufferings,
p. 52.

6.
     impromptu courthouse: Beilis, “Mayn Lebn in Turme,”
Haynt,
November 28, 1913, p. 4.

7.
     
Kiev Opinion
: In Russian,
Kievskaia Mysl’,
literally
Kiev Thought
.

8.
     Fenenko was astonished: Fenenko’s account of this episode in GAKO-DpdB (reel 2) f. 2, op. 229, d. 264, l. 196–98.

9.
     Krasovsky arrived: GAKO-DpdB (reel 2) f. 2, op. 229, d. 264, l. 200 ob.–201 ob.

10.
   two or three days: GAKO-DpdB (reel 2) f. 2, op. 229, d. 264, l. 198 ob.

11.
   Chaplinsky threatened:
Materialy Chrezvychainoi,
pp. 53, 81–82.

12.
   Mishchuk and his codefendants: “Delo Mishchuka v senate,”
Rech’,
February 8, 1913; Tager,
Tsarskaia,
p. 195.

13.
   “If you don’t give me”: STEN I, p. 547.

14.
   “rubbed out”: STEN I, p. 564.

15.
   Evgeny Mifle: GAKO-DpdB (reel 4) f. 183, op. 5, d. 5, l. 263 ob.

16.
   took with great seriousness: Verner,
The Crisis,
p. 68; Figes,
A People’s Tragedy,
p. 22.

17.
   Peter Badmaev: “Protokol doprosa G.N. Badmaeva” (Deposition of G. N. Badmaev) from the official report on Stolypin’s assassination,
http://www.doc20vek.ru/node/1731
; Fuhrmann,
Rasputin,
p. 177; Radzinsky,
Rasputin,
p. 146.

18.
   “semi-literate”: Radzinsky,
Rasputin,
p. 132; Fuhrmann,
Rasputin,
p. 62.

19.
   “When in trouble”: Wortman,
Scenarios,
vol. 2, p. 410.

20.
   Nicholas had entrusted: Radzinsky,
Rasputin,
p. 143.

21.
   “two infusions”: Radzinsky,
Rasputin,
p. 147.

22.
   lack of previous experience: Stepanov,
Zagadki,
p. 5.

23.
   security preparations: Ascher,
Stolypin,
p. 369.

24.
   “most humble”: Tager,
Tsarskaia,
p. 122.

25.
   bomb: Ascher,
Stolypin,
p. 369;
Rech’,
August 30, 1911;
Moskovskie Vedomosti,
August 30, 1911.

26.
   crossed himself: Ioffe, “Delo Beilisa,” p. 333, and personal communication; Beilis conveys Grigorovich-Barsky’s account in
My Sufferings,
p. 69.

27.
   “We must not forget”: Lincoln,
In War’s Dark Shadow,
p. 30; Massie,
Nicholas and Alexandra,
p. 15.

28.
   “I’m a Unionist”: Stepanov,
Chernaia
(2005), p. 203.

29.
   Rogger: Rogger,
Jewish Policies,
pp. 109–10.

30.
   “The Jews throw bombs”: Ascher,
Stolypin,
p. 170.

31.
   “fighting on two fronts”: Figes,
A People’s Tragedy,
p. 224.

32.
   contentious meetings: Ascher,
Stolypin,
p. 168.

33.
   “an inner voice”: Rogger,
Jewish Policies,
p. 93; Steinberg, “An Intellectual Portrait,” p. 16.

34.
   “Tsar’s mystical attitude”:
Ascher,
Stolypin,
p. 169.

35.
   “stamped out”: Steinberg, “An Intellectual Portrait,” pp. 16–17.

36.
   political agenda: Figes,
A People’s Tragedy,
p. 245; Rogger,
Jewish Policies,
pp. 41–44.

37.
   Shcheglovitov: Zviagintsev,
Rokovaia femida,
pp. 201–11; Gruzenberg,
Yesterday,
pp. 78–82.

38.
   “taking over Siberia”: Tager,
Tsarskaia,
p. 130.

39.
   security: Ascher,
Stolypin,
p. 369; Stepanov,
Zagadki,
p. 5.

40.
   “Death is following”: Stepanov,
Zagadki,
p. 157. The story has been told many times, as in Massie,
Nicholas and Alexandra,
p. 238. The story originated with a reliable source, the Duma member and conservative journalist Vasily Shulgin, who heard it directly from the official given the task of being Rasputin’s minder while in Kiev.

41.
   “I want to be buried”: About the will, with a slightly different translation, see Figes,
A People’s Tragedy,
p. 223. The Russian text (“Ia khochu byt’ pogrebennym …”) appears in many sources.

42.
   One bullet: Ascher,
Stolypin,
p. 372.

43.
   “At first”: Stepanov,
Zagadki,
p. 10; Ascher,
Stolypin,
p. 369.

44.
   “crossed himself”: Ascher,
Stolypin,
p. 373.

45.
   “Kill him!”: Stepanov,
Zagadki,
pp. 10–11.

46.
   fragments of the Order: Stepanov,
Zagadki,
p. 13.

47.
   Bogrov: Ascher,
Stolypin,
pp. 376–78.

48.
   thugs: Ascher,
Stolypin,
p. 375.

49.
   Bogrov’s motives: Stepanov,
Zagadki,
pp. 61–133; Ascher,
Stolypin,
pp. 384–86; for an argument that Bogrov’s motives stemmed primarily from his Jewishness, see Khiterer, “Social and Economic,” pp. 404–8.

50.
   morbidly curious readers: Morrissey,
Suicide and the Body Politic,
p. 314.

51.
   “Let my drop”: Morrissey,
Suicide and the Body Politic,
p. 325.

52.
   “depressed, bored”: Stepanov,
Zagadki,
p. 195.

53.
   “most decisive measures”: Ascher,
Stolypin,
p. 375.

54.
   Jewish conspiracy: Stepanov,
Chernaia
(2005), pp. 285–86.

1.
     good-fitting boots: Petrovsky-Shtern,
Jews in the Russian Army,
p. 147.

2.
     an “analysis”: Beilis, “Mayn Lebn in Turme,”
Haynt,
November 28, 1913, p. 4; Beilis,
My Sufferings,
pp. 56–57.

3.
     Aaron: Details of Aaron Beilis’s life and personality from personal communication with his granddaughter, Hilda Edelist.

4.
     Margolin: Khiterer, “Arnold Davidovich Margolin,” pp. 146–50.

5.
     “who had always worked”: “A Conversation with Mendl Beilis’s Brother” (in Yiddish),
Haynt,
February 9, 1912, p. 3.

6.
     Margolin did his best: Margolin,
Jews of Eastern Europe,
pp. 164–66.

7.
     “indecisive and timid”:
Margolin,
Jews of Eastern Europe,
p. 173.

8.
     “something foolish”: Gruzenberg,
Yesterday,
p. 105.

9.
     “The first word”: Gruzenberg,
Yesterday,
p. 12.

10.
   spiritually stranded: Donald Rawson, introduction to Gruzenberg,
Yesterday,
p. xv.

11.
   The poor woman was led off: Gruzenberg,
Yesterday,
p. 18.

12.
   funeral: Gruzenberg,
Yesterday,
pp. 19–20.

13.
   struggled with his religious and national identity: Khiterer, “Arnold Davidovich Margolin,” pp. 147–48.

14.
   “iron whip”: Gruzenberg,
Yesterday,
p. 3.

15.
   “an offensive”: Stepanov,
Chernaia
(2005), p. 373.

16.
   “bad friend”: STEN I, p. 646.

17.
   “dubious person”: Tager,
Tsarskaia,
p. 134.

18.
   “I clearly heard”: GAKO f. 864, op. 10, d. 5, l. 37–38; STEN II, p. 27.

19.
   Fenenko knew:
Materialy Chrezvychainoi,
pp. 58–59.

20.
   Ivan Kozachenko: Beilis,
My Sufferings,
pp. 58–61; GAKO f. 864, op. 10, d. 5, l. 7–8, 16; GAKO f. 864, op. 10, d. 5—
Protokoly
(statements), separately numbered section, pp. 39–52.

21.
   Lieutenant Colonel Pavel Ivanov:
Materialy Chrezvychainoi,
p. 272.

22.
   “Do not worry”: GAKO f. 864, op. 10, d. 5—
Protokoly,
p. 51.

23.
   “My dear wife”: GAKO f. 864, op. 10, d. 5—
Protokoly,
pp. 39–40.

24.
   legal bill: GAKO f. 864, op. 10, d. 5—
Protokoly,
p. 48.

25.
   “stir up a riot”: STEN I, p. 370.

26.
   Kozachenko’s story: His statement is in GAKO f. 864, op. 10, d. 5—
Protokoly,
pp. 40–43; mentioned in indictment, STEN I, p. 35.

27.
   “I screamed at Kozachenko”:
Materialy Chrezvychainoi,
p. 195.

28.
   Chaplinsky had no intention: Tager,
Tsarskaia,
pp. 136, 141–42.

29.
   “A cold shiver”: Beilis, “Mayn Lebn in Turme,”
Haynt,
December 2, 1913, p. 4.

30.
   Brazul knew Krasovsky: STEN I, p. 475.

31.
   at Zhenya’s funeral: GAKO-DpdB (reel 3) f. 183, op. 5, d. 4, l. 402.

32.
   midwife and “healer”: Pidzharenko,
Ne ritual’noe,
p. 116.

33.
   “I’m a woman”: STEN I, pp. 478–79.

34.
   “talking in her sleep”: STEN II, p. 100.

35.
   “got it good”: STEN I, p. 479.

36.
   “divining”: STEN I, p. 500.

37.
   “quixotic”: STEN I, p. 521.

38.
   “ ‘Cheberyak knows everything’ ”: Margolin,
The Jews of Eastern Europe,
p. 168.

39.
   “small, thin restless”: Margolin,
The Jews of Eastern Europe,
p. 169.

40.
   Kharkov: STEN I, pp. 479–80.

41.
   Margolin’s father: GAKO f. 864, o. 10, d. 5—
Protokoly,
p. 92.

42.
   Grand Hotel: GAKO-DpdB (reel 2) f. 2, op. 229, d. 264, l. 181.

43.
   The meeting: Margolin tells the story in his statement to investigators,
GAKO-DpdB (reel 2) f. 2, op. 229, d. 264, l. 28 ob.–31, and in Margolin,
The
Jews of Eastern Europe,
pp. 174–77.

44.
   “noble avenger”: GAKO-DpdB (reel 2) f. 2, op. 229, d. 264, l. 31.

45.
   “being hunted”: STEN I, p. 527.

46.
   “untarnished case”: Gruzenberg,
Yesterday,
p. 111.

47.
   “Thank God”: STEN II, p. 119.

48.
   poorly paid: GAKO f. 864, op. 10, d. 9. l. 118 ob.

49.
   “state of affairs”: GAKO f. 864, op. 10, d. 5—
Protokoly,
p. 100.

50.
   “Zhenya came running”: GAKO f. 864, op. 10, d. 5—
Protokoly,
pp. 100–101.

51.
   “most profuse bleeding”: GAKO f. 864, op. 10, d. 5—
Protokoly,
pp. 110, 113.

52.
   suddenly and summarily dismissed: STEN I, p. 547.

1.
     holes in the soles: Beilis,
My
Sufferings,
p. 62.

2.
     “completely unreligious”: GAKO f. 864, op. 10, d. 5—
Protokoly,
pp. 130–31.

3.
     “frozen feet”: Beilis, “Mayn Lebn in Turme,”
Haynt,
December 2, 1913, p. 4.

4.
     the infirmary: Beilis,
My
Sufferings,
pp. 64–65.

5.
     important person: Beilis, “Mayn Lebn in Turme,”
Haynt,
December 2, 1913, p. 4.

6.
     Margolin, received word: Margolin,
The Jews of Eastern Europe,
p. 243.

7.
     Margolin encouraged Brazul: Margolin,
The Jews of Eastern Europe,
pp. 178–79.

8.
     “gang of thieves”: Stepanov,
Chernaia
(1992), p. 288; Tager,
Tsarskaia,
pp. 150–51.

9.
     escorting him: GAKO f. 864, op. 10, d. 11, l. 3b., l. 103–104b.

10.
   indictment: GAKO-DpdB (reel 3) f. 183, op. 5, d. 4, l. 168. The entire text of the first indictment can be found in l. 165–69.

11.
   visitors’ chamber: Beilis, “Mayn Lebn in Turme,”
Haynt,
December 2, 1913, p. 4; “Beilis’s Own Story,”
Literary Digest,
December 6, 1913, pp. 1136–37.

12.
   typhoid fever: Beilis,
My Sufferings,
p. 79.

13.
   “slow blood loss”: GAKO-DpdB (reel 3) f. 183, op. 5, d. 4, l. 166–67.

14.
   “read between the lines”: Margolin,
The Jews of Eastern Europe,
p. 182.

15.
   requiem:
Rech’,
March 12, 1912.

16.
   stalked into the ball:
Rech’,
March 14, 1912;
Rech’,
March 15, 1912.

17.
   “firm basis”: Tager,
Tsarskaia,
p. 151; Tager, “Tsarskoe pravitel’stvo,” p. 165.

18.
   “Personal. Top Secret”: Tager,
Tsarskaia,
p. 117; Tager, “Tsarskoe pravitel’stvo,” p. 167.

19.
   “inadequacy of the evidence”:
Tager,
Tsarskaia,
p. 160; Tager, “Tsarskoe pravitel’stvo,” p. 167.

20.
   Opanasenko: Tager,
Tsarskaia,
pp. 171–72; GAKO-DpdB (reel 3) f. 183, op. 5, d. 4, l. 386.

21.
   “felt like a bullet”: Beilis, “Mayn Lebn in Turme,”
Haynt,
December 4, 1913, p. 3.

22.
   first mention:
Jewish Chronicle,
May 5, 1911;
New York Times,
May 15, 1911.

23.
   most hospitable soil: Szajkowski, “The Impact of the Beilis Case,” pp. 198, 203.

24.
   “No one has ever accused”: Samuel,
Blood Accusation,
p. 238.

25.
   “vendetta of the Jews”: Samuel,
Blood Accusation,
p. 239.

26.
   “ministers of foreign affairs”: Szajkowski, “Paul Nathan,” p. 179.

27.
   solicited no Jews: Szajkowski, “The Impact of the Beilis Case,” pp. 199–200.

28.
   open letters: Szajkowski, “The Impact of the Beilis Case,” p. 209; Samuel,
Blood Accusation,
p. 232;
Rech’,
March 12, 1912.

29.
   fine-tuned:
Rech’,
March 17, 1912.

30.
   
Times
letter:
Times
of London, May 4, 1912.

31.
   Baron Heyking:
Times
of London, May 10, 1912.

32.
   “end in the exoneration”: Tager,
Tsarskaia,
p. 161; Tager, “Tsarskoe pravitel’stvo,” p. 170.

33.
   Shcheglovitov immediately: Tager,
Tsarskaia,
pp. 162–63.

34.
   character straight out of Dostoyevsky: Samuel,
Blood Accusation,
p. 148.

35.
   “spark of truth”: STEN I, p. 677.

36.
   “seamy side”: Geifman,
Thou Shalt,
p. 154.

37.
   pistol-packing: Montefiore,
Young Stalin,
p. 10.

38.
   bandit gangs: Geifman,
Thou Shalt,
pp. 126, 135, 25.

39.
   Karaev: STEN II, p. 666.

40.
   lenient sentences: Geifman,
Thou Shalt,
pp. 223–26.

41.
   Karaev agreed: STEN I, p. 681.

42.
   Makhalin dropped by: STEN I, p. 669.

43.
   Ferdydudel: GAKO-DpdB (reel 2) f. 2, op. 229, d. 264, l. 345.

44.
   restaurant Versailles: GAKO-DpdB (reel 2) f. 2, op. 229, d. 264, l. 347.

45.
   thrown up: STEN I, p. 214.

46.
   “ministerial brain”: STEN II, p. 7.

47.
   outdoor latrine: STEN II, p. 7.

48.
   “Brazul’s Declaration”: GAKO-DpdB (reel 3) f. 183, op. 5, d. 4, l. 410–12, 409–409 ob.

49.
   “outcry in the Yid press”: Tager,
Tsarskaia,
p. 187.

50.
   “unfavorably disposed”: Tager,
Tsarskaia,
p. 186.

51.
   “completely sufficient material”: Tager,
Tsarskaia,
p. 159.

52.
   “chase my well-wishers”: Tager, “Tsarskoe Pravitel’stvo,” p. 173.

53.
   under the code name:
Padenie,
vol. 3, p. 370.

54.
   one hundred rubles: Stepanov,
Chernaia
(1992), p. 300.

55.
   “agent provocateur”: Stepanov,
Chernaia
(2005), p. 381.

56.
   She told Karbovsky: GAKO-DpdB (reel 3) f. 183, op. 5, d. 4, l. 402.

57.
   Tager, who reviewed: Tager,
Tsarskaia,
p. 190.

58.
   “a Jew, very plump”: GAKO-DpdB (reel 2) f. 2, op. 229, d. 264, l. 264.

59.
   Margolin: His version of Kharkov meeting is in GAKO-DpdB (reel 2) f. 2, op. 229, l. 26–33 ob. and in STEN I, pp. 522–29.

60.
   filed libel suits:
Rech’,
July 8, 1912.

61.
   neutralizing Nikolai Krasovsky: Kovbasa, 16 kopeks—
Rech’,
August 8, 1912; Lottery ticket—
Rech’,
May 24, 1912, and June 4, 1913. More on charges in
Rech’:
September 1, 1912; September 2, 1912; October 10, 1912; November 14, 1912; December 21, 1912.

62.
   Sherlock Holmes: Melamed, “Krasovskii,” p. 167; Samuel,
Blood Accusation,
p. 46.

63.
   Makhalin had the good sense: Tager,
Tsarskaia,
pp. 248, 238.

64.
   “Yushchinsky’s murderer!”:
Rech’,
July 13, 1912.

65.
   “caught Zhenya and Andrusha”: Ludmila Cheberyak’s deposition of August 13, 1912, in GAKO-DpdB (reel 2) f. 2, op. 229, l. 13–16 ob.