TARNOW RECORDS: Legal
Proceedings #2
The
following is information from: “Selected Records from the Polish State
Archives in Tarnow Branch, 1931-1980 (bulk 1931-1945)”--USHMM
Reel 1
p.
3-11
call
# PT 45 etc. Public prosecutor's office in Tarnów;
dossiers of investigations and interrogations of the regional prosecutors.
1931.
Legal
proceedings against Saloman Leufeit for incident in the
synogogue.
Disposition 23 May 1932: discontinuance of
investigation
‐ no proof of transgression.
Proceedings
against Juda Gruber for incident in the synogogue.
Disposition
26 April 1932: discontinuance of investigation, no proof
of
transgression.
Legal
proceedings against Michats Abraham Brand for procuring
illegal
documents (military). Disposition: discontinuance‐‐faked
evidence.
AKTS of the prosecuting attorney of
Tarnow:
Legal
proceedings against D. Zygmunt Silbiger (ironic the district
chief was
D. Zygmunt Döllinger, president of the Jewish commune)
for some
financial discrepancies in the Kahal. (Looks like the
members
of the town Kahal were getting money personally and had
others
get money for them for they did not want to be known as
not
having money and therefore unable to get credit). Disposition:
discontinuance,
accused cleared of any wrongdoings.
Legal
proceedings against Szimon Appel, janitor ‐ manager of Jewish
cemetery
who was supposed to appropriate funds and goods.
Disposition:
discontinuance ‐ no proof of guilt.
Investigation
of robbery at the Jewish Congregation offices ‐
destruction
of two fire‐proof safes and robbery of some thousand
zlotys
and jewelry. Criminals worked in gloves. Three real known
burglars
were arrested who had alibis for the time of the crime.
Another
Benjamin Mlyniec was arrested for this burglary. 29 Sept
1933.
Proceeding
in case of anti‐Jewish actions in _oniowa, district
Brzesko.
Accused: Józef Gurgula and friends. Disposition ‐
no
further
actions; not enough grounds to be guilty, according 251‐250
article
claimant: Helena Grunberger. The village representative
Gurgol
was supposed to invite the community to boycott the
Grunbergs
C: Case
of Chaim Münz from Jadowiniki accusing unknown
perpetrators
of destroying three windows during the night of 11
Nov.
1933. Investigations showed that the act was a part of anti‐
Jewish
activities by the members of the "National Party".
Disposition
‐ discontinuance; not enough grounds to arrest
perpetrators
(unknown) included "Nowiny Poranne" the morning
news
leaflet, anti‐Jewish Jadowniki.
Case of
David Bierenbaum (accused of abuse of voting rights within
the
Jewish Community Council). Accused of trying to influence the
outcome
of the election to the Jewish community representatives
in Tarnów
by pretending to be Bernard Bieber (who was a
registered
voter). Discontinuance: objection overruled.
Case of
Dawid Birnbaum and Henryk Heller. Case of the periodical
"Goniec",
8 July 1934 and the article: Did the District Attorney Put
his Hand
to the Kahal Elections. Election Abuse. Disposition:
discontinuance,
no proof.
Case of
Abraham Goldman, the head and managing officer of the Kahal of Tarnów. Chaim
Eisen wants Goldman suspended from office in the Kahal of Tarnów. Disposition:
no proof of mismanagement or injustices.
Case of
the Jewish Macabi organization in Brzesko. Broken windows, damage 5 zł.
Investigation showed that the deed was probably the work of the youth section
of the National Party in Brzesko as anti‐Jewish propaganda. Further
investigation pending.
Case of
Stanislaw Szczeklik (law student) alleged anti‐Semite seen
by Izaak
Einspruch with book and anti‐Jewish leaflets; accused
denied
the deed, investigating officer writes that it had to be
Szczeklik
who strew the leaflets on the road to Pilzno from
Szczegocie.
Discontinuance: no witnesses of actual dissemination
of
leaflets.
12 October
1935. Investigation of Fryderyk Jungerman in the case
of
Growski of harming Berta Appelbaum (17 Nov. 1933) and for
giving
false evidence in her case against Stanislaw Gilowski, sent to
the Court
of Appeals in Kraków.
Case of
Edward Appelbaum and Berta Appelbaum (widow of the
attorney
in Tarnów) against Fryderek Jungerman reviewed by the
court of
appeals in Kraków. Court refused to review the case of
Berta
Appelbaum against Stanislaw Gilowski who sold some
buildings
belonging to the Appelbaums, F. Jungerman, and others.
Case of
Pinkas Itzkowitz from Szczurow against Józef Zydron and Jan
Nesolowski
for insulting him at the police station in Jan. 1944 by
saying,
"What do you want here, you filthy Jew, go to Palestine to
look for
your rights." The article on which rests the accusation of
appropriate
execution of duty is not applicable. Threats of beatings
the
plaintiffs were not substantiated. Pinkas had to pay a fine of 5
zł.
for breaking of public peace and is appealing the fine. On 23 Jan.
1934 he
was attacked by a few students in Tarnow, he called for
help and
was taken to the station for deposition and there insulted by _ydron and
Wesolowski as reported above. Witnesses can't remember what was said; Court
wants Pinkas to testify under oath.
Case of
David Freidreich who on 25 Nov. 1935, falsely accused
Wilhelm
Waldemar Brand of unlawfully demanding the sum of 400
zł.
for entering the children of Freidreich into the Kahal register of
vital
statistics. Brand reported in 1934 Freidreich for not entering
his four
children in his registry, as demanded by law. The court
found for
the accused and freed him from fines. Freidreich
appealed
and won.
Case of
Józef Zawrzykraj who publically threatened to bodily harm
on 2 Apr.
1935 in Rzachowa Leopold Osterwiel and other Jews.
Witnesses
prevented bloodshed. He denies inciting others to
battery
and murder. Arrested; prosecution started; one year given.
Case of
Jan Nowak accused of anti‐Jewish activities. deposition:
home
arrest; reporting two weeks to police in Zakliczyn, later
released.
Plaintiff: Sitka Steinerowa in Weslow. Accused warned
about
further notes and threats to Steinerowa. Witness: Solomon
Korn who
brought the leaflets to the police.
Case of
Jan Adamik, and others arrested for breaking windows in
the house
of Feinwelneller, Józef Zicer and Chaim Heller on 13 July
1935 in
Uszwa. "The perpetrators were throwing stones for a joke,
do not
admit to breaking windows." Others arrested: Władysław
Mierzwa,
Michał Mendel, Bronistal Ciesca, Jan Kotarba. The
accused
later released. No known lives were threatened‐‐some of
the
accused were juveniles (released to parents); others were
denied
release from jail.
==================================================
Reel 2
p. 17-21
Case: Dr.
Henryk Blumenfeld accused of wanting 500 zł. for winning
the case
of the plaintiff, Stanis_aw Stwarz of charging too much for
services
not rendered. Date: 6 Aug 1936. Disposition: petition for
discontinuance
granted.
Case:
Anti‐Jewish excesses, 6 Dec 1936 ‐
14 Jan. 1937.
Plaintiff Wolf
Adler
wounded by a knife of an unknown perpetrator from a group
of
persons running and shouting "Beat the Jew" (according to
witness
Izrael Mendel Sauerstrom. No disposition in the folder).
Case:
Embezzlement of 200 zł. by Jakob Killig from the synagogue in
Tarnów.
Date: 24 Aug 1936 ‐ 31 Oct 1936. Plaintiff: Association
cantor
Markus Dawid Kauftoel. No disposition included in file.
Andrzej
Nowicki, Czchów accused by Natman Plachier and Gerszon
Schreiber
(on 29‐30 Jan. 1936) of distribution of anti‐Jewish
leaflets
"Don't
buy in Jewish stores," etc. released the possession of leaflets
not
punishable. A. Nowicki didn't know that the offering of hate
literature
was unlawful and punishable. The flier shows a Polish
farmer
with a wheel barrow loaded with Jews and taking them to a
road
leading to Palestine and words, "Poland for Poles." Another
"Wake‐up
Poles, Support the Weekly NDP, The people's defense."
Anti‐Jewish
excesses. Suspect: Gustaw Pawlik and companions
(Czub and
Malinowski) from Wesołow. Plaintifs: Józef Kokosza
(stones),
Moses Unger (cane) for bodily harm (6 Aug 1936);
arrested
14 Aug 1936. Confirmed, release from jail 31 Aug 1936.
Discontinued
30 Sept 1936: no proof of guilt(?); ordered to destroy
the stone
that hit Komosza. Petition to change arrest to fine of 75
zł.
75zł. returned after the order of discontinuance.
Case: The
Jewish religious community in Ropczyce accused of
beating
four women, Gizela, Sara, Marja, and Traua Reh with the
office of
the Kahal in Popczype by six kahal members (including the
rabbi).
The women were accusing the kahal members of abuse of
authority
and collecting. (1 Jan. 1936 it was decided to plant three
palm
trees for the deceased Marshall Pilsudski for 30 zł.
in
Palestine).
Date: 10 Jan. ‐ 30 Apr. 1936. Disposition:
discontinuance,
no proof of wrongdoing.
Railroad
accident or robbery and antisemitic attack. Reported by
the
Jewish hospital: plaintiff is Izak Ger, hurt by unknown
perpetrators
in the railroad station in Sedziszów on 7 Nov. 1936
(between
Tarnów and Rzeszów) and then thrown off the train and
deported
to the Jewish hospital in Lwów with contusions having
first
been seen by Dr. Goldberg in S_diszów. Assertion not
substantiated
by passengers. Deposition: discontinuance, 7 Nov.
1936 ‐ 23
Dec 1936.
Anti‐Jewish
excesses. Wounding of Jakob Ships and Pesah Ships by
Bełzowski
Kryczka Nowak. On 16 May 1937 people returning for a
celebration
arranged by the National Party accosted Jews. One
soldier
among them threatened them with his bayonet.
Discontinuance:
witness retracts information about perpetrators
who
denied any wrongdoing. 8 July ‐ 7 Aug 1937. A note for a
witness
Józef Radecki writes to Mr. Miller about the attack.
PT123 Anti‐Jewish excesses. Case: breaking windows
in the synagogue in
Ciŧkowice
on 14 Sept 1937. Victim: Mozes Rigelhaupt.
Perpetrators
unknown. Disposition: discontinuance, no
perpetrators
caught. 16 ‐ 17 Sep 1938.
Stopping
of train in the station of Słotwina Brzesko by Jews who
were
attacked by unknown perpetrators. Disposition:
discontinuance,
28 Aug 1937.
PT132 II
Ds 971/37 Plaintiffs: Srul Fenichlar and
Zak Lustgarten was refused entry to a place of worship. Discontinuance: house
of worship was in a private home not a public place of worship. 13 ‐ 18
Apr. 1938.
Antisemitic
propaganda in Tarnów, 26 ‐ 28 Oct 1938. Attack on a
teacher
by Jews. Supposedly a Jewish thief wanted to steal a school
bag for a
child. He was caught. Teacher wanted to deliver him to
the
police and was attacked by other Jews. She was rescued by a
policeman.
Poster: under a caricature of an old Jew, Martin
Luther's
antisemitic message underneath anti‐Jewish "poem" about
the
reason for not buying in Jewish stores. The police in Tarnów
negates
the receipt of any such postcard, and of any such an
incident
in the garden, and having saved any teacher. Disposition:
discontinuance,
teacher and bag fictitious; anti‐Jewish propaganda.
Case:
Moses Keimer, łabno, 4 ‐ 30 Apr. 1938. Allegedly struck
Meilech
Salpeter, Jewish chairman of the election committee to
Kahal and
pushed Jan Starzyk who was supervising the elections.
The
accused, a small thief, without steady domicile did not appear
for trial
on 3 Oct. Trial postponed. Discontinuance.
Rabbinate
in Dabrowo case concerning unwritten rabbinical laws.
22 Mar. ‐ 1
Apr. 1938. Nuchym Weidenfeld and others, suspected
by
plaintiff Gustawa Krischerowa of help to commit bigamy with
Perla
Sussman. The plaintiff appeals the discontinuance of
investigation
of the rabbis identification Sehman and Nuchym
Weidenfld.
Her complaint was not thoroughly investigated. The
accused
issued her husband Izek Krischer a document called
"Heter"
so he could marry in secret another woman without being
divorced
from the plaintiff. Her husband lost all processes in Nowy
Sacz
Rabbinate where she lived. They dared to act against state
and
rabbinical laws. The plaintiff is without any means of support
for
herself and her two minor children. Disposition:
discontinuance,
the issuance of "Heter" is no crime. Poor Lustawa
lost:
Torah does not forbid more than one wife.
Case:
breaking windows in Jewish homes by members of the
"National
Party" on 6 July 1938 in Biadoliny Radłowskie, district
Brzesko,
7 ‐ 24 July 1938. Plaintiff: Dawid Korngold, and Liba
Korngold,
Moses Bergman. In Apr. 1938 the same perpetrators
damaged
windows, roof, and shutters. Five perpetrators were
identified
by the victims. Disposition: to persecute for attempt to
harm life
no more.
Case
Abraham Goldman and other Dębica. Embezellment in the
Kahal. 12
May ‐ 3 July 1938. Plaintiff: M. Rozen, 14 Apr. 1938.
Disposition:
discontinuance the accusers unknown in D_bica ‐
falsification.
Antisemitic
excesses in Bobowa. 4 ‐ 5 Apr. 1939. Breaking windows
in the
house of rabbi Benzion Halberstam on 3 Mar. 1939 (40 zł.
damage)
as revenge for supporting the rival of the perpetrators
during
elections to the Community Council in Bobowa. Disposition:
discontinuance,
no perpetrators identified.
Cyrla
Scheinberg and Isak Kleingut accused Stanisław Wąsik,
postman
of picketing their store during duty hours in Cieźkowice.
Wąsik
is suing the captioned persons. In case of W_sik:
discontinuance.
In case of Cyrla: discontinuance. 17 ‐ 30 April
1939.
Case:
plaintif Isak Mayerhof and others broke windows during anti‐
Jewish
excesses on 3 May 1939. Discontinuance: perpetrators not
found. 11
‐ 31 May 1939.
PT154 Mordek Maichel Salpeter: embezellment, łabno
(100 zł.) accused by
Bóroniec,
Jan. Report that the lawyer Salpeter left _abno, direction
east in
September. 25 July ‐ 8 Aug 1939. Salpeter is not found.
PT154Ds 209/39 Bencjan Schiffman and Schiffman and Schlesinger, Tarnów
accused by the City of Gda_sk, Danzig in 1930 of reckless wrong, causing bankruptcy. 1930.
======================================================
Reel 3
p. 21-25
PT31
U/70/30 Case: Chicorymills "Kolb" and others via Danzig (Gdańsk)
municipal Court, 17 Feb. 1930. Benzion Schiffs Mendel Schlesinger, Tarnów, bankruptcy.
Testimony of witnesses Bister Rössler, Richter Abraham
Kronman, Hans Berghäwer, ABraham Grschebib. Owed in 1929 monies to different
German firms in Gdańsk. Bought commodities. Disposition:
discontinuence. Above mixed up with report on UNRRA shipments from Gdańsk
on 9 Nov. 1946 to Skawina bei Kraków vie Polish Railroad. Bags of coffee (1900
tons). Receipt acknowledged.
PT32 NDs
5002/9 Kahau in Bolesławie bei Dabrowa against Sil Silber (5
Dec 1929) took Torah home because being sick, could not go to the synagogue to
pray. Disposition: discontinuance, extenuating circumstances. 13 Jan.
1932 ‐ 14 Feb. 1932.
478/30 Jewish
sportsclub "Makrabeusz" in Tarnów against Henryk Multer,
who sold
the club's equipment without consulting the members.
Disposition:
discontinuence. 17 June 1928 ‐ 4 June 1930.
PT35 Kahau
in Dębica against Abraham Goldman. Falsification of voting
lists. 1
July ‐ 30 Nov. 1930. Disposition: discontinuance; no proof of
guilt.
Ids
973/31 Jan Bielatowicz and Co. Teodor Mester. Alojzy Kuta accused (6 July 1931) of intrusion of forcing Emilio
Colle to remove photograph of religion
class with professor Fenichl from the ice cream parlor window
and of starting fight with Jewish men: Eljasz Salpeter, Klein Wolf, Wm.
Groszów, Anschel Isler and Michal Dienterfass, and causing a
crowd of 500 persons around public building. (There is a
note
concerning the theft of a watch belonging to Dawid Kleinkändler.
He left the watch on the tennis court and found it on the
bench.) Discontinuance: M. Colle willingly took off the Zionist group
picture. 16 ‐ 26 June 1931.
Gölzel
Birbaum against Juda Gruber, representative of the
synagogue
"revolt" in the Synagogue in Bolesławie disturbing and
hampering
members of Jewish congregation in the reading of the
Torah. 22
Aug ‐ 2 Sept 1931. Discontinuance: accused was calling
the noise
makers to order.
Minister
of Finance, Tarnów. Business Swindle: defendant Samuel
Engelhardt
to the detriment of Amalia Tertilowa's promissory
notes. 2
June ‐ 28 Dec 1933. Deposition: six months in jail, three
years of
loss of public rights; half given amnesty, fined 60 zł.
Exception
from seizure of furniture belonging to the brother of
Samuel.
The whole process discontinued because the defendant
has no
means to pay the court fine. Furniture and silver objects
were
auctioned. 5 Jan. 1933.
Plaintiff:
the Polish Republic. Defendent: Józef Gadzia_a from
Szczucin
for resisting arrest and wounding the policeman Franciszek
Biernat
who was defending vendors in the marketplace from
antisemitic
excesses of Gadziała and companions. Gadziała hit
Rojza
Klein on the head, destroyed stands, etc. 13 ‐
18 Aug 1936.
Disposition:
reduced sentence of 12 months. The others were fired
earlier,
some not found at all.
PT208 W
1423/36 Plaintiff: Polish Republic defending the Jewish Religious Commune
in
Ropczycz. Defendant Birnbaum Gitta and eight others. On 2 Jan.
1936,
forced entrance, demolition of and destruction of the office
of the
Jewish commune as protest against execution of dues not
affordable
especially to the defendant. Deposition: six months in
jail,
four acquitted
Pt210
W2024-2028/36 Anti‐Jewish excesses in Skrzeszów. Defendent: Jan Kozioł and
five companions
17 July 1937 stole bricks from public works and
damaged
the house of Samuel and Józef Hirsch (windows, curtains)
and
attacked policemen arresting them. Deposition: six weeks in
jail. 6
Aug 1937.
PT226
W/216/89 Defendant: Bulaga Franciszek, from Dąbrówka Tuchowska, was
sentenced
by Polish Court to 3.50 zł fine and on 2 Jan. 1941 he is
freed
from the fine on order from the Tarnów district. Execution
becuase
he caused public disturbance by standing in front of a
Jewish
store committed immoral act of preventing people from
entering
the store of Hindla Eilbaum. Sentence: one day in jail or
52 zł fine.
Sentenced again to two days in jail for ridiculing buyers
and
agitating against Jewish merchants.
PT227
1983/38 Anti‐Jewish excesses in Wola Żelichowska on defendants Józef Boduch,
Wojciech, Dudek, Wiktoria Dudek. Pushing Szymon Issler
under a
willow tree and threatening to hang him. Refusing arrest
and
insulting policement for protecting Jews and not Poles.
W1162/39
Investigation started Dec 1935 of Chaim Braun and Samuel Braun, tailors who
sold the business in Tarnów and left without paying
their
debts. Wrote checks that bounced. Five weeks in jail. July
1939.
