TARNOW RECORDS: Legal Proceedings #2

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.

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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.