Kozyr-Zyrka also undertook to settle civil disputes. To give an idea of the sort of judge he was it is enough to cite the following case. A certain Jewess was in possession of some land by inheritance. The original owner had acquired the land from a peasant by purchase. A peasant, descendant of the seller, taking advantage of the agrarian disorder, had already brought suit for the land under the first Rada, and his suit had been denied. When Kozyr-Zyrka appeared, and the peasant felt sure that Jews had no rights, he applied to him with a suit for this same land. Kozyr-Zyrka ordered the peasant to bring to him the husband of the respondent. But the latter did not believe
OVRUCH:
that Kozyr-Zyrka had really summoned him, and did not go. Then the Ataman sent for him. When the Jew arrived, he asked him why he had not come before. He replied that he had no reason to believe that the peasant was really conveying to him the command of the Ataman. Kozyr-Zyrka ordered the Jew stripped and twenty-five lashes administered to him, which was done in his presence. Half an hour after this he proceeded to question the Jew about the land. The latter replied that, being fearfully beaten, he was not in condition to talk at all, and that as far as the land was concerned it belonged not to him but to his wife, who could give the necessary information. The Ataman summoned the wife. She showed him a copy of the court decision recognizing her right to the ownership of the land. Kozyr-Zyrka was not satisfied with this and demanded, for the settlement of the dispute, the presentation of witnesses by both sides. The witnesses were presented, and all confirmed the fact that the Jewess was the lawful owner of the land. Then Kozyr-Zyrka ordered the Jewess to hand over a written document to the effect that she voluntarily yielded the land to the peasant and renounced forever all claims to that land. The document was furnished. (Testimony of Kheierman, p. 35.)
Requisition of Musicians
Kozyr-Zyrka also was fond of entertainment. He requisitioned a Jewish orchestra, making it its duty to play at all Cossack parties. To the sounds of the music of this same orchestra Kozyr-Zyrka once scourged two bolshevik peasants. They were given a countless number of blows, and then shot.
Kozyr-Zyrka Amuses Himself
Kozyr-Zyrka also was fond of more "refined entertainments." One evening they brought him nine comparatively young Jews and one elderly and stout one. The Cossacks had driven them pellmell through the streets. When the Jews, panting, came at last into the Ataman's rooms, he was lying in his bed undressed, and his assistant was also lying undressed in another bed. Right there they compelled the Jews to dance, meanwhile chasing them, especially the stout one, with whips. After this they demanded that they sing Jewish songs. But it turned out that none of them knew the Jewish songs by heart. Then the Ataman's assistant began to recite the words of the songs in the
UKRAINE
"jargon" (Yiddish), and the Jews had to repeat them in singsong. For a long time they sang and danced, while Kozyr- Zyrka and his friend and assistant laughed merrily. Then the Jews were taken into another room and fools' caps were put on their heads. They were brought before the Ataman again, a candle was put in the hands of each, and in that aspect they had to sing songs. Kozyr-Zyrka and his friend were so convulsed with laughter that the latter's bed even broke down under him. The Jews were compelled to raise the bed and put it in order, while the officer remained lying upon it. One of the Jews could not endure these persecutions and began to weep. Kozyr-Zyrka observed to him that 120 rods was the penalty for crying. The Jew said: "In that case I will sing." "Well, sing then," was the answer, and the Jew began to sing again.
During an "entracte" the Ataman's friend said: "It's time to let them have their trousers." But Kozyr-Zyrka this time did not agree. Having amused himself as much as he liked, the Atamans let the Jews go, and gave them a chauffeur as escort so that the guards should not shoot them. The chauffeur conducted them, but demanded to be paid 15,000 rubles for saving their lives. Of course they had no such sum. But the chauffeur went home with each one and collected of their families as much as each could pay. (Testimony of Beioband, p. 23.)
It is hard to count all the characteristic incidents which took place in Ovruch while it was Kozyr-Zyrka's capital. But we must dwell on the following incident.
The Case of Herzbein