The Poles and former tsarist officials, in their newspapers, spread the report that the Jews had plotted a St. Bartholomew's night against the Christians, and had marked as many as 150 victims. They asserted that a list of the fated ones existed, and that the list was written by the hand of a petty advocate Herzbein. The latter was arrested. As often happens in such cases, those who had invented this calumny ended by believing themselves in their own invention. The Christians became excited, and applied to Kozyr-Zyrka. He confirmed the existence of the list, but showed it to no one. The excitement increased. Some of the Christians began to leave the town.
In reference to Herzbein it must be noted that he took no part in politics at all. He moved entirely among Christians, where he had many friends; he scarcely had any dealings with Jewish society. His wife applied to Christian friends to inter-
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cede for her husband, whom they knew well, as a man not connected with politics or with Jews. But they refused.
The probable history of the above-mentioned "list" is something like this. Upon the fall of the Hetman's power the mayor, Moshinsky, summoned an assembly of many Christians, mostly land-owners and officials, and proposed to organize for selfdefense in case of the arrival of the Petlurists. A list was drawn up in which were entered about 100 names, exclusively Christians. Since Herzbein was noted for his good handwriting — but also, perhaps, for other reasons — Moshinsky asked him to copy this list, which he did. It is extremely likely that someone, with provocatory intent, handed over this list to the commandant, as a list of Christians marked for slaughter.
Herzbein's wife applied to the mayor, asking him to summon the council to unveil the slander and re-establish her husband's good name. Moshinsky gave his promise, but when she came to see him again, she was told that he had left town. She then applied to his substitute, who likewise promised, but did nothing.
Only the president of the council, the notary Olshansky, sympathized with her. He sent around a summons to a session of the council. But only Jews appeared for that session; the Christians absented themselves; there was no quorum, and the session could not be held. Since the reports of the impending "St Bartholomew's eve" continued to excite the Christians, some of them applied to Kozyr-Zyrka to investigate and find out how serious the rumors were. There also appeared before him the notary Olshansky and an official who knew Herzbein well. They declared that they were firmly convinced that Herzbein could not be the author of such a list. Kozyr-Zyrka answered that he himself attributed no serious significance to the list and to the rumors that were circulating, and that to quiet the Christian population he would issue an announcement to this effect. As for Herzbein, he promised to free him at once. He confirmed his promise to free Herzbein to the latter's wife. He did actually issue an announcement to the effect that the rumors about a St. Bartholomew's eve planned by the Jews appeared to be a "provocation." This announcement, largely dealing with the establishment of the home guard, about which more will be said below, is attached hereunto. As for Herzbein, in spite of all his promises, he did not release him, and he was finally shot. (Testimony of Taube Herzbein, p. 29; of Yudin, p. 28.)
The regime of Kozyr-Zyrka lasted up to the 16th of Jan-
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uary. The Cossacks continued to plunder Jewish houses, and occasional murders took place.
The Civil Commissar and the Home Guard
Rumors of Kozyr-Zyrka's doings reached Zhitomir and the commissar of civil (internal) affairs was sent from there. This commissar proved a decent man and the Jews reposed complete confidence in him. But, as he himself said, he was powerless to give them any real help, since Kozyr-Zyrka even held up his telegraphic reports to Zhitomir. The one thing in which he succeeded was the organization of home guards, about which later the Ataman issued a proclamation (see abovementioned proclamation.) But these home guards, consisting mainly of Jews, did not constitute a real power. The members of the guard were beaten, and one even killed, by the Cossacks. (Testimony of Waderman and others, p. 13.)
Mobilization of Jews for Dirty Work