Count Cherep-spiridovich, Russian Anti-semite Agitator, Found Dead in Room

Count Arthur Cherep-Spiridovich, one of the rabid anti-Semitic agitators of the Russian Czarist school, was found dead in his room at Barrett Manor, Arrochar, S. I., having inhaled gas from a gas radiator pipe. His suicide came on the eve of what he termed a “Slav Convention” which was to have taken place on Monday.

Count Spirodovich was 75 years old. He held the rank of Major General in the former Czarist army. He arrived in the United States in 1920, when he was detained at Ellis Island for a special inquiry by the Immigration Bureau before being admitted. There was some confusion as to his identity, for the visiting General was denounced in a published letter as the wrong Cherep-Spiridovich. The letter said there were two Cherep-Spiridoviches — one was an enthusiastic amateur of world politics, the other an adventurer who traded on the amateur’s name and tried to float large political schemes involving the collection of money.

The General, when asked about the two Cherep-Spiridoviches, said the adventurous one was in Paris and occasionally caused embarrassing confusion.

Since his arrival, Count Spiridovich was associated with Boris Brasol, who imported the “Protocols of the Elders of Zion” into the United States.

In the wake of the republication of the “Protocols” in the United States and the efforts made by certain elements to spread the legend of the “Protocols” and a Jewish world conspiracy, Spiridovich wrote and circulated a book entitled “The Secret World Government.” In this book and in other leaflets Spiridovich advocated a universal Gentiles’ League whose purpose should be to unite the 200,000,000 Slaves, save Russia and create a universal anti-satan federation to protect the Aryan race from Jews and Jewish influence.

Count Cherep-Spiridovich, citing Henry Ford as his authority, stated that the Jews are responsible for all the evils of the world and for the collapse of Russia. He stated that he had written a book, “The Unknown in History, “which was ready for publication February 8, 1922, but on that date armed men, posing as officers of the United States Government, had seized the manuscript. However, he had a copy and he planned to publish the book. For the purpose of securing the publication of this book which was, the Count stated, a much more ‘important document’ than the infamous protocols of the elders of Zion, he engaged in organizing among the Russians of the United States the Universal Gentiles’ League. The terms of membership to this league, as announced by the Count, were the following: Every Russian who subscribed $10.00 was to become a soldier in the Gentiles’ League. Those who subscriged $10.00 (their own or funds collected) would be appointed lieutenant and every one subscribing $1,000 (his own or collected) would receive the distinguished title of Voyevoda or captain in the league.

From a room in Harlem last June the Count sent out thousands of circulars asking support for his organization. Membership was $1.00 a year. He announced that Queen Marie of Roumania would attend the conference scheduled for Monday.