Beilagen zum Thatbestand der Tisza-Eszlárer Criminal-Affaire nach dem dermaligen Stande der Untersuchung [“Supplement to the Facts of the Case of the Tisza-Eszlár Criminal Affair According to the Present State of the Investigation.”]

(ANTISEMITICA)

Pest

(1883)

German text

Hungary's Modern Blood Libel On April 1st 1882, fourteen-year old servant-girl Eszter Solymosi disappeared from the Hungarian village of Tiszaeszlar. As the girl's disappearance coincided with the approach of Passover, Hungarian anti-Semites spread the lie that Jews had used her blood in the Passover ritual - a modern rebirth of the medieval blood libel. Within no time, the local shochet (ritual slaughterer) Solomon Schwarcz and his supposed accomplices were charged with murder. The matter even reached the Hungarian Parliament, where the notoriously anti-Semitic deputy Istoczy cited from Rohling's "Der Talmudjude," in order to substantiate the claim of the blood libel. While an ensuing trial proceeded, anti-Semites throughout the country fanned the flames of hatred and Jews in several locales were attacked. Finally, in August 1883, the court found the accused "not guilty" as the false testimony was proved invalid following a brilliant display by the defense-lawyer, Károly Eötvös. See JE, Vol. XII, pp. 148-150; EJ, Vol. XV, cols.1155-6