Ah yes, Joe, the Beilis Affair. Lots of fun. At the time, however, anti-Semitism was official Russian policy. The accusation was widely believed and spread with fervor by the "Black Hundreds" nationnalists. There was a fine fictionalized but realistic book (Malamud) and movie on it in the late 60's, "The Fixer." In that case there there was a World outrage and outcry and I'm sure that had much to do with Beilis' acquittal.

Here's a favorite from the "happy?" file:

September 23, 1928, Massena, New York: Barbara Griffith disappears; this results in the 1st inquiry by a US law official concerning the Blood Libel. Local hate-rumor ran rampant, hundreds of residents gathered at the police station when the mayor ordered police chief to interrogate the rabbi on whether or not Jews use Christian blood on their holidays. By Oct 5 there'd been a national outcry, press quotes from Jewish leaders, Governer Al Smith ordered hearing, Mayor Hawes appologized in NY Times, disciplinary action against the accuser, Trooper HM McCann and a call for leniency for him by R' Stephen Wise. The same month Jews in Hungary, Yugoslavia & Poland suffered severe pogroms & Blood Libel-justified persecution.