'General information on Persia for any future edition, 1895' [‎65v] (121/211)

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of partiality and animus. Still it would seem that accusations so numerous and
various and circumstantial could hardly have been advanced on no foundation at all,
even if I am unable to confirm them in any one particular. His Excellency the Vali
yesterday stated that he had written to the Norduz authorities on the subject, but had
not yet received a reply.
Tifur (vide section 28 in the same list) levied a blackmail of 12 “ chaps ” of wheat
on the village inhabitants of Keoshk, near A an.
Tifur was summoned and questioned, the Vali also told me, and admitted having
borrowed the amount in question. He said he had asked the Akhtamar Catholicos for
a loan to support his family. This was refused, and he Tyas told he might apply at
Keoshk village which he did with this result. He was warned that any similar
proceeding would bring him into serious trouble.
^ (Signed) GEORGE POLLARD LEVEY,
Van, December 31, 1890. Her Britannic Majesty's Vice-Consul for Van.
Memorandum respecting the Marx Affair.
Mustafa Bey,* son of Abdur-rizak, of Mazruk, brought three years ago from
Tinis, village of Mukus, the Kurd Alo, to get his living as watchman, &c. Alo
settled in Karagaus, Havatzor Nahiyye, on Lake Van. Last summer his wife visited
Tinis, and he went to fetch her.
A girl of Marx was married to an Armenian of Akugh of A ozim Nahiyye,t who
died after a while. The Moslem servant of a (or the) Kurd Agha, of Rider, J married
the widow, and a year later was killed by his ex-master, who seized the woman.
Alo, being at Tinis at this juncture, got possession of the woman as representative
of Marx village claims, and brought her down to Havatzor. The mother, living in
Marx, reclaimed her daughter and took her home, where she remained three days.
Mustafa Bey came to Marx, and ordered that the woman, being Moslem, should
be sent to Alo’s house; the mother refused, and sent her secretly to the Akhtamar
Catholicos about six or eight weeks ago, who sent her on to \an by ship. Mustafa
Bey, hearing she was gone, beat and cursed the mother, who took refuge in Pane’s
house. At first this family, fearing to keep her, sent her to a village near, but she
returned. This is why Alo burnt Panos’ hay, &c.
Panos came to town to complain, and is said to have found the authorities disin-
clined to take any action. A few days later he returned home, and was next evening
with Alo and others in a stable; the party breaking up at bed-time, Alo followed
Panos home, and, a quarrel arising, Panos shot Alo, wounding him, not severely, with
a revolver procured in the town.
Kurds assembled from neighbouring villages, and the Armenian Mudir of
Ishkhane-Kom, a village near, came and took away Panos and reported to the
Government. Zaptiehs arrested Panos next day; he was imprisoned on Thursday,
and died on the night of Saturday, the 6th December, being, I can well imagine,
already in a feeble state of health.
The relations of Panos in Van, at the inquest, pointed out there were black marks
on the body, and asked for an inquiry as to cause of death. Thereupon, a second
examination was made on the AVednesday, at which Drs. Nejib Bey and Nouri Effendi
also joined the Belediyy6 doctor, Aristidi.
They could not pronounce upon the disease or cause of death without an autopsy,
hut, for my part, I cannot think there are any grounds for suspecting any ill-treatment
at the hands of gaolers or fellow-prisoners, or, in short, of foul play. The relations of
Panos could have had an autopsy if they chose at their own cost and by their own
doctors, only the Procureur-General's Court would not give any such order, as the
relations did not raise any allegation, whether of ill-treatment or foul play.
To my mind the case has been stirred purposely to bring into prominence the
facts that an Armenian woman was seized by Kurds, and that Panos’ hay was burnt
without any satisfaction, and to attack Mustafa Bey.
The Mustantik told me privately, as elsewhere repeated, that there was no shadow
of proof against Alo for the arson.
* See Note 1.
t See Note 2
t See Note 3.