'General information on Persia for any future edition, 1895' [‎76r] (142/211)

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Inclosure in No. 44.
Acting Consul Hampson to Sir W. White,
Erzeroum, May 9, 1891.
IN connection with my despatch of the 18th ultimo, I have the honour to
inform your Excellency that, during his recent journey, the Yali induced the
Armenian inhabitants of the Toprak Kale (Alashgerd) district to sign a “ Mazbata,”
to the effect that they had no cause of complaint. A priest, who refused to sign, was
imprisoned for three days.
The value of these “Mazbata” is too well known to your Excellency for any
comment on this one to be necessary. I bring it to your notice, in case it may be
produced as evidence in favour of the dismissed Ka'imakam, Ahmed Bey. The
vigorous support which the Yali continues to give to this well-known bad character is
the chief complaint that I have to make against his Excellency.
I have, &c.
(Signed) CHARLES S. HAMPSON.
No. 45.;
Sir W . White to the Marquis of Salisbury.—(Received May 29.)
My Lord, Constantinople, May 24, 1891.
I HAYE the honour to transmit herewith to your Lordship copy of a despatch
which I have received from Her Majesty’s Acting Consul at Erzeroum, reporting
three bad cases of murder in the vicinity of that town, the victims in each instance
being Christians.
I have instructed Sir Alfred Sandison to draw the serious attention of the Grand
Yizier to these outrages, and to the insecurity prevailing in the environs of Erzeroum.
I have, &c.
(Signed) W. A. WHITE.
Inclosure in No. 45.
Acting Consul Hampson to Sir W. White.
Sir, Erzeroum, May 16, 1891.
AETER freedom from all outrages for many weeks, it is with regret that I have
to bring to your Excellency’s notice three bad cases of murder, the victims in each
instance being Christians:—
1. Last Sunday night, 10th May, the Head of the Armenian village of Kiuprikevi,
in Passen, eight hours from Erzeroum, was shot through the head while sitting in his
own house. The shot appears to have been fired from the window, and death was
instantaneous.
Prompt endeavours were made by the local authorities to trace the murderer, but
no clue has as yet been obtained.
2. On the same day, an Armenian peasant was quietly walking across the plain
near Amadan, a village two hours from here, when a mounted Turk deliberately rode
over him ; and, not content with knocking him down, turned his horse and trampled
on him, causing injuries to which he has since succumbed in the hospital of this
town.
The perpetrator of this atrocious murder is in prison.
3. On Monday morning, the bodies of two Armenians were found under a bridge
on the Trebizond road near Ilidja, a village three hours from here. They had,
apparently, been strangled.
Until now, the authorities have not succeeded in tracing the criminals, but I
understand that orders have been given to use every means to do so.
These regrettable events have revived in all their force, and even increased, the
terrors of the Christian inhabitants of Erzeroum; in fact, to such a pitch has the
feeling of insecurity risen, that Christians dare not go to villages within an hour or
two of the town except in parties of at least four or five.
I have, &c.
(Signed) CHARLES S. HAMPSON.