Mr. Pratt to Mr.
Blaine.
Legation of
the United States,
Teheran, June 12, 1890.
(Received July 19.)
No. 461.]
Sir: I have the honor to submit for your
consideration the accompanying copies of the correspondence (inclosures Nos.
1, 2, 3, and 4) that has passed between Consul-General Stewart and myself
relative [Page 667] to the Salmas murder case
since my dispatch No. 460 of the 4th instant.
It is to Colonel Stewart’s statement regarding the present lawless attitude
of the Armenians inhabiting the Perso-Turkish frontier provinces and the
alleged confession of Minas, the murderer of Mrs. Wright, of his previous
intention to assassinate both that lady and her husband—which last was
indirectly reported to me as having been confided by the said Minas to his
supposed mistress, Asli, who divulged it after his arrest—that I would call
your special attention.
In view of the facts, I think you will approve my course in insisting that
the said criminal be tried and punished in accordance with his crime at
Tabreez, the capital of the province in which the deed was committed, and in
recommending that the woman Asli be also subpœnaed and made to testify on
the occasion.
I do not anticipate that this incident will give rise to trouble, but, should
it do so, and lead to any threatening demonstration on the part of the
Armenian or Nestorian population of Azerbaijan against the American
residents there, it is my intention to proceed myself to Tabreez, in order
to see to the proper protection of our citizens in the above province.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure 1 in No. 461.]
Colonel Stewart to
Mr. Pratt.
Ooroomeeyah, May 31,
1890.
No. 1.]
Sir: I have the honor to address you on the
subject of the Armenian Minas, who is in confinement at Salmas for a
murderous assault on the wife of the Rev. J. Wright, American missionary
at Salmas.
I have already forwarded two telegrams to Her Britannic Majesty’s
minister at Teheran on this matter, which I asked might be shown to you,
and I also addressed you by letter on the 24th instant, informing you
that the assassin had been captured. I now write to suggest that the
prisoner Minas should be removed to Teheran to undergo such punishment
as you may think necessary to meet the case.
It seems to me necessary that he should not remain in Tabreez. A good
deal of excitement has been caused among the Armenians in the Salmas
district by this attempt at assassination, and I am surprised to find
that the Armenians are anxious that Minas should not be punished and
that they have asked the missionaries to forgive the man.
There is, in consequence of the seditious literature which has been
spread amongst the Armenians both in Turkey and Persia by the newspapers
and other periodicals published at Marseilles and elsewhere, a feeling
of disregard of all authority and a feeling in favor of criminals.
I have written to the Emir Nizam, asking that Minas may be sent to
Tabreez, as I do not consider that he is in very safe custody in
Salmas.
I would suggest that before Minas is sent to Teheran to undergo any term
of imprisonment to which he may be sentenced he should, as a part of his
punishment, receive a severe flogging at Tabreez in my presence, as such
punishment would bring home to the Armenians that he had been guilty of
a crime.
I have not seen the prisoner, as he was seized after I left Salmas, but I
understand he allows he made an attempt to shoot both Mr. and Mrs.
Wright the night before his attack on Mrs. Wright, and was only
prevented carrying out his purpose by an accidental interruption.
The safety of the American community in these parts, I consider, requires
that Minas should receive a long term of imprisonment as an example to
others.
I have, etc.,
C. E. Stewart,
Colonel, Her Britannic Majesty’s Consul-General in
Azerbaijan.
[Page 668]
[Inclosure 2 in No. 461.]
Mr. Pratt to
Colonel Stewart
Legation of the United States,
Teheran, June 12,
1890.
No. 1.]
Sir: I have received your dispatch dated
Ooroomeeyah, May 31, 1890, and have carefully considered its
contents.
The letter which you were so good as to address me from the above city on
the 24th of last month came to hand and was duly acknowledged on the 3d
instant, my reply being sent you to Tabreez direct. I was also promptly
shown the two telegrams regarding the case of Mrs. Wright which you
mention having forwarded Her Britannic Majesty’s minister here, and have
since received your message conveying the sad announcement that Mrs.
Wright had died on the 1st instant from the effect of the wounds
inflicted upon her by the Armenian Minas on the 14th.
In view of this, I consider that the said case, which must now be treated
as one of premeditated murder, should be tried in your presence at
Tabreez and the criminal there executed, for the especial purpose of
bringing this affair home to those very Armenians in western Persia and
the adjacent provinces of Turkey whom, in your present dispatch, you
describe as having lately become imbued with a spirit of such utter
lawlessness.
The above opinion is fully shared by Sir Henry Drummond Wolff, who thinks
the suggestion in regard to conveying the prisoner to Teheran for trial
was made before you had become aware of the fatal termination of the
assault in question. Hence, on receiving your telegram, as follows:
“Have just been informed of the arrival of Mrs. Wright’s murderer. Have
arranged for first meeting to-morrow. I arrived yesterday.”
I replied:
“Your telegram and dispatch received. Think prisoner should be tried and
executed at Tabreez. Have written reasons.”
The criminating statement, which you say you understand was made by the
prisoner, that previous to his assault upon Mrs. Wright he had
endeavored to take the lives both of that lady and her husband, but was
thwarted in the attempt, has also been indirectly reported to me as
having been repeated by the criminal’s alleged paramour, who, I think,
should in consequence be brought to Tabreez and examined, in order to
elicit the fact as to whether or not there are any others implicated in
this crime, which may turn out to have been a conspiracy of far greater
extent than would appear at first sight.
On the evening of the 3d I explained to His Highness the Eminé Soultan
the particulars of the assault made upon Mrs. Wright and told him of the
steps you had taken to effect the criminal’s arrest, as well as of the
inaction displayed by the governor of Salmas previous to your arrival,
for which I requested that the latter might be severely brought to task.
At the same time I asked that telegraphic orders be sent for the
transfer of the prisoner under strong guard to Tabreez, where you would
officially represent me at his trial. To all of which His Highness
immediately assented. When, the following day, I sent him your telegram
announcing Mrs. Wright’s death, he expressed profound regret and assured
me that positive orders had already been given for the removal of the
criminal to Tabreez, where the Emir Nizam was instructed to have him
tried in your presence and sentenced in accordance with the law and to
my satisfaction.
Let me here again repeat to you the assurances of my sincere appreciation
of the manner in which you have exerted yourself in behalf of our people
in the present instance.
I am, etc.,
