Mr. Sherman to Mr. Terrell.
Washington , June 4, 1897 .
Sir: Referring to your No. 987 of September 19, 1896, relative to the indemnity claim against the Turkish Government of Mrs. Haighanoosh S. Abdalian, widow of Dr. Nahabed Y. Abdalian, a naturalized American citizen who was killed during the disturbances at Gurun, Turkey, I inclose herewith copy of a letter from Mr. William Ives Washburn, and of Mrs. Abdalian’s accompanying memorial, in which she claims $50,000 for the murder of her husband, $10,000 for her imprisonment, bodily suffering, and distress of mind and the death of her infant child, caused by starvation and exposure, and $1,312 for the pillage and destruction of property belonging to her husband and herself; in all, $61,312.
I also inclose copy of a report in the case by the consul of the United States at Sivas.
You are instructed to present this claim to the Turkish Government and to urge the payment of a suitable indemnity.
Respectfully, yours,