FEHIM PASHA'S CAREER.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9163, 11 August 1908, Page 5

FEHIM PASHA'S CAREER.

A cablegram published on Saturday morning stated that Fehim Pasha, while trying to escape from Brusa, was lynched by a crowd led by persons who had suffered from his cruelties. Fehim Pasha first came into public prominence more than eleven years ago, while he was yet a student at the Military College at Pancaldi. Either in a fit of drunkenness or from sheer bravado he Ptartled Constantinople (says a Reuter message from that city) ore evening by running amok in one of the principal thoroughfares of the city, brandishing a long knife, with which he struck several persons he encountered. He inflicted wounds more or less severe on over a dozen persons, among whom were al?o two or three women, and one man, a German engineer, was so severely injured that he died some hours later.

The German Embassy succeeded in obtaining an indemnity for the widow, as well a3 a monthly pension for life, but apparently did not press for the punishment of the murderer. It was known that he was a Palace protege, although his identity did not become known till long after. Thanks to the influence of his father, but in greater degree to his intrigues and natural effrontery, Fehim rapidly advanced in the graces of his Imperial master, soon reaching the rank of lieutenant-general. He organised a system of espionage with ramifications all over the city, by means of which he was able to supply the Sultan with information of all that went on in Constantinople. His particular duties were the surveillance of the Imperial princes. Fehim was responsible for the exile of hundreds of Turks, and also Armenians, innocent persons mostly, whom he denounced on the flimsiest pretexts. Even some of the highest dignitaries in the land have had to suffer from his intrigues and persecutions.

A list of the crimes committed by Fehirn and his henchman would fill volumes. It is stated that a list of over 200 cases of assault or abduction perpetrated by Fehirn was recently submitted to the Sultan. Thesa are by no means his only offences. Several deliberate murders are laid at his door, notably the assassination of the Dame Camel la and her daughters, vho he is believed to have killed with his own hands.

With his army of spies and police he terrorised all the merchants, traders, shopkeepers and even petty pedlars in Constantinople. He kept poor Armenians imprisoned for days in his house, beating and maltreating them till they agreed to pay his demands.

Quite recently Fehirn called at a restaurant kept by a Macedonian Bulgarian and, presenting a revolver at the owner's head, demanded £2OO on the spot. This sudden demand gave the proprietor such a fright that he wa3 seized with apoplexy and died in a few minutes. Mention must also be made of the two borjib outrages Fehirn engineered against! himself in order to demonstrate t6 the Sultan the dancrcr his faithful servant was incurring. It was proved that the bombs were not formidable, and that they were thrown by some satellite of Fehirn after he was well out of the way. Although it is believed that the Sultan was informed of the real facts of the case he did not alter his behaviour towards Fehirn, but is stated to have declared that Fehirn was still a boy who was bound to commit follies.