THE ALLEGED CRUELTIES IN ARMENIA.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 2701, 2 November 1889, Page 5 (Supplement)

THE ALLEGED CRUELTIES IN ARMENIA.

Mr Gladstone contributes to the Daily News a statement which, he 6ays, has reached him, confirmatory of the reported Turkish cruelties in Armenia. The statement eource of which is not given— says that in March last, during the night, Moussa Bey, accompanied by his brother Djaso and bis brother-in-law Eomer Bey, at the head of a large band of his men, about 100, entered by force the house of Agatchian, in the village sf Khurtz, about 18 miles from Moosh, between Moo.sh and Bitlis. Having first killed the father of Agatchian by a shot from a Martini rifle, they pillaged the house and carried off his wifo and daughter of the dead man. The daughter was only fifteen years of age, and though she had only a nightdress on, was forced to march through the snow. The mother, unable to endure the fatigue, was left in the snow. The daughter ;was compelled to live with Mouesa Bay. After three days' journey over the mountains they arrived at the tillage of Paresank, and two Kurds took her to the house of Cheik Mehraed. There the girl threw herself at the feet of the Cheik, and begged of him to save her from the hands of the ruffians. The Cheik went then to Moussa Bey and prayed him to let the girl go, but ho replied that it was impossible, and that the girl had been taken to ba the wife of his brother Djaso. Dj*eo arrived, and Moussa Bey ordered tho Cheik to perform the marriage ceremony between his brother and the girl. The Cheik replied that the girl was a Chris* tian and refused to become Mussulman. He, thereforo, would not marry her in his house, and he must go elsewhere. Moussa Boy then drew his knife to kill the girl, but he was prevented by hia companions, and, against the advice of tho Cheik, Djnso took the girl, and left for the village of Avedik, and went to tho houso of Sefer, kiisband of Meheri, sinter of Moussa Bey. Here Ghiulisar pleaded with Meheri for her liberty, but in vain, for they said she had become Mussulman in marrying Djaso, while Moussa and his companions left for tho mountains on other acts of brigandage and rapine. _ At the end of the month she left with Djaso for the village of Cheikhovoran. They remained there six days in the house of the Oheik, and then went to Kbevenin, the village where Moussa Bey lives ; they stayed three weeks. About this time there arrived from Moosh one Hadji Davib, with two gendarmes. They camo to the house of Djaso, and demanded the girl. Djaso would not give up the girl, and she herself refused to go, sayiug on purpose, "lam Mussulman. Leave me in peace." Hadji Dayid replied that she must go to the Governor of Moosh and say it. She replied that the Governor and Couucil should come, and she would tell them that abe was Mussulman. It was about this time the Moussa Bey arrived at Bitlis aud left for Constantinople. Ultimately the girl was given up to the Armenian Council.

Another case given is that of a man named Ohan, who was persecuted by Moussa Boy, and ultimately burned to death by Moussa after being tortured. That was also in March. In April, it is said, Moussa Bey and his followers broko into the house of Hagop of Dabayant, killed the father and children, aud assaulted 17 woman.